New Eaton Fire Origin Video and Edison Liability Reporting
Several outlets reported on newly released surveillance video and attorneys’ claims that two flashes near the Eaton Fire origin corresponded with electrical faults recorded by Southern California Edison equipment. Edison has told investors it expects to pay little or nothing out of pocket for the fire because of AB 1054, a 2019 state law that created a $21 billion wildfire fund to reimburse utilities for payments to victims. The law shields utilities from wildfire damages caused by their equipment if they meet certain requirements, including submitting wildfire risk-reduction plans to state regulators and showing progress on those plans. Since 2019, Edison has spent billions on safety measures such as undergrounding power lines and installing insulated wires, costs that have contributed to higher customer bills. According to an April report by the Public Advocates Office at the California Public Utilities Commission, Edison’s rates have increased 101% over the last 10 years. Despite that spending, Edison’s electric lines sparked more fires in 2024 than in 2019, which the company attributed to erratic weather and increased dry vegetation. But blaming drier weather is not being accountable. If Edison’s equipment is sparking more fires despite billions in ratepayer-funded safety upgrades, weather should not become a shield for faulty infrastructure.