Updates to the Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program Protocol

Refining SCE’s program to respond directly to the community’s needs.

October 29, 2025

Earlier this fall, more than a dozen listening sessions were held to capture input on the draft Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program. Feedback was collected from more than 1,000 voices to refine the program. Today, the revised and finalized program is live.

Following the listening sessions, more than 50 updates were made to the program. See the themes SCE heard here. Below are some of the most significant updates.

KEY UPDATES TO THE PROGRAM

Expanded eligibility area

The eligibility area was expanded beyond the original CAL FIRE-designated fire perimeter to include properties affected by smoke, soot or ash.​ As a result, the number of qualified properties with non-burn damage nearly doubled. The new eligibility area reflects two zones:

  • Zone 1 includes the original fire perimeter and is extended about 400 ft. beyond it.
  • Zone 2 covers more properties, based on their proximity to the smoke plume, other destroyed structures and the fire’s origin.

Previous Fire Perimeter Map.
New Eligibility Area Map.

Simplified Documentation

If a property falls within the eligibility area, no additional documentation is required to support a claim for non-burn damages from smoke, soot or ash. In addition, no extra documentation is needed for properties in Zone 1 to receive $10,000 in compensation for landscaping damage.

Increased Compensation for Personal Impacts

Non-economic compensation has increased for both adults and children.

  • Residents of a destroyed structure will now receive $115,000 per adult (previously $100,000) and $75,000 per child (previously $50,000).
  • For structures that are damaged or have non-burn damage from smoke, soot or ash, compensation has doubled to $10,000 per child.

This is in addition to all other applicable types of economic compensation (property damage, personal property, loss of use, business interruption, physical injury, etc.) and the Direct Claim Premium.

Increase in Fair Rental Value

The monthly fair rental value is the amount a home could reasonably be rented for each month, if someone else was living in it. If a property is damaged or destroyed, this number helps determine how much a claimant would be paid for the loss of use of the property. In the updated protocol, SCE increased the monthly fair rental value calculation by nearly 17%.

Streamlined Evaluation

All claimants will begin on the Fast Pay track when a claim is submitted. It is designed to quickly review the streamlined documentation and provide a fast turnaround, with offers within 90 days of submitting a substantially complete claim.

If the complexity of a claim requires analysis beyond the streamlined documentation required in the initial claim form, or if a claimant would like to introduce new information that may alter the initial offer, a Detailed Review will be triggered.

Learn More

Additional updates include but are not limited to improved personal property valuation alignment for personal property for tenants and owners of multifamily residences. Complete details can be found in the redlined protocol.

Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program Home

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The terms and values of the Protocol govern the program. This program is a voluntary settlement initiative offered to claimants to provide a prompt and certain process for resolving disputed claims. Participation in the program does not constitute an admission of liability or wrongdoing, and the company expressly denies responsibility for the underlying events. All rights, defenses and legal positions in pending and future litigation are fully reserved. This program is offered solely as a compromise and is intended to be protected under applicable laws, including California Evidence Code sections 1152 and 1154.