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Three-year plan provides blueprint for expanded public safety measures
ROSEMEAD, Calif., May 16, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Southern California Edison submitted its 2026-2028 Wildfire Mitigation Plan (WMP) to California’s Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety. The plan builds on ongoing efforts to address immediate and long-term wildfire risks in response to evolving community needs and extreme weather events.
"We developed our three-year plan with a layered defense strategy to help safeguard our communities against wildfire threats," said Steven Powell, president and CEO of SCE. "The heartbreaking January wildfires in Southern California underscore the importance and urgency in advancing mitigations and using new tools to increase infrastructure resiliency and safety. While wildfire risk can never be fully eliminated, we continue to harden the grid and invest in innovative approaches to bring us as close to zero as possible."
SCE anticipates an investment of $6.2 billion over three years to achieve the WMP, which calls for installation of at least an additional 440 circuit miles of covered conductor and at least 260 circuit miles of underground distribution lines. The company also seeks continued support for aerial firefighting assets throughout the service area, including the world’s largest helitankers with nighttime firefighting capabilities.
"With drought conditions across the state, we are preparing for another busy year," said Brian Fennessy, fire chief of the Orange County Fire Authority. "The intensity of recent fires is a reminder of how important it is to hit fast and hard – and how devastating it can be if we don’t react quickly. Having dedicated aerial resources funded by SCE allows us to respond swiftly and effectively to wildfires, securing the tools and support needed to protect lives and property."
Enhanced Technology Driving Safety
The 2026-2028 WMP includes new and expanded tools and methodologies to improve safety, reliability and efficiency. Highlights include:
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Rapid Earth Fault Current Limiter: Immediately detects ground faults and reduces voltage when a line contacts the ground while maintaining service through remaining lines for customers.
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AI and Machine Learning Detection: Advanced models to improve grid inspections and identify maintenance needs, with faster, more accurate diagnostics and enhanced quality control.
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Vegetation Management via Remote Sensing: LiDAR and satellite imagery for precise, proactive and effective vegetation monitoring and management to help prevent ignitions.
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Alternative Undergrounding Approaches: Protected lines installed at ground level instead of traditional undergrounding (i.e., trenching into the ground), allowing SCE to perform grid hardening work more quickly and cost effectively.
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Early Fault Detection Expansion: Expand this grid "health monitoring" system to 200 new locations, helping SCE detect equipment failures early.