Altadena residents rebuilding after fire face new costs from undergrounding plan
(UI) — Residents in Altadena, California, are raising concerns over unexpected costs tied to Southern California Edison’s plan to underground power lines in wildfire-prone areas, a move aimed at reducing fire risk but one that places significant financial responsibility on homeowners, according to KTLA.
The utility is advancing undergrounding work as part of broader wildfire mitigation efforts following the deadly Eaton Fire in January 2025, which killed 19 people and destroyed nearly 10,000 structures. While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, reporting has suggested that an idled overhead power line may have been involved.
As rebuilding continues in the community, affected residents say they were not adequately warned that connecting their homes to the new underground system could cost tens of thousands of dollars. Estimates shared with homeowners range from roughly $20,000 to $40,000 per property.
Several residents said the costs come on top of already steep financial pressures tied to fire recovery, insurance disputes and reconstruction delays. In addition to connection expenses, some homeowners reported being informed that large above-ground electrical vaults would be installed on or near their properties, sometimes in highly visible locations, without prior consultation.
Southern California Edison acknowledged the frustration and said safety remains its top priority. The utility noted that under tariffs approved by the California Public Utilities Commission, homeowners are responsible for the cost of connecting service from their property line to the underground system. However, Edison said it is exploring possible state, federal or philanthropic funding sources to help offset some of those expenses.
Residents, meanwhile, argue that financial assistance should have been secured before construction advanced. Some said proceeding without guaranteed funding shifts an unfair burden onto households still recovering from wildfire damage.
Edison has not provided a firm timeline for when potential financial relief might become available. Separately, the utility recently filed lawsuits against Los Angeles County, local water agencies and Southern California Gas Co., alleging that failures by other entities worsened the impact of the Eaton Fire, as reported by KTLA .
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