More on the Recent Wildfire Settlement Article by SCNG

The Southern California News Group (SCNG) recently covered Southern California Edison’s Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program and our efforts to support recovery and provide fair compensation in Altadena. It is a story about Rita and Terry Pyburn’s journey through the program as they navigate a difficult phase of life.

We appreciate SCNG updating their article to provide a broader perspective, but we’d like to add a few points to more fully tell the story:

• The program is designed to offer compensation in line with settlement values for similar claims in past wildfire lawsuits, with a more streamlined and much faster approach than litigation.
• The method for how payments will be calculated was developed independently of SCE.
  • SCE engaged RAND, a highly regarded nonprofit research organization, to thoroughly and independently assess the methodology for valuing eligible properties. RAND found that the estimates of pre- and post-fire property values, developed by Compass Lexecon, were reasonably done and well-executed.
• The program is a comprehensive and thoughtfully structured process.
  • Claimants start on the Fast Pay track, which is designed to quickly review streamlined documentation and provide an offer within 90 days.
  • If a claimant would like to introduce new information and additional documentation that may alter the initial offer, SCE will initiate a Detailed Review track.

The program is completely voluntary. We recognize that everyone's needs aren't the same and encourage all eligible parties to file a claim to receive an offer. After the offer is received, claimants can either accept the offer, request a detailed review or decline the offer.

Getting accurate and complete information to our communities is essential and we thank SCNG for their willingness in updating their initial story.