Local Leaders & Survivors Demand Edison Pay as Newsom Weighs Bailout and Lawsuit Limits

Altadena elected officials are calling for accountability following the County investigation identifying electrical arcing at a SCE transmission tower as the cause of the Eaton Fire. At the same time, fire survivors and insurers are raising alarms over reported last-minute proposals being discussed by Gov. Newsom and lawmakers that could reduce utilities’ financial responsibility for wildfire losses.

Reported ideas include limiting compensation for victims, capping attorneys’ fees, and restricting insurers from recovering wildfire losses from utilities. Critics warn that such changes could shift billions in costs away from utilities and onto survivors, insurance policyholders, taxpayers and ratepayers, while weakening a key incentive for utilities to prevent future fires.

The debate is especially significant as Eaton survivors continue pursuing recovery, compensation, and legal accountability following the County’s cause finding. No final bill language had been released when the reporting was published.
Pasadena Now | NBC LA