Fire Victims Face Bills up to $40K to Connect to Edison's Buried Lines
Source: KFI AM640 | By iHeart Radio
Altadena residents rebuilding after the devastating Eaton Fire are facing unexpected costs of up to $40,000 to connect their homes to Southern California Edison's newly buried power lines. Connor Cipolla, an Eaton wildfire survivor and member of the Altadena Town Council, initially praised Edison's plan to bury more than 60 miles of electric lines in Altadena to reduce fire risk. His perspective changed dramatically when he received an estimate of $20,000 to $40,000 to connect his smoke-damaged home to the underground system. "Residents are so angry," Cipolla told the Los Angeles Times. "We were completely blindsided.”
Mark Toney, executive director of the Utility Reform Network, a consumer group in San Francisco, noted that burying more lines could significantly increase both customer bills and Edison's profits. "Five times the cost is equal to five times the profit," Toney said.
