Utility company pays $314 million to Eaton Fire victims

By Chris Woodward
The Center Square

Southern California Edison, which has been sued for allegedly starting the devastating Eaton Fire, has offered more than $750 million as compensation for victims.

Of that total, $314 million has already been paid, the company announced.

The Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program was created by SCE. The utility has been blamed for starting the fire in the Pasadena/Altadena area because of faulty equipment. Entities varying from the U.S. Department of Justice to the Pasadena Unified School District and the cities of Pasadena and Sierra Madre have sued the company.

The Eaton Fire, which started Jan. 7, 2025, burned 14,021 acres, destroyed 9,418 structures and damaged 1,073 structures, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention. Seventeen people died.

Through the Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program, nearly 12,000 individuals, trusts, and legal entities have used the program to seek compensation directly as opposed to going through lawsuits, according to SCE.

Pedro J. Pizarro, president and CEO of Edison International, said every claim represents a person, family or business trying to recover and move forward.

“SCE remains committed to providing clear information to support community members as they explore their options and determine the path that’s right for them,” said Pizarro in a press release Thursday.

The Center Square reached out to SCE for additional comment but did not receive a response by publication time.

Offers have typically been delivered within 35 days of the program receiving a complete claim. Payments – which have ranged from $15.1 million for a claimant with multiple properties to $15,000 for a tenant with non-burn damage – have been cut within two to three weeks of a signed settlement.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents areas impacted by the Eaton Fire, was pleased to see the compensation.

“Any compensation that helps Eaton Fire survivors begin rebuilding is welcome, but recovery is about far more than settlement checks,” Barger told The Center Square, answering questions by email. “Survivors deserve clear, timely information so they can make informed decisions about the options available to them while the legal process moves forward.”

In the meantime, Barger said her focus remains on helping residents return home as quickly and safely as possible, “while ensuring that those responsible for this tragedy are held accountable.”

State Sen. Renée Pérez, D-Pasadena, who authored a bill to prevent overdevelopment of single-family lots as Altadena rebuilds, stressed the importance of compensation.

“It’s critical that Eaton Fire survivors receive full and fair compensation whether that comes from Southern California Edison’s Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program or through the courts,” Pérez said Friday afternoon, answering a question from The Center Square by email. “Making an informed decision after examining their options is what matters most to me. I want to see our community recover fully and as quickly as possible. Edison’s central role in this disaster requires that it conduct itself with the utmost transparency so that all its actions and decisions support, rather than undermine, the ability of my constituents to recover fairly and return home.”

SCE is among the nation’s largest utilities and serves a population of 15 million across central, coastal and Southern California.