We appreciate that the Los Angeles Times continues to report on important topics related to the devastating January windstorms and wildfires. The paper’s coverage has provided important reporting on many areas, including how victims can get aid, stories of how neighbors are helping neighbors and potential causes of these wildfires.
Understandably, there is a great deal of interest in the cause of the Eaton Fire, and we applaud reporters who are working to accurately report on this issue.
We submitted an article to the op-ed — or opinion — section of the Los Angeles Times from Pedro Pizarro, president and CEO of Edison International, the parent company of Southern California Edison. Op-eds provide readers with information and a viewpoint on a timely and relevant topic. While the Times declined to publish this op-ed, we are making it available here.
At Edison International and SCE, we continue to work with reporters to inform their reporting. We remain committed to maintaining transparency and to the completion of a thorough investigation that includes the analysis of facts in their proper context.
Beth M. Foley
Vice President and CCO, Edison International and Southern California Edison
Below is the full text of the submitted LA Times op-ed.
It has been just over a month since historic wildfires changed our community forever. Everyone at Edison International and Southern California Edison shares in the sorrow for the lives lost, neighborhoods devastated, and many displaced friends, family members, neighbors and coworkers. To our community, which we have served for nearly 140 years, we commit our full and best efforts to understand the causes of the recent wildfires, apply lessons learned to further reduce the risk of future wildfires and rebuild for a stronger, more resilient future.
SCE is cooperating with fire investigators and conducting its own thorough review to understand what caused the Eaton wildfire. Like many, we’ve seen videos of the fire in its early stages. I assure the community that we take this seriously and are exploring every possibility, including the possibility that SCE equipment is involved.
Wildfire disasters are not new to California, especially in recent years. Fourteen of the 20 most destructive wildfires in our state’s history have occurred since 2017. This is why SCE has significantly invested, planned and prepared to help prevent wildfires and manage power disruptions when they occur.
Since 2018, SCE has replaced more than 6,100 miles of overhead electrical wire with insulated lines to prevent sparks when debris hits them. We’ve installed more than 1,770 weather stations and more than 200 cameras to improve situational awareness in high fire risk areas. The company also provided tens of millions of dollars to fund the helitanker Quick Reaction Force that provided critical support for firefighters who so heroically battled recent blazes. SCE will continue to make these and other investments and look closely at where it makes sense to expand and accelerate efforts.
Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) are an essential tool used by many electric utilities in the Western United States to reduce wildfire risk. These are done with safety at the top of the mind, in coordination with public safety partners and according to protocols overseen by regulators. Teams work quickly to restore power as soon as it’s safe to do so. We know a lack of electricity is a hardship and timely, accurate information is essential.
For customers who were de-energized in January, I am sorry that your PSPS experience was made more difficult when communication tools did not function as they should, such as the outage map and estimated restoration times, leaving customers without the information they need to make important decisions about accommodations.
SCE is committed to improving and is looking closely at ways to reduce PSPS usage with increased hardening and enhanced monitoring and to assist customers during the disruption caused by this critical safety tool.
When there is an increased threat of extreme weather, as there was in early January, SCE shifts into a heightened state of readiness to monitor the situation and take steps to support public safety. The company moves swiftly to remove debris, repair damage and restore disruptions in electric service. During January, more than 3,500 crew members, contractors and mutual assistance personnel worked tirelessly to string 400,000 feet (75 miles) of power lines, set 1,265 poles and replace 380 transformers damaged by windstorms and wildfires.
Within four days of the start of the wildfires, SCE had restored service to more than 530,000 customers. Team members have done incredible work to respond to this unprecedented crisis, even while some have lost their homes or been displaced with loved ones. Today, power is again flowing to the vast majority of customers who can receive service safely.
SCE still has a lot of work to do, and the team appreciates the patience and understanding of customers who are still without power. In Altadena, SCE has completed new main powerline construction and is now focusing on providing hard-to-reach customers with temporary power or generation. In Malibu, as authorities allow access to new areas, the number of crews is growing and they are making rapid progress with inspections, designs and construction.
Looking ahead, SCE is pursuing plans to underground more power lines as part of the communities’ rebuild initiatives. The company will continue to support customers in areas that have been declared a state of emergency with protection from disconnections, waived fees and expedited move-in/move-out requests.
As we better understand exactly what happened on Jan. 7, we do so with a commitment to remain transparent. We will also continue to listen and learn with the goal of becoming a better company to serve customers and the industry. We plan to continue candid conversations about what must be done to ensure that California sets the standard for the best wildfire prevention and response strategies nationwide.
Edison International and SCE remain committed to the repair, restoration and rebuilding of Southern California. Our team and I are fully engaged in helping our community come back stronger and more resilient for the future.
Pedro J. Pizarro
President and CEO of Edison International, the parent company of Southern California Edison
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