Southern California Edison (SCE), a subsidiary of Edison International, has extended 210 compensation offers to individuals and businesses affected by the Eaton Fire. The offers, part of the Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program launched on October 29 2025, total $117 million and were issued within 90 days of the program’s start.
The program provides a range of compensation options. Economic loss covers property damage and business interruption, while non‑economic loss addresses personal impacts. Claimants also receive a Direct Claim Premium for participation and attorneys’ fees if they are represented. Offers range from $13.1 million for a claimant with multiple properties to $20,000 for a tenant with non‑burn damage, and the average turnaround time for an offer is 30 days after a substantially complete claim.
SCE’s initiative aligns with California’s AB 1054 framework, which created the California Wildfire Fund to reimburse utilities for eligible wildfire claims while protecting utilities from unlimited liability. Under AB 1054, utilities are generally liable for damages caused by their equipment, but the law caps liability at $4 billion and provides a backstop for the remaining exposure. SCE expects to pay little or none of the estimated $45 billion in damages for the Eaton Fire, citing the capped liability.
The program is voluntary and requires claimants to waive their right to sue. Critics argue that the payment caps are too low and that the waiver limits potential compensation compared to litigation. Los Angeles County has sued SCE to recover costs, and SCE has filed a cross‑complaint against various government agencies and local water companies, asserting shared responsibility for the fire’s destruction.
Claims for the Eaton Fire compensation program will be accepted through November 30 2026. SCE’s president and CEO Pedro Pizarro said, “We know that many in the community are weighing whether this program is right for them. Our hope is that people will take a look at the program, fill out a claim and see if it is the right decision for them. The recovery we are starting to see in the Altadena area is inspiring and a reminder of what this program was designed to do.”
The program was designed with input from Kenneth Feinberg and Camille Biros, who administered the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. By delivering timely, market‑aligned compensation, SCE aims to mitigate litigation risk, support community recovery, and reinforce its regulatory compliance and financial stability.
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