Starting October 29, eligible individuals and businesses affected by the Eaton Fire can now submit claims for compensation through Southern California Edison’s new Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program.
Pedro Pizarro, president and CEO of Edison International, SCE’s parent company, said, “We listened to more than a thousand voices and learned what matters most to those impacted by the Eaton Fire: clarity, fairness and speed. This input helped SCE refine the program to respond directly to the community’s needs.”
Over a dozen listening sessions were conducted earlier this fall with community members, public officials, and legal representatives to gather feedback on the draft program. These sessions highlighted several priorities such as identifying eligible participants, determining property value calculations, coordinating with insurance coverage, setting payment timelines, and providing compensation for secondary structures and landscaping.
“Expanding the eligibility area is one of the most significant updates made as a result of feedback. The number of qualified properties nearly doubled for those with damage from smoke, soot or ash,” Pizarro added.
Based on these discussions, more than 50 changes were made to the program. Notable adjustments include higher compensation for personal impacts—such as a 50% increase per child in destroyed structures—and doubling non-economic compensation per child in other affected properties. Requirements for additional documentation have been removed for certain claims related to non-burn or landscaping damage. Monthly fair rental value calculations were also increased by nearly 17% for loss-of-use situations.
SCE sought independent evaluation of its methodology from RAND Corporation. According to RAND’s recent assessment, “the data and methods that were used to estimate the pre-fire value, post-fire value and diminution in value for single-family residences destroyed in the Eaton Fire were broadly appropriate. The analyses used modern statistical methods and in our judgment were thoughtfully done and well executed.”
Kenneth R. Feinberg, former administrator of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund who consulted on this program alongside Camille S. Biros, commented: “This program is designed to be transparent, swift and sensitive to the needs of those affected.” Biros added: “Our goal is for every participant to receive appropriate compensation without the delays, costs and uncertainties of litigation.” Pizarro further stated: “This is more than a compensation program; it’s a commitment to recovery.”
Community meetings are scheduled so that potential claimants can learn about the process. Registration details are available at sce.com/directclaims for upcoming sessions at John Muir High School on November 1 (10-11:30 a.m.) in Pasadena and virtually on November 5 (7-8:30 p.m.). Additional meetings will be announced later.
The Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program covers owner and tenant claims related to total or partial structure loss, commercial property loss, business interruption, non-burn damage such as smoke or ash exposure, physical injury, and loss of life.
Key features include voluntary participation with no obligation unless an offer is accepted; prompt settlements through Fast Pay within 90 days after complete submission; payments within 30 days following all settlement conditions; optional legal representation with an additional 10% payment toward net damages if counsel is retained; multiple components of compensation including economic losses, non-economic losses, legal cost support if applicable, plus a Direct Claim Premium only available through this program.
Claims can be submitted via a secure website until November 30, 2026. In-person assistance is available by appointment through a dedicated phone line. More information is accessible at sce.com/directclaims.
Southern California Edison serves around 15 million people across Central, Coastal and Southern California through five million customer accounts over an area covering approximately 50,000 square miles.
