Southern California Edison has agreed to an $82.5 million settlement related to the 2020 Bobcat fire, marking it as the largest wildfire cost recovery settlement in Los Angeles County. The fire reportedly started due to inadequate tree maintenance resulting in contact with power lines. Although Edison is paying the settlement, it admits no fault. Additionally, the utility is seeking to raise customer rates by 10% to fund wildfire mitigation efforts, which may affect around 15 million customers.
This record settlement against Southern California Edison provides meaningful compensation to taxpayers for the extensive costs of fighting the Bobcat Fire and for the widespread damage to public lands.
Edison agreed to pay the settlement within 60 days of the effective date of the agreement, which was May 14, without admitting wrongdoing or fault.
The California Public Utilities Commission is expected to make a decision this summer on the request for a 10% rate hike from Edison, affecting 15 million customers.
The U.S. attorney's office in Los Angeles called it 'the largest-ever wildfire cost recovery settlement' by the government in the Central District of California.
Collection
[
|
...
]