Latest news with #PedroJPizarro
The Guardian
7 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
LA's main utility to pay wildfire victims although cause of blaze undetermined
Los Angeles's main utility company will compensate victims of January's deadly Eaton wildfire – even though investigators have yet to determine whether the company's equipment sparked the blaze. In a statement released Wednesday, Southern California Edison announced the establishment of the Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program, a voluntary fund it developed in consultation with Kenneth R Feinberg and Camille S Biros, the duo who designed the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. 'Community members shouldn't have to wait for the final conclusions in the Eaton Fire investigation to get the financial support they need to begin rebuilding,' Pedro J Pizarro, president and CEO of Edison International, SCE's parent company, said in a statement. 'Even though the details of how the Eaton Fire started are still being evaluated, SCE will offer an expedited process to pay and resolve claims fairly and promptly. This allows the community to focus more on recovery instead of lengthy, expensive litigation.' Although the Los Angeles fire department is still investigating the cause of the Eaton fire, a leading theory is that the utility's ageing equipment ignited the first spark. Since the fire broke out on 7 January, dozens of families, and even the city of Los Angeles, have filed lawsuits against Southern California Edison. In its press release, the utility said the victims' compensation program would launch this fall and that participation would require 'no application fees, administrative costs or legal fees'. The company's announcement comes amid concerns that the state of California's wildfire fund may not be able to handle the size of the insured losses if Edison is found responsible. In that case, the state fund would pay out any settlements in lawsuits against Edison. The California Earthquake Authority, which administers the fund, told the Los Angeles Times that it worries attorney fees could shrink the fund further (up to half of settlement amounts can go to legal fees). Attorney Richard Bridgford, who represents victims of the wildfires, meanwhile told the Times: 'Victims have uniformly done better when represented by counsel.' 'In the past, the utilities have proposed these programs as a means for shorting and underpaying victims,' he added. 'They are trying to make people panic so they don't get adequate representation.'
CBS News
24-07-2025
- Business
- CBS News
SoCal Edison to create compensation program for Eaton Fire victims
Southern California Edison announced a compensation program for Eaton Fire victims on Wednesday. The utilities company will launch the voluntary program in the fall. It will provide direct payments for commercial property loss, business interruption, total and partial structure loss, smoke and ash damage, as well as physical injury and death. Even if they are not SoCal Edison customers, owners and renters can participate. SoCal Edison plans to release more details on eligibility requirements later this summer. The program is expected to last through 2026. SoCal Edison said it will not charge application fees, administrative costs or legal fees to participate. "Community members shouldn't have to wait for the final conclusions in the Eaton Fire investigation to get the financial support they need to begin rebuilding," said Pedro J. Pizarro, president and CEO of Edison International, SCE's parent company. "Even though the details of how the Eaton Fire started are still being evaluated, SCE will offer an expedited process to pay and resolve claims fairly and promptly. This allows the community to focus more on recovery instead of lengthy, expensive litigation." The Eaton Fire ignited on Jan. 7 in the hillsides above Altadena, Pasadena and Sierra Madre. Amid a Santa Ana storm that produced 100 mph wind gusts, the flames quickly moved into the nearby communities and burned a little more than 14,000 acres. It is the second most destructive fire in California history, after destroying 9,418 buildings. SoCal Edison is facing several lawsuits from Eaton Fire victims as well as Los Angeles County and the city of Pasadena. The lawsuits allege that, despite warnings of potentially dangerous conditions, the Eaton Fire ignited below a SoCal Edison transmission tower. Attorneys in the lawsuits said those allegations are supported by evidence from photos, video footage and witness statements. One of the attorneys representing victims, Richard Bridgford, urged residents to be cautious about the program. "Their supposed fund is woefully lacking in detail," Bridgford wrote in a statement. "There's good reason for that: it's designed to vastly underpay the victims the true legal damages they are entitled to in a lawsuit." Bridgford said that in his firm's experience, similar programs have paid out far less than the cost of rebuilding. "In our experience, such funds have resulted in largely ignoring emotional distress, nuisance, and annoyance damages, alternative, living expense, lost plants and trees, and the true value of personal property while severely underestimating the price per square foot to rebuild," Bridgford wrote. "In our experience, providing $.40 on the dollar or less of the true cost to rebuild in today's dollars." SoCal Edison said individuals and businesses who have filed a lawsuit against the company can participate in the program.
New York Times
23-07-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Edison Creates Wildfire Fund for Eaton Fire Victims
Southern California Edison on Wednesday announced a wildfire compensation program for victims of January's deadly Eaton Fire in the Los Angeles area. California officials have not concluded that the fire, which killed 17 people and destroyed more than 9,400 buildings in Altadena, was set by the utility company's equipment, and Edison has not accepted responsibility for it. But by setting up the fund before an official cause is identified, Edison appears to be suggesting that it will be found responsible for igniting the blaze. The utility's Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program will begin this fall. The company says the effort will expedite claims for homeowners and renters, including for total and partial structure loss, commercial property loss, business interruption, smoke and ash damage, physical injury and fatalities. The program is designed as an alternative to potentially lengthy lawsuits. 'Community members shouldn't have to wait for the final conclusions in the Eaton Fire investigation to get the financial support they need to begin rebuilding,' Pedro J. Pizarro, president and chief executive of Edison International, the parent company of Southern California Edison, said in a statement. 'Even though the details of how the Eaton Fire started are still being evaluated, S.C.E. will offer an expedited process to pay and resolve claims fairly and promptly. This allows the community to focus more on recovery instead of lengthy, expensive litigation.' Wildfire victims have filed scores of lawsuits against Edison, accusing the utility of causing the Eaton Fire. These cases have cited a broad body of evidence pointing to the power company's electrical equipment. A gas station video and data from sensors operated by Whisker Labs, a technology company, indicated that Edison's power lines in the Altadena area were under stress as winds reached 100 m.p.h. The video appears to show power lines in Eaton Canyon sparking before flames ignited. Edison said it was working with Kenneth R. Feinberg and Camille S. Biros, who specialize in developing and administering compensation funds. The pair have been involved in such funds, including those that benefited the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Participation in the wildfire recovery program through Edison is voluntary, the utility said.
