To the editor: Southern California Edison gear is answerable for beginning the Eaton fireplace (“Edison tower prompted lethal Eaton fireplace that devastated Altadena, long-awaited investigation finds,” Aug. 4). Thus far, the corporate has paid out $314 million to victims. There will likely be extra authorized prices to return.
What this implies is Edison will likely be making use of to the Public Utility Fee for a fee improve as a result of its working bills have gone up.
Right here’s what needs to be accomplished: Prohibit Edison Worldwide (EIX), father or mother of Southern California Edison, from passing the sufferer funds onto ratepayers; no dividend fee on EIX inventory at the moment at 4.7%; and all authorized funds have to return from Edison’s web revenue of $4.7 billion (fiscal yr 2025) and retained earnings of $11 billion (2026).
Edison clients shouldn’t should pay for poor administration efficiency.
And yet one more factor: no annual remuneration improve for 5 years for high administration.
Andrew Ko, Glendale
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To the editor: Any enterprise having been answerable for the dying and destruction within the Thomas, Woolsey and Eaton fires ought to by now have been shut down and despatched to receivership with its executives fired and its belongings seized. That this has not been the case with Southern California Edison is as prison because the acts themselves.
Invoice Waxman, Simi Valley
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To the editor: I used to be stupefied by the hubris and entitlement Pacific Gasoline & Electrical and Southern California Edison are demonstrating by insisting that they be launched from legal responsibility for inflicting wildfires (“Utilities threaten motion if lawmakers fail to chop their wildfire legal responsibility danger,” Aug. 5).
Apparently, PG&E forgot it pleaded responsible to dozens of felonies associated to its negligence in beginning the 2018 Camp fireplace, which killed 85 folks, presumably all ratepayers (the plea included 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter and one rely of unlawfully beginning a hearth).
And Edison has apparently already forgotten its negligence in letting an influence line from the Nineteen Twenties stay standing greater than a half-century after it was deactivated, resulting in final yr’s Eaton fireplace. That killed one other 19 folks, many additionally presumably Edison ratepayers.
These corporations have made it abundantly clear: Our responsibility is to shareholders solely. We couldn’t care much less should you die or lose your property.
I’ve a significantly better suggestion for Gov. Gavin Newsom. As a substitute of “working with” the utilities to resolve this problem, why not begin a public service marketing campaign?
The messaging is easy: PG&E and Edison’s ongoing negligence is harmful to your well being and property. Cease paying the payments they ship you till they comply with cease being negligent.
It does make me surprise what the shareholders would take into consideration dropping common funds from just a few million ratepayers concurrently.
Ron Shinkman, Northridge
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To the editor: There’s an previous story that goes like this: A toddler murders his dad and mom and, when introduced earlier than the court docket, pleads for mercy as a result of he’s an orphan.
That may be PG&E demanding the state restrict its legal responsibility for wildfires to guard its shareholders. What chutzpah!
Seen in probably the most favorable gentle, PG&E has simply made the case for public utilities.
Popowitz Rochelle, Los Angeles
