Southern California Edison, yeah, those guys, they’re shelling out a whopping $82.5 million to make up for the chaos caused by the 2020 Bobcat fire. This fire, which blazed through over 114,000 acres in LA County, was said to have started when some trees, neglected by Edison and its tree maintenance crew, decided to have a not-so-friendly encounter with power lines.
The settlement, agreed upon within 60 days of May 14, didn’t come with any admission of guilt from Edison. The U.S. attorney’s office in LA is calling it the biggest wildfire recovery payout in the Central District of California. They’re pretty stoked about it, too. U.S. Atty. Bill Essayli even went as far as saying this settlement is going to help cover the costs of putting out the Bobcat Fire and the damage it caused to public lands. The government is on a mission to recover costs and damages from any entity that messes with nature, and they’re not playing around.
Now, let’s talk rates. Edison is looking to hike up customer rates by a cool 10% to help with wildfire prevention and cover their operational expenses. This request is sitting with the California Public Utilities Commission, waiting to be given the green light. If it goes through, customers can expect an extra $18 tacked onto their monthly bills. Woof. The government also filed a lawsuit against Edison and Utility Tree Service to the tune of $121 million for putting out the Bobcat fire and the mess it left behind. It was a rough time for everyone involved, with homes, structures, and vehicles going up in flames. And let’s not forget about the poor firefighters who got injured in the line of duty.
In the aftermath of the Bobcat Fire, over 100 miles of trails, campgrounds, and habitats were shut down, leaving a massive impact on the environment. But hey, there’s a silver lining. The settlement money is going towards rehabilitating the burned areas, restoring habitats, and making sure our forests are better equipped to handle future wildfires. Edison’s safety track record took a nosedive last year, with equipment-related fires nearly doubling from the year before. Not a good look. The cause of the Eaton fire, which caused billions in damage and took lives, is still under investigation. Edison’s CEO hinted that they might be on the hook for this one, too.
All in all, it’s been a rough ride for Southern California Edison. But hey, at least they’re stepping up and taking responsibility for their part in the Bobcat fire. Let’s hope they can turn things around and make sure history doesn’t repeat itself. Time will tell, folks. Time will tell.
