Southern California Edison (SCE) has acknowledged that its equipment may have played a role in the devastating Eaton and Hurst wildfires that swept through Southern California last month. While investigations are still ongoing, the possibility that the utility’s infrastructure contributed to the destruction has raised serious questions—not just about what happened, but about who will be held responsible.
SCE, a subsidiary of Edison International, submitted two letters to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) disclosing that their equipment might have been linked to one or both of the fires, according to The Wall Street Journal.
“While we do not yet know what caused the Eaton wildfire, SCE is exploring every possibility in its investigation, including the possibility that SCE’s equipment was involved,” Edison Chief Executive Pedro Pizarro said.
The Los Angeles Fire Department has already suggested a possible connection between SCE’s infrastructure and the Hurst fire, while the cause of the Eaton fire remains undetermined.
However, SCE reports that it has not found the usual signs of equipment failures, such as broken conductors—an omission that raises more questions than answers. If SCE’s power lines didn’t fail, then what sparked the fires?
Investigators are still analyzing transmission lines and other potential ignition sources, but fire officials warn that determining the exact cause could take months. Past wildfire cases in California have proven to be incredibly complex, often requiring lengthy legal battles, regulatory reviews, and forensic analysis of power infrastructure.
If SCE’s equipment is ultimately found responsible, the consequences could be massive. California’s utility companies have a long history of being blamed for wildfires, sometimes resulting in billions of dollars in lawsuits, settlements, and fines.
- Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), California’s largest utility, was found responsible for the deadly 2018 Camp Fire, which wiped out the town of Paradise and killed 85 people. The company declared bankruptcy in 2019 after facing more than $30 billion in wildfire liabilities.
- San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has also faced similar accusations in past fires, leading to costly settlements.
If SCE follows the same path, it could face legal battles with wildfire victims, insurance companies, and the state itself.
