September Sets 2026 High for Claims Submitted to SCE’s Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program

More than 15,600 participants have already turned to the voluntary program ahead of the Nov. 30 submission deadline.

ROSEMEAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--September saw the highest number of Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program claims submitted in 2026, reflecting continued interest in Southern California Edison’s voluntary program as community members impacted by the Eaton Fire evaluate their options ahead of the Nov. 30 deadline.

Claim submissions increased each month during the third quarter, with more than 15,600 participants turning to the program to seek compensation since it launched last year. To date, SCE has extended more than $1 billion in compensation offers through the program.

“The increase in claim submissions shows that community members continue to evaluate the program as a potential path to compensation,” said Pedro J. Pizarro, president and CEO of Edison International, SCE’s parent company. “We encourage anyone who may be eligible to consider submitting a claim before Nov. 30.”

As of Oct. 8, 2026:

• More than 5,000 claims submitted, consisting of over 15,600 individuals, trusts and legal entities, with 40% submitted by attorneys or authorized representatives.
• More than 2,900 offers extended to over 7,400 claimants, totaling more than $1 billion. Nearly 80% of offers have been accepted, with more pending. Only about 2% of offers have been declined.
• More than 4,000 claimants paid, totaling over $550 million, with many more in process.

Evaluating Available Options

As community members evaluate their options for seeking compensation, many are weighing two distinct paths: SCE’s voluntary program or litigation through the court system. The Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program is designed to offer compensation in line with settlement values for similar claims in past wildfire lawsuits, with a more streamlined and faster approach than litigation. Although the deadline to file a property claim in the litigation does not expire until January 2028, the deadline to submit an application in SCE's program is fast approaching.

Litigation timelines and outcomes can vary, and pursuing a claim through the court system may take years. Some claims from 2017 and 2018 fires, which involved significantly fewer plaintiffs than the Eaton Fire, are still pending today. By comparison, the Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program is designed to provide a fair, fast and certain path to compensation, with offers and payments measured in weeks or months rather than years.

• Submitting a claim, receiving an offer and evaluating that offer do not waive a claimant’s rights.
• On average, offers are being delivered within 36 days following submission of a substantially complete claim.
• Payments are made within 30 days after all conditions in the settlement agreement have been satisfied, with many claimants receiving payment in as little as two to three weeks.

Settlement agreements are not unique to the Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program. Whether pursued through litigation or the SCE program, wildfire claims are typically resolved through a signed agreement. Through the Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program, this resolution — and compensation — can come much sooner.

Submit a Claim by Nov. 30

Claims submitted by Nov. 30, 2026, will continue to be reviewed and processed after the deadline, even if validation and offer generation are not complete. Claimants must remain responsive to requests for information and other claim-related communications.

• To submit a claim and access detailed guidance in English and Spanish, visit the Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program web page.
• One-on-one assistance is available in multiple languages by phone or in person, from start to finish. Call 888-912-8528 to get started.

Register for a Virtual or In-Person Session

SCE will host the following virtual and in-person sessions where community members can learn about the program, ask questions and receive help starting a claim:

• Wednesday, Oct. 28, 6 p.m. (virtual)
• Thursday, Nov. 12, 6 p.m. (in-person)
• Thursday, Nov. 19, 6 p.m. (virtual)

About Southern California Edison

An Edison International (NYSE: EIX) company, Southern California Edison is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities, serving a population of approximately 15 million via 5 million customer accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within Central, Coastal and Southern California.