The California Public Utilities Commission voted to maintain high profit margins for utilities like Southern California Edison, despite consumer protests over rising electric bills and claims that these profits are inflated. The decision slightly reduces the utilities' return on equity, but customers will see little immediate impact as infrastructure costs continue to rise. Consumer groups argue that the profits are excessive and advocate for lower returns to reduce energy costs for Californians.
Federal prosecutors have accused Southern California Edison of negligence for failing to maintain power lines, which caused the deadly Eaton fire in Altadena that killed 19 people, as well as another fire in 2022, blaming the utility for sparking these devastating wildfires.
The Department of Justice is suing Southern California Edison for over $40 million in damages related to the Eaton Fire, which killed 19 people and burned over 14,000 acres, alleging negligence in maintaining power infrastructure. The lawsuit also targets damages from the 2022 Fairview Fire, with claims of a pattern of negligence by the utility company. Edison is investigating the cause, including possible equipment involvement, and has announced a program to compensate affected communities.
Federal prosecutors have filed lawsuits against Southern California Edison, accusing the utility of negligence that caused the Eaton and Fairview wildfires, seeking over $77 million in damages and emphasizing the need for improved infrastructure maintenance to prevent future fires.
Federal prosecutors sued Southern California Edison, alleging negligence in causing the deadly Eaton fire that killed 19 people and destroyed thousands of structures, seeking over $40 million in damages and aiming to prompt a culture change in the utility company to prevent future wildfires.
Southern California Edison may shut off power in Ventura County due to forecasted gusty Santa Ana winds and dry conditions from late Saturday night through Tuesday. The strongest winds are expected on Sunday, with gusts reaching up to 60 mph in some areas. The power outages, called Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS), aim to prevent electrical equipment from sparking fires. As of Friday, 39,501 customers in Ventura County were being monitored for potential outages. Residents are urged to prepare for possible outages and can call 211 for assistance with medical devices that require electricity.
A Southern California Edison substation in Santa Fe Springs was vandalized, causing $75,000 in damage and a brief power outage affecting over 9,000 customers in La Mirada, Santa Fe Springs, and Whittier. The suspect, who may be homeless, fled the scene before police arrived and no arrests have been made. SoCal Edison is working with law enforcement on the matter.
