Residents in the fire-affected area of Altadena are expressing frustration over a costly initiative by the local power company to bury power lines after last year’s devastating Eaton Wildfire.
Homeowners could face costs of up to $40,000 to connect their properties to Southern California Edison’s new underground line, designed to reduce fire risks, according to reports.
“People are really upset,” said Connor Cipolla, a survivor of the Eaton fire.
“We didn’t see this coming at all,” Cipolla added.
Residents in unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County are also concerned that the plan to bury 63 miles of power lines might harm oak and pine trees that survived the fires.
Cipolla mentioned he has been quoted between $20,000 and $40,000 to connect to the new line.
A neighbor was estimated to pay around $30,000 for similar work.
Additionally, locals found out that Edison plans to dig deep trenches in various locations, which could damage the roots of significant trees, as reported.
Homeowner Robert Stellar expressed his concerns while attempting to halt workers from burying a large transformer between two cedar trees, fearing it would be “absolutely fatal” to them.
The utility views these buried lines as improvements, aiming to enhance safety and reliability for Altadena’s power supply.
By going underground, the risk of businesses needing emergency evacuations due to fire threats is also minimized.
Scott Johnson, a spokesperson for Southern California Edison, mentioned the company’s efforts to secure government funding to help homeowners manage their hefty connection costs.
He noted that state regulations require customers to receive bills for connectivity services but did not specify how many households are impacted.
“We are relocating power lines underground to aid recovery and significantly improve wildfire resilience,” he stated.
A company representative also indicated efforts to safeguard local trees.
The Eaton wildfire, which occurred last January, resulted in the deaths of 19 individuals and the destruction of over 9,000 buildings.
Investigations into the fire’s cause are still underway, with Edison officials suggesting that a downed power line might have triggered the tragic event.
