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LA wildfires survivors forced to fork out $40,000 to reconnect homes to power lines
msn.com ^ | Feb. 17, 2026 | Sophie Gable

Posted on 02/18/2026 7:30:02 AM PST by V_TWIN

Survivors of the deadly Eaton wildfires have been plagued with tragedy since flames engulfed their community last year, and are now being asked to potentially fork over thousands to reconnect their power lines.

Over a year later, many residents are still displaced, and some have been struck with an impossible burden of paying tens of thousands of dollars to reconnect their homes to power lines.

Southern California Edison announced last April that it would rebuild the power grid in affected areas as an underground system rather than traditional above-ground power lines.

However, due to a state policy in place before the wildfires, residents are responsible for paying to connect their electric service to the underground infrastructure.

Some Altadena residents said they were quoted $20,000 to $40,000 to connect to power.

Altadena Town Councilmember Connor Cipolla told the Los Angeles Times that residents were 'angry' about the expensive price tag, adding that the community was 'completely blindsided.'

Cipolla said that the electrical panel on the back of his house is yards away from where he needs to connect to the power line.

(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...


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California has taken screwing taxpayers to an art form

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1 posted on 02/18/2026 7:30:02 AM PST by V_TWIN
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To: V_TWIN

Indeed it’s unlimited and expected.


2 posted on 02/18/2026 7:31:25 AM PST by Vaduz (NEVER TRUST A DEMOCRAT)
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To: V_TWIN

California govt: “We burn it down, you pay to fix it.”


3 posted on 02/18/2026 7:34:34 AM PST by SaxxonWoods (Annnd....I voted for this too!)
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To: V_TWIN
adding that the community was 'completely blindsided.'

Why? Maybe this particular instance was a surprise, but the idea that each stage of rebuilding would be oppressively expensive should not blindside anyone. Its the blindingly obvious result of state policies that overregulate building. What do people think they are voting for when they elect politicians who promise to put these regulations in place?

4 posted on 02/18/2026 7:34:47 AM PST by Opinionated Blowhard (When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.)
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To: V_TWIN

This is to get them to sell to developers who are salivating at getting these properties so they can build mega mansions or apartment buildings.

Newsom has promised $$ for “affordable housing” in these areas:

“Governor Gavin Newsom announced the release of $101 million to help rapidly rebuild critically needed, affordable multifamily rental housing in the fire-devastated Los Angeles region. “

Ditto for Pacific Palisades - where residents can’t seem to get a building permit after more than a year. You can be sure those permits will be streamlined for the developers.


5 posted on 02/18/2026 7:36:17 AM PST by Bon of Babble (You Say You Want a Revolution?)
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To: Opinionated Blowhard

Democrats seem to not be capable of understanding their own power, as adults.


6 posted on 02/18/2026 7:37:12 AM PST by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: V_TWIN

They want these residents to give up and leave, so they can seize the land.


7 posted on 02/18/2026 7:40:35 AM PST by Apparatchik (Русские свиньи, идите домой)
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To: V_TWIN

California continues to provide overwhelming evidence that it continues to transform into a Demonicrat hellhole.


8 posted on 02/18/2026 7:42:05 AM PST by Carl Vehse
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To: V_TWIN

Ain’t Communism wonderful.


9 posted on 02/18/2026 7:42:21 AM PST by bray (It's not racist to be racist against races the DNC hates.)
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To: Bon of Babble

“residents can’t seem to get a building permit after more than a year”

Oh that’s the California Coastal Commission doing the bidding of greasy Gavin.

If your not familiar with that organization, think Nazi HOA, only it’s regional and has no oversight.

And yes I agree, this is just one more roadblock designed to make property owners give up and sell.


10 posted on 02/18/2026 7:42:32 AM PST by V_TWIN (America....so great even the people that hate it won't leave)
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To: V_TWIN

“California has taken screwing taxpayers to an art form”

We do it with fees here in Colorado.


11 posted on 02/18/2026 7:54:21 AM PST by dljordan (Yeah, I'm a Boomer and it's all my fault you whiny little bitch.)
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To: V_TWIN

All the lines are down and San Francisco’s gay
I’ve been for a walk on a smokey day,
I’d be safe and warm if I weren’t in L.A.
California schemin’ on such a hucksters day


12 posted on 02/18/2026 7:57:51 AM PST by Beowulf9
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To: V_TWIN

There are hundreds of things the state of California could quit paying for, with no ill affect to society, and use the money to help the citizens of the Palisades get final rescue. But the Dims won’t do it; as hundreds of their NGOs across the state would have to close up shop.


13 posted on 02/18/2026 8:30:38 AM PST by Wuli ( )
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To: V_TWIN

Probably a lot more people would be moving out except for the cost factor...and if they stay they will certainly need electricity whether they have enough left for groceries or not. Seems to me there are a certain bunch in California, starting with Newsom, that need to be taken out behind the barn & horsewhipped.


14 posted on 02/18/2026 8:37:33 AM PST by oldtech
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To: bray

The word “wonderful” doesn’t come to mind. Wish there was a way for the average citizen to sue the people responsible for all this to bankruptcy.


15 posted on 02/18/2026 8:40:32 AM PST by oldtech
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To: V_TWIN

I wonder if that fee falls onto a lot of insurance companies. I know that i have a “replacement” value on my home. Would that be covered?

If it is…no wonder they are jacking up the prices.


16 posted on 02/18/2026 8:47:26 AM PST by Vermont Lt
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To: V_TWIN

“California and bust!”


17 posted on 02/18/2026 8:48:24 AM PST by FlingWingFlyer (**** ICE (Illegal Criminal Emigrants).)
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To: Vermont Lt

“I wonder if that fee falls onto a lot of insurance companies.”

Knowing what I know about insurance companies im sure they’ve already found a loophole to keep them from having to pony up that fee.

Insurance, whether home, health or auto is now as much a racket as anything else.


18 posted on 02/18/2026 9:01:47 AM PST by V_TWIN (America....so great even the people that hate it won't leave)
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To: V_TWIN

There is no low commiefornia won’t stoop to.


19 posted on 02/18/2026 9:36:48 AM PST by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
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To: No name given

The last thing they want is homes to be reguilt.


20 posted on 02/18/2026 9:39:07 AM PST by bray (It's not racist to be racist against races the DNC hates.)
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