SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON CO
8-K/A, 2000-01-24
ELECTRIC SERVICES
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549



                                   FORM 8-K/A

                                 AMENDMENT NO. 1

                                 CURRENT REPORT



                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934




       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 19, 2000



                       SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON COMPANY
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



             CALIFORNIA                    001-2313              95-1240335
 (State of principal jurisdiction of   (Commission file       (I.R.S. employer
   incorporation of organization)           number)          identification no.)



                            2244 Walnut Grove Avenue
                                 (P.O. Box 800)
                           Rosemead, California 91770
          (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

                                  626-302-1212
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


<PAGE>

Item 5.  Other Events

         On January 19, 2000,  Southern California Edison Company agreed to sell
$250,000,000  aggregate  principal amount of its Notes, Due 2010 ("Notes").  For
further  information  concerning the Notes,  refer to the exhibits  contained in
this Current Report on Form 8-K.

Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

(c)      Exhibits

Exhibit
Number                              Description
- ---------                         ----------------

1.   Underwriting Agreement dated January 19, 2000

4.1  Indenture  Dated as of January  15, 1993 (File No.  1-2313,  Form 8-K dated
     January 28, 1993)*

4.2  Authorized Officer's Certificate of Southern California Edison Company

5.   Opinion of Counsel

12.  Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges


- -------------------------
 * Incorporated by reference pursuant to Rule 411.




<PAGE>




                                   SIGNATURES


Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                      SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON COMPANY
                                                (Registrant)



                                            MARY C. SIMPSON
                                      ------------------------------------
                                            MARY C. SIMPSON
                                          Assistant Treasurer



January 24, 2000




                       SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON COMPANY

                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

                                 DEBT SECURITIES



To the Representatives named
    in Schedule I hereto
    of the Underwriters named
    in Schedule II hereto

Dear Sirs:

        Southern  California  Edison  Company,  a  California  corporation  (the
"Company"),  proposes  to sell to the  underwriters  named in Schedule II hereto
(the   "Underwriters")   for  whom  you  are  acting  as  representatives   (the
"Representatives"),  the  principal  amount  of  its  securities  identified  in
Schedule I hereto (the  "Securities").  The  Securities  will be issued under an
indenture,  dated as of January 15, 1993 (the "Indenture"),  between the Company
and Harris Trust and Savings  Bank, as trustee (the  "Trustee").  If the firm or
firms  listed in Schedule  II hereto  include  only the firm or firms  listed in
Schedule I hereto, then the terms "Underwriters" and  "Representatives," as used
herein, shall each be deemed to refer to such firm or firms.

        1.  Representations and Warranties.  The Company represents and warrants
to, and agrees with, each Underwriter that:

               (a) The Company meets the  requirements for use of Form S-3 under
        the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act") and has filed with the Securities
        and Exchange  Commission (the "Commission") a registration  statement on
        such Form (the file  number of which is set forth in Schedule I hereto),
        which has become  effective,  for the registration  under the Act of the
        Securities.  Such registration statement, as amended at the date of this
        Agreement,  meets the requirements set forth in Rule 415(a)(1)(x)  under
        the Act and complies in all other material  respects with said Rule. The
        Company  proposes  to file with the  Commission  pursuant to Rule 424(b)
        under the Act an  amendment  and  supplement  to the form of  prospectus
        included in such registration  statement  relating to the Securities and
        the plan of distribution  thereof and has previously  advised you of all
        further information (financial and other) with respect to the Company to
        be  set  forth  therein.  Such  registration  statement,  including  the
        exhibits  thereto,  as  amended  at  the  date  of  this  Agreement,  is
        hereinafter called the "Registration  Statement;" such prospectus in the
        form in which it appears in the  Registration  Statement is  hereinafter
        called the "Basic Prospectus;" and such supplemented form of prospectus,
        in the form in which it shall be filed with the  Commission  pursuant to
        Rule  424(b)   (including  the  Basic   Prospectus  as  so  amended  and
        supplemented)  is  hereinafter   called  the  "Final   Prospectus."  Any
        preliminary form of the Final Prospectus which has heretofore been filed
        pursuant to Rule 424(b) is  hereinafter  called the  "Preliminary  Final
        Prospectus."  Any reference herein to the  Registration  Statement,  the
        Basic  Prospectus,   any  Preliminary  Final  Prospectus  or  the  Final
        Prospectus  shall  be  deemed  to  refer to and  include  the  documents
        incorporated by reference  therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 which
        were filed  under the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934 (the  "Exchange
        Act") on or before the date of this Agreement,  or the issue date of the
        Basic  Prospectus,   any  Preliminary  Final  Prospectus  or  the  Final
        Prospectus,  as the case may be; and any  reference  herein to the terms
        "amend,"  "amendment" or "supplement"  with respect to the  Registration
        Statement, the Basic

<PAGE>

        Prospectus,  any Preliminary  Final  Prospectus or the Final  Prospectus
        shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under
        the Exchange Act after the date of this Agreement,  or the issue date of
        the Basic  Prospectus,  any  Preliminary  Final  Prospectus or the Final
        Prospectus,  as the case may be,  deemed to be  incorporated  therein by
        reference.

               (b) As of the date  hereof,  when the Final  Prospectus  is first
        filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act, when,  prior to the Closing
        Date  (as  hereinafter  defined),  any  amendment  to  the  Registration
        Statement  becomes  effective  (including  the  filing  of any  document
        incorporated  by  reference  in the  Registration  Statement),  when any
        supplement to the Final  Prospectus is filed with the  Commission and at
        the Closing Date, (i) the Registration  Statement,  as amended as of any
        such time, and the Final  Prospectus,  as amended or  supplemented as of
        any such time,  and the Indenture  will comply in all material  respects
        with the applicable  requirements of the Act, the Trust Indenture Act of
        1939 (the "Trust Indenture Act") and the Exchange Act and the respective
        rules thereunder and (ii) neither the Registration Statement, as amended
        as  of  any  such  time,  nor  the  Final  Prospectus,   as  amended  or
        supplemented as of any such time, will contain any untrue statement of a
        material  fact or omit to state any material  fact required to be stated
        therein  or  necessary  in  order  to make the  statements  therein  not
        misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no representations
        or warranties as to (x) that part of the  Registration  Statement  which
        shall  constitute the Statement of Eligibility and  Qualification  (Form
        T-1) under the Trust Indenture Act of the Trustee or (y) the information
        contained  in or omitted  from the  Registration  Statement or the Final
        Prospectus  or any amendment  thereof or supplement  thereto in reliance
        upon and in  conformity  with  information  furnished  in writing to the
        Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter  through the  Representatives
        specifically   for  use  in  connection  with  the  preparation  of  the
        Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus. For purposes of Section
        1(b)(y),  the Company  acknowledges  that the table of Underwriters  and
        principal amounts and the statements set forth in the second, third, and
        fourth  paragraphs  under  the  heading   "Underwriting"  in  the  Final
        Prospectus constitute the only information furnished in writing by or on
        behalf of the several Underwriters.

        2.  Purchase  and  Sale.  Subject  to the terms  and  conditions  and in
reliance upon the  representations  and warranties herein set forth, the Company
agrees to sell to each Underwriter,  and each Underwriter agrees,  severally and
not jointly,  to purchase from the Company,  at the purchase  price set forth in
Schedule I hereto the principal amount of the Securities set forth opposite such
Underwriter's name in Schedule II hereto.

        3. Delivery and Payment.  Delivery of  certificates  for the  Securities
shall be made to the nominee of The  Depository  Trust Company in New York,  New
York, on the date and time  specified in Schedule I hereto,  and payment for the
Securities shall be made at the office, on the date and at the time specified in
Schedule I hereto, which date and time may be postponed by agreement between the
Representatives  and the Company or as  provided in Section 9 hereof  (such date
and time of delivery  and payment for the  Securities  being  herein  called the
"Closing  Date").  Delivery of certificates  for the Securities shall be made to
the nominee of The Depository  Trust Company for the respective  accounts of the
several  Underwriters  against  payment of the purchase price thereof payable to
the Company in the funds  specified in Schedule I hereto.  Certificates  for the
Securities  shall be registered in such names and in such  denominations  as the
Representatives  may request not less than one full  business  day in advance of
the Closing Date.

        The Company  agrees to have  certificates  representing  the  Securities
available  for  inspection,  checking and packaging by the  Representatives  not
later than 3:00 PM,  New York time,  on the  business  day prior to the  Closing
Date.  All  references  herein to  "certificates"  shall mean one or more global
securities  registered  in the  name  of The  Depository  Trust  Company  or its
nominee.

<PAGE>

        4.   Agreements.  The Company agrees with the several Underwriters that:

               (a) Prior to the  termination of the offering of the  Securities,
        the Company will not file any amendment to the Registration Statement or
        amendment or supplement  (including  the Final  Prospectus) to the Basic
        Prospectus  unless the Company has furnished the  Representatives a copy
        for review prior to filing and will not file any such proposed amendment
        or supplement to which the Representatives reasonably object. Subject to
        the foregoing  sentence,  the Company will cause the Final Prospectus to
        be filed with the Commission in accordance with the requirements of Rule
        424(b).  The Company will promptly advise the  Representatives  (i) when
        the Final Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission  pursuant
        to Rule 424(b),  (ii) when any amendment to the  Registration  Statement
        relating to the  Securities  shall have become  effective,  (iii) of any
        request  by  the  Commission  for  any  amendment  of  the  Registration
        Statement or amendment of or supplement  to the Final  Prospectus or for
        any  additional  information,  (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of
        any  stop  order  suspending  the   effectiveness  of  the  Registration
        Statement or the  institution  or threatening of any proceeding for that
        purpose and (v) of the receipt by the Company of any  notification  with
        respect to the  suspension of the  qualification  of the  Securities for
        sale  in  any  jurisdiction  or the  initiation  or  threatening  of any
        proceeding  for such  purpose.  The  Company  will use every  reasonable
        effort to prevent the issuance of any such stop order and, if issued, to
        obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.

               (b) If, at any time when a prospectus  relating to the Securities
        is required to be delivered  under the Act, any event occurs as a result
        of which the Final  Prospectus  as then  amended or  supplemented  would
        include  any untrue  statement  of a material  fact or omit to state any
        material fact necessary to make the  statements  therein in the light of
        the  circumstances  under which they were made not misleading,  or if it
        shall be necessary to amend or supplement the Final Prospectus to comply
        with the Act or the Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder, the
        Company  promptly will prepare and file with the Commission,  subject to
        the first  sentence of paragraph  (a) of this Section 4, an amendment or
        supplement which will correct such statement or omission or an amendment
        which will effect such compliance.

               (c) As soon as  practicable,  the  Company  will  make  generally
        available to its security holders and to the Representatives an earnings
        statement or statements of the Company which will satisfy the provisions
        of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158 under the Act.

               (d) The Company will furnish to the  Representatives  and counsel
        for  the  Underwriters,  without  charge,  copies  of  the  Registration
        Statement  (including exhibits thereto) and each amendment thereto which
        shall  become  effective on or prior to the Closing Date and, so long as
        delivery of a prospectus by an  Underwriter or dealer may be required by
        the Act,  as many copies of any  Preliminary  Final  Prospectus  and the
        Prospectus and any  amendments  thereof and  supplements  thereto as the
        Representatives  may  reasonably  request.  The  Company  will  pay  the
        expenses of printing all documents relating to the offering.

               (e) The  Company  agrees to use its best  efforts to qualify  the
        Securities and to assist in the qualification of the Securities by or on
        behalf of the  Representatives  or of any of one or more of the  several
        Underwriters   for  sale   under   the  laws  of  such   States  as  the
        Representatives may designate, to maintain such qualifications in effect
        so long as required for the distribution of the Securities and to assist
        in the  determination  of the legality of the Securities for purchase by
        institutional   investors   under  the  laws  of  such   States  as  the
        Representatives may designate; provided that the Company shall

<PAGE>

        not be required to qualify as a foreign  corporation in any State, or to
        consent to service  of process in any State  other than with  respect to
        claims arising out of the offering or sale of the Securities.

               (f) Until the  business  day  following  the  Closing  Date,  the
        Company  will not,  without the consent of the  Representatives,  offer,
        sell or  contract  to  sell,  or  announce  the  offering  of,  any debt
        securities  (i)  covered  by the  Registration  Statement  or any  other
        registration  statement  filed under the Act or (ii) to  purchasers  for
        resale in  reliance on the  exemption  from  registration  under the Act
        provided by Rule 144A under the Act.

        5. Conditions to the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations of
the  Underwriters to purchase the Securities shall be subject to the accuracy of
the  representations  and warranties on the part of the Company contained herein
as of the date hereof,  as of the date of the  effectiveness of any amendment to
the Registration Statement filed prior to the Closing Date (including the filing
of any document  incorporated by reference  therein) and as of the Closing Date,
to the  accuracy  of the  statements  of the  Company  made in any  certificates
pursuant to the  provisions  hereof,  to the  performance  by the Company of its
obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

               (a)  No  stop  order   suspending   the   effectiveness   of  the
        Registration  Statement,  as amended from time to time,  shall have been
        issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or
        threatened;  and the Final  Prospectus  shall  have been  filed with the
        Commission in accordance with the requirements of Rule 424(b).

               (b)  At  or  before  the  Closing  Date,  the  Public   Utilities
        Commission of the State of California and any other regulatory authority
        whose  consent or approval  shall be required  for the issue and sale of
        the  Securities by the Company as herein  provided shall have entered an
        order or orders  authorizing the issue and sale of the Securities by the
        Company on the terms set forth in the Final  Prospectus and herein,  and
        at the  Closing  Date such  order or orders  shall be in full  force and
        effect.

               (c) At the Closing Date, the Representatives  shall have received
        the written opinion, dated the Closing Date, of Stephen E. Pickett, Vice
        President and General  Counsel of the Company,  or Barbara E. Mathews or
        Kenneth S. Stewart, each an Assistant General Counsel of the Company, to
        the effect that:

                      (i) The Company is a  corporation  validly  organized  and
               existing  in  good  standing  under  the  laws  of the  State  of
               California;  the  Company  has  full  corporate  power to own its
               properties and conduct its business as now being  conducted;  and
               the Company is duly  qualified  and in good standing as a foreign
               corporation  under the laws of the States of Arizona,  Nevada and
               New Mexico;

                      (ii) The Indenture has been duly authorized,  executed and
               delivered,  is qualified  under the Trust Indenture Act, and is a
               legally valid and binding  instrument,  enforceable in accordance
               with  its  terms,   except  as  enforcement  may  be  limited  by
               bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,  moratorium or other laws
               or equitable principles relating to or limiting creditors' rights
               generally;

                      (iii) The Securities  have been duly  authorized and, when
               executed,  authenticated,  issued and delivered  against  payment
               therefor in accordance  with the  Indenture  and this  Agreement,
               will  constitute  legally  valid and binding  obligations  of the
               Company, enforceable


<PAGE>
               in accordance with their terms,  subject,  as to enforcement,  to
               the matters set forth in clause (ii) above;

                      (iv) The Registration Statement has become effective under
               the Act, and, to the best of the  knowledge of such  counsel:  no
               stop  order  suspending  the  effectiveness  of the  Registration
               Statement  or  of  any  part  thereof  has  been  issued  and  no
               proceedings  for that purpose have been instituted or are pending
               or contemplated under the Act; the Registration Statement and the
               Final Prospectus,  and each amendment or supplement  thereto,  if
               any, as of their respective effective or issue dates, complied as
               to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Act
               and the Trust  Indenture Act, and the applicable  published rules
               and regulations of the Commission  thereunder,  and no facts have
               come to such  counsel's  attention  which  lead such  counsel  to
               believe that the Registration  Statement or the Final Prospectus,
               or any amendment or supplement  thereto,  as of their  respective
               effective or issue  dates,  contained  any untrue  statement of a
               material  fact or omitted to state any material  fact required to
               be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
               misleading,  or that the Final  Prospectus,  at the Closing Date,
               contained  any untrue  statement of a material fact or omitted to
               state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements
               therein,  in light of the  circumstances  under  which  they were
               made, not misleading;  the documents incorporated by reference in
               the Final  Prospectus,  when they became  effective or were filed
               with the  Commission,  as the case may be, complied as to form in
               all material  respects  with the  requirements  of the Act or the
               Exchange Act, as applicable,  and the applicable  published rules
               and regulations of the Commission thereunder; the descriptions in
               the  Registration  Statement and the Final  Prospectus of federal
               and  state  statutes,  legal  and  governmental  proceedings  and
               contracts and other documents are accurate and fairly present the
               information  required to be shown; and such counsel does not know
               of any legal or governmental proceedings required to be described
               in the Final  Prospectus,  which are not described as required or
               of any  contracts  or  documents  of a  character  required to be
               described in the  Registration  Statement or the Final Prospectus
               or to be filed as exhibits to the  Registration  Statement  which
               are not described and filed as required; it being understood that
               such  counsel  need not pass upon the  financial  statements  and
               other financial data contained in the  Registration  Statement or
               the Final Prospectus;

                      (v) All legally  required  proceedings in connection  with
               the  authorization  of the Securities,  the issue and sale of the
               Securities by the Company  pursuant hereto and the  authorization
               of the  transactions  related  to such  authorization,  issue and
               sale, and all such approvals,  authorizations,  consents or other
               orders of such public boards of bodies, if any, as may be legally
               required  with respect to all or any of such  matters,  have been
               had or obtained, except that the offer and sale of the Securities
               in certain  jurisdictions may be subject to the provisions of the
               securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions;

                      (vi)  The  execution,  delivery  and  performance  of  the
               Indenture  and  this  Agreement,  the  issuance  and  sale of the
               Securities,  and compliance with the terms and provisions  hereof
               or thereof,  will not result in a breach or  violation  of any of
               the terms and provisions  of, or constitute a default under,  the
               charter  or  bylaws  of  the  Company,   or,  to  such  counsel's
               knowledge,   any  statute,  rule,  regulation  or  order  of  any
               governmental agency or body or any court having jurisdiction over
               the Company or its  subsidiaries  or any of its properties or any
               agreement  or  instrument  to  which  the  Company  or  any  such
               subsidiary  is a  party  or by  which  the  Company  or any  such
               subsidiary  is  bound or to which  any of the  properties  of the
               Company or any such subsidiary is subject; and

<PAGE>

                    (vii) This Agreement has been duly authorized,  executed and
               delivered by the Company.

          In rendering the opinion called for above,  Mr. Pickett,  Ms. Mathews,
or Mr. Stewart,  as the case may be, may rely upon  appropriate  certificates of
public  officials and officers or employees of the Company and the Trustee as to
factual  matters,  provided  that such  counsel  shall  state that such  counsel
believes that both such counsel and the Representatives are justified in relying
upon such certificates and opinions. As to all matters governed by New York law,
Mr. Pickett, Ms. Mathews, or Mr. Stewart, as the case may be, will rely upon the
opinion of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP.

        In rendering the opinion called for by clauses (ii) and (iii) above, Mr.
Pickett,  Ms. Mathews,  or Mr. Stewart,  as the case may be, may state that such
counsel is expressing no opinion as to the  availability  of equitable  remedies
and may  advise  that a  California  court  may  not  strictly  enforce  certain
covenants of the Indenture or the  Securities or allow  acceleration  of the due
date of the  Securities if it concludes that such  enforcement  or  acceleration
would be unreasonable under the then existing  circumstances,  although, in such
counsel's opinion, acceleration would be available if an event of default occurs
as a result  of a  material  breach  of a  material  covenant  contained  in the
Indenture or the Securities.

               (d) The  Representatives  shall have received from Gibson, Dunn &
        Crutcher LLP,  counsel for the  Underwriters,  such opinion or opinions,
        dated the Closing  Date,  with  respect to the  issuance and sale of the
        Securities,   the  Indenture,  the  Registration  Statement,  the  Final
        Prospectus  and  other  related  matters  as  the   Representatives  may
        reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel
        such  documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass
        upon such matters.

               (e) The Representatives  shall have received  certificates of the
        Chairman  of the  Board,  the  President  or any Vice  President  of the
        Company,  dated the Closing  Date, to the effect that the signer of such
        certificate has carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Final
        Prospectus  and this  Agreement  and  that to the best of such  signer's
        knowledge after reasonable investigation:

                      (i) the  representations  and warranties of the Company in
               this  Agreement are true and correct in all material  respects on
               and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as if made on the
               Closing Date and the Company has complied with all the agreements
               and satisfied  all the  conditions on its part to be performed or
               satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date;

                      (ii) no stop order  suspending  the  effectiveness  of the
               Registration  Statement,  as  amended,  has  been  issued  and no
               proceedings  for that  purpose  have been  instituted  or, to the
               Company's knowledge, threatened; and

                      (iii)  since  the  date  of  the  most  recent   financial
               statements  included or  incorporated  by  reference in the Final
               Prospectus,  there  has been no  material  adverse  change in the
               financial  condition  or results of  operations  of the  Company,
               except as set forth in or contemplated in the Final Prospectus or
               as described in such certificate.

               (f) On the date hereof,  Arthur Andersen LLP shall have furnished
        to the  Representatives  a letter or letters (which may refer to letters
        previously delivered to one or more of the Representatives)  dated as of
        the  date   hereof,   in  form  and   substance   satisfactory   to  the
        Representatives,  confirming that they are independent  accountants with
        respect to the Company within the meaning of the Act and the

<PAGE>

        Exchange  Act  and  the  respective   applicable   published  rules  and
        regulations thereunder, and stating in effect that:

                      (i) in their opinion the audited financial  statements and
               financial  statement  schedules  included or  incorporated in the
               Registration  Statement and the Final  Prospectus and reported on
               by them  comply  as to form in all  material  respects  with  the
               applicable  accounting  requirements  of the Act and the Exchange
               Act and the related published rules and regulations;

                      (ii) on the basis of a  reading  of the  latest  unaudited
               financial statements made available by the Company;  carrying out
               certain   specified   procedures   (but  not  an  examination  in
               accordance  with generally  accepted  auditing  standards)  which
               would not necessarily reveal matters of significance with respect
               to the  comments  set  forth in such  letter;  a  reading  of the
               minutes  of the  meetings  of  the  stockholders,  directors  and
               executive  committee  of the  Company;  and  inquiries of certain
               officials of the Company who have  responsibility  for  financial
               and  accounting  matters of the  Company as to  transactions  and
               events  subsequent  to  the  date  of  the  most  recent  audited
               financial statements  incorporated in the Registration  Statement
               and the Final  Prospectus,  nothing came to their attention which
               caused them to believe that:

                             (1) any unaudited financial  statements included or
                      incorporated in the  Registration  Statement and the Final
                      Prospectus  do not  comply  as to  form  in  all  material
                      respects with applicable accounting  requirements and with
                      the published rules and regulations of the Commission with
                      respect to financial  statements  included or incorporated
                      in quarterly reports on Form 10-Q of the Company under the
                      Exchange Act; and said unaudited financial  statements are
                      not fairly presented (except as permitted by Form 10-Q) in
                      conformity with generally accepted  accounting  principles
                      applied on a basis  substantially  consistent with that of
                      the audited financial  statements included or incorporated
                      in the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus; or

                             (2) with  respect to the period  subsequent  to the
                      date of the most recent financial statements  incorporated
                      in the  Registration  Statement and the Final  Prospectus,
                      there  were  any  decreases,  at the  date  of the  latest
                      available unaudited  financial  statements prepared by the
                      Company, in the stockholders' equity of the Company or any
                      changes,  at a specified  date not more than five business
                      days  prior to the date of the  letter,  in the  long-term
                      debt or capital  stock of the Company  (other than changes
                      resulting  from  conversions  of  outstanding  securities,
                      drawdowns  of and  earnings  on  funds  held in  trust  in
                      connection  with pollution  control bonds and issuances of
                      stock under  existing  stock  plans) as compared  with the
                      amounts  shown on the  most  recent  consolidated  balance
                      sheet  included  or  incorporated   in  the   Registration
                      Statement and the Final Prospectus, or for the period from
                      the  date  of  the  most   recent   financial   statements
                      incorporated in the  Registration  Statement and the Final
                      Prospectus to the date of the latest  available  unaudited
                      financial  statements  prepared by the Company  there were
                      any decreases,  as compared with the corresponding  period
                      in the preceding year, in total operating  revenues or net
                      income,  except in all  instances for changes or decreases
                      set forth in such  letter,  in which case the letter shall
                      be  accompanied by an explanation by the Company as to the
                      significance thereof unless said explanation is not deemed
                      necessary by the Representatives; and
<PAGE>

                      (iii)  they  have   performed   certain  other   specified
               procedures  as a result of which  they  determined  that  certain
               information  of an accounting,  financial or  statistical  nature
               (which  is  limited  to  accounting,   financial  or  statistical
               information  derived from the general  accounting  records of the
               Company) set forth in the Registration Statement, as amended, and
               the Final Prospectus,  as amended or supplemented,  including the
               information  included or  incorporated in Items 1, 2, 6, 7 and 11
               of the Company's annual report on Form 10-K incorporated  therein
               or  in   "Management's   Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial
               Condition and Results of Operations"  included or incorporated in
               any of the Company's  quarterly reports on Form 10-Q incorporated
               therein,  agrees with the  accounting  records of the Company and
               its    subsidiaries,    excluding    any   questions   of   legal
               interpretation.

        In  addition,  at the  Closing  Date,  Arthur  Andersen  LLP shall  have
furnished  to the  Representatives  a letter or letters,  in form and  substance
satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect set forth in the introductory
paragraph to this paragraph (f), in subparagraphs (i) and (ii) (1) above and, to
the  extent   referring  to  information   contained  in  Exchange  Act  reports
incorporated  in  the  Registration  Statement  and  the  Final  Prospectus,  in
subparagraph (iii) above.

               (g) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is
        given in the  Registration  Statement  and the Final  Prospectus,  there
        shall not have been (i) any  material  adverse  change  described in the
        certificate  referred to in  paragraph  (e) of this  Section 5, (ii) any
        change or  decrease  specified  in the letter or letters  referred to in
        paragraph (f) of this Section 5 or (iii) any change,  or any development
        involving  a  prospective  change,  in  or  affecting  the  business  or
        properties of the Company and its  subsidiaries  the effect of which, in
        any case  referred to in clause  (i),  (ii) or (iii)  above,  is, in the
        judgment of the  Representatives,  so material and adverse as to make it
        impractical  or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or the delivery
        of the Securities as contemplated by the Registration  Statement and the
        Final Prospectus.

               (h)  Subsequent to the execution of this  Agreement,  there shall
        not have been any decrease in the ratings of any of the  Company's  debt
        securities  by Moody's  Investor  Services or  Standard & Poor's  Rating
        Services.

               (i) At or prior to the  Closing  Date,  the  Company  shall  have
        furnished to the Representatives such further information,  certificates
        and documents as the  Representatives  may  reasonably  request and such
        additional opinions and letters as are provided for in Schedule I.

        If any of the conditions specified in this Section 5 shall not have been
fulfilled in all material respects when and as provided in this Agreement, or if
any of the  opinions  and  certificates  mentioned  above or  elsewhere  in this
Agreement shall not be in all material respects reasonably  satisfactory in form
and substance to the Representatives,  this Agreement and all obligations of the
Underwriters hereunder may be cancelled at, or at any time prior to, the Closing
Date by the  Representatives.  Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the
Company in writing or by telephone or telegraph confirmed in writing.

        6. Conditions to the Obligations of the Company.  The obligations of the
Company to sell and deliver  the  Securities  shall be subject to the  following
conditions:

               (a)  No  stop  order   suspending   the   effectiveness   of  the
        Registration  Statement,  as amended from time to time,  shall have been
        issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or
        threatened.

<PAGE>

               (b)  At  or  before  the  Closing  Date,  the  Public   Utilities
        Commission of the State of California and any other regulatory authority
        whose  consent or approval  shall be required  for the issue and sale of
        the Securities to the Underwriters as herein provided shall have entered
        an order or orders  authorizing  the issue and sale of the Securities on
        the  terms  set forth in the Final  Prospectus  and  herein,  and at the
        Closing Date such order or orders shall be in full force and effect.

               (c) Concurrently  with or prior to the delivery of the Securities
        to the several Underwriters, the Company shall receive the full purchase
        price herein specified for the Securities.

        If any of the conditions specified in this Section 6 shall not have been
fulfilled  when  and as  provided  in this  Agreement,  this  Agreement  and all
obligations  of the Company  hereunder  may be canceled at, or at any time prior
to,  the  Closing  Date.  Notice  of such  cancellation  shall  be  given to the
Representatives in writing or by telephone or telegraph confirmed in writing.

        7.  Reimbursement  of Underwriters'  Expenses.  The Company will pay all
expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement and
will  reimburse  the  Underwriters  for, or pay on their  behalf,  any  expenses
(including  fees and  disbursements  of counsel)  incurred by them in connection
with  qualification  of the  Securities  for  sale  and  determination  of their
eligibility  for  investment  under  the  laws  of  such  jurisdictions  as  the
Representatives  may designate and the printing of memoranda  relating  thereto,
for any fees  charged  by  investment  rating  agencies  for the  rating  of the
Securities,  for  any  filing  fee of the  National  Association  of  Securities
Dealers,   Inc.  relating  to  the  Securities  and  for  expenses  incurred  in
distributing  the  Prospectus  and  all  supplements  thereto,  any  preliminary
prospectuses and any preliminary prospectus supplements to each Underwriter. The
Company also will reimburse the Underwriters  for, or pay on their behalf,  fees
and  disbursements  of  counsel  incurred  by them in excess of  $35,000  in the
aggregate in connection  with the issuance,  purchase and sale of the Securities
and matters related  thereto;  provided that fees and  disbursements  to counsel
incurred  in  connection  with  qualification  of the  Securities  for  sale and
determination  of  their  eligibility  for  investment  under  the  laws of such
jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate and the printing of memoranda
relating  thereto  shall not be counted  when  determining  whether such $35,000
amount has been reached.  If the sale of the  Securities  provided for herein is
not consummated because any condition to the obligations of the Underwriters set
forth in Section 5 hereof is not satisfied or because of any refusal,  inability
or failure on the part of the Company to perform any agreement  herein or comply
with any  provision  hereof  other  than by reason  of a  default  by any of the
Underwriters,  the Company will reimburse the Underwriters severally upon demand
for all out-of-pocket  expenses (including  reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel) that shall have been  incurred by them in connection  with the proposed
purchase and sale of the Securities.

        8. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify
and hold harmless each  Underwriter and each person who controls any Underwriter
within the  meaning of either the Act or the  Exchange  Act  against any and all
losses, claims,  damages or liabilities,  joint or several, to which they or any
of them may become  subject  under the Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or
state statutory law or regulation,  at common law or otherwise,  insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out
of or are based  upon any untrue  statement  or alleged  untrue  statement  of a
material fact contained in the  registration  statement for the  registration of
the Securities as originally filed or in any amendment thereof,  or in the Basic
Prospectus,  any Preliminary Final Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, or in any
amendment thereof or supplement  thereto,  or arise out of or are based upon the
omission or alleged  omission to state  therein a material  fact  required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements  therein not misleading,  and
agrees to reimburse each such indemnified  party for any legal or other expenses
reasonably  incurred by them in connection with  investigating  or defending any
such loss, claim, damage,


<PAGE>


liability or action; provided,  however, that (i) the Company will not be liable
in any such case to the extent that any such loss,  claim,  damage or  liability
arises  out of or is based upon any such  untrue  statement  or  alleged  untrue
statement or omission or alleged  omission  made therein in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information  furnished to the Company by or on behalf of
any Underwriter through the  Representatives  specifically for use in connection
with the preparation  thereof, and (ii) such indemnity with respect to the Basic
Prospectus or any Preliminary Final Prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of
any  Underwriter  (or any person  controlling  such  Underwriter)  from whom the
person  asserting  any such  loss,  claim,  damage or  liability  purchased  the
Securities  which are the subject  thereof if such person did not receive a copy
of the Final  Prospectus  (or the Final  Prospectus as amended or  supplemented)
excluding  documents  incorporated  therein  by  reference  at or  prior  to the
confirmation  of the sale of such  Securities  to such  person in any case where
such  delivery is required by the Act and the untrue  statement or omission of a
material  fact  contained  in the  Basic  Prospectus  or any  Preliminary  Final
Prospectus  was corrected in the Final  Prospectus  (or the Final  Prospectus as
amended  or  supplemented).   For  purposes  of  Section  8(a)(i),  the  Company
acknowledges  that the  table of  Underwriters  and  principal  amounts  and the
statements  set forth in the  second,  third,  and fourth  paragraphs  under the
heading  "Underwriting" in the Final Prospectus  constitute the only information
furnished in writing by or on behalf of the several Underwriters. This indemnity
agreement  will be in addition to any liability  which the Company may otherwise
have.

               (b) Each  Underwriter  severally  agrees  to  indemnify  and hold
        harmless the Company,  each of its  directors,  each of its officers who
        signs the  Registration  Statement,  and each  person who  controls  the
        Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, to the
        same  extent  as the  foregoing  indemnity  from  the  Company  to  each
        Underwriter,  but only with reference to written information relating to
        such  Underwriter  furnished  to the  Company  by or on  behalf  of such
        Underwriter  through  the  Representatives  specifically  for use in the
        preparation  of the documents  referred to in the  foregoing  indemnity.
        This indemnity  agreement will be in addition to any liability which any
        Underwriter may otherwise have. The Company  acknowledges that the table
        of  Underwriters  and principal  amounts and the statements set forth in
        the   second,   third,   and  fourth   paragraphs   under  the   heading
        "Underwriting"  in the Final Prospectus  constitute the only information
        furnished  in writing by or on behalf of the  several  Underwriters  for
        inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing  indemnity,  and
        you, as the Representatives, confirm that such statements are correct.

               (c) Promptly  after  receipt by an  indemnified  party under this
        Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action,  such indemnified
        party  will,  if a claim in respect  thereof is to be made  against  the
        indemnifying  party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying  party
        in writing of the  commencement  thereof;  but the omission so to notify
        the  indemnifying  party will not relieve it from any liability which it
        may have to any  indemnified  party otherwise than under this Section 8.
        In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it
        notifies  the  indemnifying  party  of  the  commencement  thereof,  the
        indemnifying party will be entitled to participate  therein,  and to the
        extent that it may elect by written notice  delivered to the indemnified
        party   promptly  after   receiving  the  aforesaid   notice  from  such
        indemnified   party,  to  assume  the  defense  thereof,   with  counsel
        satisfactory to such indemnified party;  provided,  however, that if the
        defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the
        indemnifying  party and the  indemnified  party  shall  have  reasonably
        concluded that there may be legal defenses  available to it and/or other
        indemnified  parties  which are  different  from or  additional to those
        available to the indemnifying  party,  the indemnified  party or parties
        shall have the right to select  separate  counsel  to assert  such legal
        defenses and to otherwise  participate  in the defense of such action on
        behalf of such indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of notice from
        the indemnifying  party to such indemnified  party of its election so to
        assume the defense of such action and approval by the indemnified  party
        of counsel, the


<PAGE>

        indemnifying  party will not be liable to such  indemnified  party under
        this Section 8 for any legal or other expenses  subsequently incurred by
        such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof unless (i)
        the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in connection
        with the assertion of legal  defenses in accordance  with the proviso to
        the next  preceding  sentence (it being  understood,  however,  that the
        indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one
        separate  counsel,  approved  by  the  Representatives  in the  case  of
        paragraph (a) of this Section 8,  representing  the indemnified  parties
        under  such  paragraph  (a) who are  parties to such  action),  (ii) the
        indemnifying  party shall not have employed counsel  satisfactory to the
        indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable
        time  after  notice  of   commencement   of  the  action  or  (iii)  the
        indemnifying  party has  authorized  the  employment  of counsel for the
        indemnified  party at the expense of the indemnifying  party; and except
        that, if clause (i) or (iii) is applicable, such liability shall be only
        in respect of the counsel referred to in such clause (i) or (iii).  Each
        indemnified party agrees promptly to notify each  indemnifying  party of
        the  commencement  of  any  litigation  or  proceedings  against  it  in
        connection with the issue and sale of the Securities.

               (d) In order to provide for just and  equitable  contribution  in
        circumstances in which the indemnification provided for in paragraph (a)
        of this  Section  8 is due in  accordance  with its terms but is for any
        reason held by a court to be unavailable  from the Company on grounds of
        policy or otherwise, the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on
        the other hand shall contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages
        and liabilities  (including legal or other expenses  reasonably incurred
        in connection with investigating or defending same) to which the Company
        and  one  or  more  of  the  Underwriters  may be  subject  (i) in  such
        proportion so that the  Underwriters  are  responsible  for that portion
        represented by the percentage  that the  underwriting  discount bears to
        the sum of  such  discount  and the  purchase  price  of the  Securities
        specified  in Schedule I hereto and the Company is  responsible  for the
        balance or (ii) if the  allocation  provided  by clause (i) above is not
        permitted by applicable  law, in such  proportion as is  appropriate  to
        reflect the relative  benefit  represented  by the  percentage  that the
        underwriting discount bears to the sum of such discount and the purchase
        price for the Securities  referred to in clause (i) above,  but also the
        relative  fault of the Company on the one hand and the  Underwriters  on
        the other in connection  with the statements or omissions which resulted
        in such loss,  claim,  damage or liability as well as any other relevant
        equitable  considerations.  The  relative  fault of the  Company and the
        Underwriters  shall be  determined  by reference to, among other things,
        whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
        omission  or  alleged  omission  to state a  material  fact  relates  to
        information supplied by the Company or the Underwriters and the parties'
        relative  intent,  knowledge,  access to information  and opportunity to
        correct or prevent such untrue  statement  or omission.  The Company and
        the  Underwriters  agree  that it  would  not be just and  equitable  if
        contribution pursuant to this subsection (d) were determined by pro rata
        allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such
        purpose)  or by any  other  method  of  allocation  which  does not take
        account  of the  equitable  considerations  referred  to  above  in this
        subsection (d).  Notwithstanding  anything in this subsection (d) to the
        contrary,  (x)  in no  case  shall  any  Underwriter  (except  as may be
        provided in any agreement among underwriters relating to the offering of
        the  Securities)  be  responsible  for  any  amount  in  excess  of  the
        underwriting  discount  applicable to the  Securities  purchased by such
        Underwriter   hereunder   and  (y)  no  person   guilty  of   fraudulent
        misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall
        be entitled to  contribution  from any person who was not guilty of such
        fraudulent   misrepresentation.   Each   Underwriter's   obligation   to
        contribute  as provided in this Section 8(d) is several in proportion to
        its  respective  underwriting  commitment  hereunder and not joint.  For
        purposes  of this  Section 8, each person who  controls  an  Underwriter
        within the meaning of either the Act or the  Exchange Act shall have the
        same  rights to  contribution  as the  Underwriter,  and each person who
        controls  the  Company  within  the  meaning  of  either  the Act or the
        Exchange Act, each officer of the Company who shall


<PAGE>


        have signed the Registration  Statement and each director of the Company
        shall have the same rights to  contribution  as the Company,  subject in
        each case to clause (x) of this  paragraph  (d).  Any party  entitled to
        contribution  will,  promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of
        any action,  suit or proceeding against such party in respect of which a
        claim for  contribution  may be made  against  another  party or parties
        under  this  paragraph  (d),  notify  such  party or  parties  from whom
        contribution may be sought,  but the omission to so notify such party or
        parties  shall not relieve the party or parties  from whom  contribution
        may be sought from any other obligation it or they may have hereunder or
        otherwise  than under this  paragraph  (d). No party shall be liable for
        contribution  with  respect to any action or claim  settled  without its
        consent.

        9. Default by an Underwriter. If any one or more Underwriters shall fail
to purchase  and pay for any of the  Securities  agreed to be  purchased by such
Underwriter  or  Underwriters  hereunder  and such  failure  to  purchase  shall
constitute a default in the performance of its or their  obligations  under this
Agreement,  the remaining  Underwriters shall be obligated  severally to take up
and pay for (in the  respective  proportions  which the amount of Securities set
forth opposite  their names in Schedule II hereto bears to the aggregate  amount
of Securities  set forth  opposite the names of all the remaining  Underwriters)
the Securities  which the  defaulting  Underwriter  or  Underwriters  agreed but
failed to purchase; provided, however, that in no event shall any non-defaulting
Underwriter be obligated to purchase additional  Securities under this Section 9
in an amount  exceeding 10% of the amount of the  Securities  set forth opposite
its name in Schedule II hereto. In the event that the amount of Securities which
all such  non-defaulting  Underwriters  shall be obligated to purchase under the
preceding  sentence  shall be less than the amount of Securities  which all such
defaulting  Underwriters  shall  have  failed to  purchase,  the  non-defaulting
Underwriters  shall  have the right (but not the  obligation)  to  purchase  the
remaining  Securities.  If all such  remaining  Securities  are not purchased by
non-defaulting  Underwriters as above provided,  the Company may, at its option,
(a) cancel this Agreement  pursuant to the provisions of Section 6 hereof or (b)
elect to proceed  with the sale and  delivery  hereunder of less than all of the
Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters. In the event of a default by any
Underwriter  as set forth in this Section 9, the Closing Date shall be postponed
for  such  period,  not  exceeding  seven  days,  as the  Representatives  shall
determine in order that the required changes in the  Registration  Statement and
the Final  Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected.
Nothing contained in this Agreement shall relieve any defaulting  Underwriter of
its liability,  if any, to the Company and any  non-defaulting  Underwriter  for
damages occasioned by its default hereunder.

        10.  Termination.  This Agreement shall be subject to termination in the
absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice given to the Company prior
to delivery of and payment for the Securities, if prior to such time (i) trading
in the Common Stock of Edison  International,  a California  corporation,  shall
have been  suspended by the Commission or the New York Stock Exchange or trading
in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended
or limited or minimum prices shall have been established on such Exchange,  (ii)
a banking  moratorium  shall  have been  declared  either by Federal or New York
State  authorities  or (iii) there shall have  occurred any outbreak or material
escalation of hostilities or other calamity or crisis the effect of which on the
financial markets of the United States is such as to make it, in the judgment of
the Representatives, impracticable to market the Securities.

        11.   Representations   and  Indemnities  to  Survive.   The  respective
agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the
Company or its officers and of the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to
this  Agreement  will  remain  in  full  force  and  effect,  regardless  of any
investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter,  or the Company or any of
the officers,  directors or controlling persons referred to in Section 8 hereof,
and will survive  delivery of and payment for the Securities.  The provisions of
Sections 7 and 8 hereof shall survive the  termination or  cancellation  of this
Agreement.


<PAGE>


        12.  Notices.  All  communications  hereunder  will  be in  writing  and
effective only on receipt, and, if sent to the Representatives,  will be mailed,
delivered or  telegraphed  and  confirmed to them,  at the address  specified in
Schedule I hereto;  or, if sent to the  Company,  will be mailed,  delivered  or
telegraphed  and  confirmed  to  it  at  2244  Walnut  Grove  Avenue,  Rosemead,
California 91770, attention of the Treasurer.

        13.  Successors.  This  Agreement  will  inure to the  benefit of and be
binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers
and directors and controlling  persons  referred to in Section 8 hereof,  and no
other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.

        14.  Applicable Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

        15.  Counsel for the  Underwriters.  As  discussed  in the  Registration
Statement, from time to time Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP performs legal services
for the Company and its subsidiaries  relating to special  matters.  The Company
and each  Underwriter  hereby  consent to Gibson,  Dunn & Crutcher LLP acting as
counsel  for the  Underwriters  in  connection  with the  offer  and sale of the
Securities.  The Company and each  Underwriter  hereby agree that if any dispute
should arise between the Company and any Underwriter  with respect to or arising
out of this Agreement or the offer and sale of the  Securities,  Gibson,  Dunn &
Crutcher  LLP would not  represent  either the  Company or the  Underwriters  in
connection with such dispute.


<PAGE>


        If  the  foregoing  is in  accordance  with  your  understanding  of our
agreement,  please sign and return to us a counterpart  hereof,  whereupon  this
letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the Company
and the several Underwriters.

                                                  Very truly yours,

                                    SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON COMPANY




                                  BY:           Mary C. Simpson
                                     -----------------------------------------
                                                Mary C. Simpson
                                              Assistant Treasurer


The  foregoing  Agreement  is  hereby  confirmed  and  accepted  as of the  date
specified in Schedule I hereto.

BY:  CHASE SECURITIES INC.


BY:    Michael B. Kanner
- -----------------------------
Name:  Michael B. Kanner
Title:   Vice President

For themselves and the other several Underwriters,  if any, named in Schedule II
to the foregoing Agreement.


<PAGE>


                                   SCHEDULE I



Underwriting Agreement dated January 19, 2000

Registration Statement No. 333-497

Representatives and Address:

      Chase Securities Inc.
      270 Park Avenue
      New York, NY 10017


Title, Purchase Price and Description of Securities:

      Title:     7-5/8% Notes, Due 2010
      Principal Amount:  $250,000,000

      Purchase  Price:  99.419% of the principal  amount of the Securities  plus
      accrued  interest from January 15, 2000 to January 24, 2000.

      Maturity:  January 15, 2010

      Interest:  7-5/8% per annum, from January 15, 2000, payable semiannually
      on January 15 and July 15, commencing July 15, 2000, to the holders of
      record on the preceding January 1 and July 1, respectively.


      Sinking Fund Provisions:  None

      Optional  Redemption:  At any  time at a  redemption  price  equal  to the
      greater of (i) the principal  amount or (ii) the sum of the present values
      of the  remaining  scheduled  payments of  principal  and  interest on the
      Notes,  discounted  to  the  date  of  redemption  on a  semiannual  basis
      (assuming  a 360-day  year  consisting  of twelve  30-day  months)  at the
      Treasury Yield as defined in the Final Prospectus plus 0.15%, plus in each
      case accrued interest to the date of redemption.

Closing Date and Time:  January 24, 2000, 7:00 AM, California time

Method of Payment:  Federal Reserve funds in Los Angeles, California

Modification of items to be covered by the letter from Arthur Andersen LLP
delivered pursuant to Section 5(f): None

Location of Closing:

      2244 Walnut Grove Avenue
      Rosemead, California 91770
      or as agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company.


<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE II




                                                              Principal
                                                               Amount
                                                             of Securities
                                                                 to be
 Underwriters                                                  Purchased
 ------------                                                -------------

 Chase Securities Inc......................................  $ 100,000,000

 Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc...................................  $ 100,000,000

 First Union Securities, Inc...............................  $  50,000,000
                                                             -------------

 Total.....................................................  $ 250,000,000
                                                             =============




                       SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON COMPANY

                        Authorized Officer's Certificate
                    Pursuant to Section 301 of the Indenture


     Mary C.  Simpson,  an  Authorized  Officer of  Southern  California  Edison
Company, a California  corporation (the "Company"),  acting pursuant to the July
20, 1995,  January 18, 1996, and February 18, 1999,  resolutions of the Board of
Directors of the Company (the "Board Resolutions") hereby determines that:

     1. The Company  shall issue a series of the  Securities  referred to in the
Board  Resolutions  under  the  Indenture,  dated as of  January  15,  1993 (the
"Indenture"),  between the Company and Harris Trust and Savings Bank, as Trustee
(the "Trustee"), in accordance with the following terms:

     (a)  The title of the Securities shall be the "7-5/8% Notes, Due 2010" (the
          "Notes").

     (b)  The aggregate  principal amount of the Notes to be  authenticated  and
          delivered under the Indenture shall be limited to $250,000,000 (except
          for Notes  authenticated  and delivered upon  registration of transfer
          of,  or in  exchange  for,  or in lieu of,  other  Notes  pursuant  to
          Sections 304, 305, 306, 906 or 1107 of the Indenture).

     (c)  The Notes shall mature on January 15, 2010.

     (d)  The Notes  shall  bear  interest  at the rate of 7-5/8% per annum from
          January 15, 2000.  The Interest  Payment  Dates for the Notes shall be
          January 15 and July 15 in each year,  commencing  July 15,  2000.  The
          Regular Record Dates for the interest payable on such Interest Payment
          Dates shall be the January 1 or July 1 next  preceding such January 15
          and July 15, as the case may be.

     (e)  Payment of the  principal  of,  premium if any,  and  interest on, the
          Notes will be made at the  Corporate  Trust Office of Harris Trust and
          Savings Bank maintained for that purpose in the City of Chicago, State
          of Illinois,  in such coin or currency of the United States of America
          as at the time of  payment is legal  tender for the  payment of public
          and  private  debts;  provided,  however,  that at the  option  of the
          Company,  payment  of  interest  may be made by  check  mailed  to the
          address of the person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in
          the Security Register or by wire transfer to an account  designated by
          such person  pursuant to an arrangement  that is  satisfactory  to the
          Trustee and the Company.

     (f)  The Notes may be redeemed at any time prior to the Stated  Maturity of
          the  principal  thereof at the option of the  Company at a  Redemption
          Price equal to the greater of (1) the principal  amount or (2) the sum
          of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal
          and  interest on the Notes,  discounted  to the  Redemption  Date on a
          semiannual  basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day
          months) at the  Treasury  Yield plus 0.15%,  plus in each case accrued
          interest to the Redemption Date.

     "Treasury  Yield" means,  with respect to any Redemption Date, the rate per
annum equal to the  semiannual  equivalent  yield to maturity of the  Comparable
Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as
a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for
the Redemption Date.

     "Comparable  Treasury  Issue"  means the United  States  Treasury  security
selected by an Independent  Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to
the remaining term of the Notes that would be utilized, at the time of selection
and in accordance with customary financial



                                       1
<PAGE>

practice,  in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable
maturity to the remaining term of the Notes.

     "Independent  Investment  Banker" means Chase  Securities  Inc. or, if such
firm is  unwilling  or  unable to  select  the  Comparable  Treasury  Issue,  an
independent  investment banking institution of national standing selected by the
Company and appointed by the Trustee.

     "Comparable Treasury Price" means, with respect to any Redemption Date, (i)
the  average  of the bid and asked  prices  for the  Comparable  Treasury  Issue
(expressed in each case as a percentage  of its  principal  amount) on the third
business  day  preceding  such  Redemption  Date,  as set  forth  in  the  daily
statistical  release (or any successor release) published by the Federal Reserve
Bank of New  York  and  designated  "Composite  3:30  p.m.  Quotations  for U.S.
Government Securities" or (ii) if that release (or any successor release) is not
published or does not contain such prices on such  business  day, the average of
all the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption Date.

     "Reference   Treasury  Dealer  Quotations"  means,  with  respect  to  each
Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by
the  Trustee,  of the bid and asked  prices for the  Comparable  Treasury  Issue
(expressed  in each case as a  percentage  of its  principal  amount)  quoted in
writing to the  Trustee by such  Reference  Treasury  Dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the
third business day preceding such Redemption Date.

     "Reference  Treasury  Dealer" means each of Chase  Securities  Inc.;  Bear,
Stearns  &  Co.  Inc.;  First  Union  Securities,  Inc.;  and  their  respective
successors,  provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a
primary U.S. Government  Securities dealer in New York City (a "Primary Treasury
Dealer"), the Company shall substitute for it another Primary Treasury Dealer.

     If the  Company  elects to redeem  less than all of the Notes,  the Trustee
shall select, in a manner it deems fair and appropriate, the particular Notes or
portions of them to be redeemed. Notice of redemption shall be given by mail not
less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the  Redemption  Date to the Holders
of Notes to be redeemed (which,  as long as the Notes are held in the book-entry
only system, will be The Depository Trust Company,  its nominees or successors).
On and after the Redemption Date (unless the Company  defaults in the payment of
the Redemption Price and interest accrued thereon to such date),  interest shall
cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of them called for redemption,  and
the Notes shall cease to be outstanding.

     (g)  The Company  shall not be obligated  to redeem,  repay or purchase the
          Notes pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous  provision,  or at the
          option of the Holder thereof.

     (h)  The Notes  shall be issued in whole in the form of one or more  Global
          Securities, and the Depositary for such Global Securities shall be The
          Depository Trust Company, New York, New York.

     (i)  The Notes  shall not be subject to  discharge  and  defeasance  at the
          option of the Company pursuant to Section 1301 of the Indenture.

     (j)  The  trustee,  authenticating  and paying  agent,  transfer  agent and
          registrar  with respect to the Notes shall be Harris Trust and Savings
          Bank.

     2. The form and terms of the Notes,  attached hereto as Annex A, are hereby
approved.

     3.  Chase  Securities  Inc.,  Bear,  Stearns & Co.  Inc.  and  First  Union
Securities,  Inc. (the "Underwriters")  propose to offer the Notes at an initial
offering price of 99.75% of their  principal  amount.  The purchase price of the
Notes to be paid by the Underwriters shall be 99.419% of their principal amount,



                                       2
<PAGE>

plus accrued interest from January 15, 2000. The Underwriting  Agreement,  dated
January 19,  2000,  between the  Company and the  Underwriters,  relating to the
Notes, attached hereto as Annex B, is hereby approved.

     4. The  undersigned has read the provisions of Section 301 of the Indenture
and the definitions in the Indenture relating thereto, the Board Resolutions and
other corporate  documents and records.  In the opinion of the undersigned,  she
has made such  examination  or  investigation  as is  necessary to enable her to
express  an  informed  opinion as to  whether  or not all  conditions  precedent
provided  in the  Indenture  relating to the  establishment  of the forms of and
terms of a series of Debt  Securities  under the  Indenture,  designated  as the
Notes in this  Certificate,  have been  complied  with.  In the  opinion  of the
undersigned, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.

     5.  Capitalized  terms used in this  certificate and not otherwise  defined
herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Indenture.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned  has executed this  certificate as of
January 19, 2000.


                                                 Mary C. Simpson
                                             -----------------------
                                                 Mary C. Simpson
                                               Assistant Treasurer
<PAGE>

                                                                 Annex A

This Debt  Security is a Global  Security  within the  meaning of the  Indenture
hereafter referred to and is registered in the name of a Depositary or a nominee
thereof.  Unless  and  until  it is  exchanged  in  whole  or in part  for  Debt
Securities in definitive form, this Debt Security may not be transferred  except
as a whole by the  Depositary to a nominee of the  Depositary or by a nominee of
the Depositary to the Depositary or another  nominee of the Depositary or by the
Depositary  or any such nominee to a successor  Depositary  or a nominee of such
successor  Depositary.  Unless otherwise  defined herein,  all capitalized items
shall have the same meanings ascribed to them in the Indenture.

Unless this  certificate  is presented by an  authorized  representative  of The
Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation  ("DTC"), to the Company or its
agent for  registration  of transfer,  exchange or payment,  and any certificate
issued  is  registered  in the name of Cede & Co.  or in such  other  name as is
requested  by an  authorized  representative  of DTC (and any payment is made to
Cede  &  Co.  or  to  such  other  entity  as  is  requested  by  an  authorized
representative  of DTC), ANY TRANSFER,  PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR
OTHERWISE  BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS  WRONGFUL  inasmuch  as the  registered  owner
hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.


                       SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON COMPANY
            (Incorporated under the laws of the State of California)

                              7-5/8% NOTES, DUE 2010



No. R-1                                                 $250,000,000
                                                     CUSIP NO. 842400 EE 9



     Southern  California  Edison  Company,  a  corporation  duly  organized and
existing under the laws of the State of California (herein called the "Company",
which  term  includes  any  successor  Person  under the  Indenture  hereinafter
referred  to),  for value  received,  hereby  promises  to pay to Cede & Co., or
registered  assigns,  the principal  sum of Two Hundred  Fifty  Million  Dollars
($250,000,000) on January 15, 2010, and to pay interest thereon from January 15,
2000, or from the most recent  Interest  Payment Date to which interest has been
paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on January 15 and July 15 in each year,
commencing  on July 15,  2000,  at the  rate of  7-5/8%  per  annum,  until  the
principal  hereof is paid or made  available  for payment,  and at such rate per
annum on any overdue principal and on any overdue  installment of interest.  The
interest so payable,  and punctually  paid or duly provided for, on any Interest
Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose
name this Debt Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at
the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest,  which shall
be the January 1 or July 1 (whether or not a Business  Day), as the case may be,
next preceding  such Interest  Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually
paid or duly  provided for will  forthwith  cease to be payable to the Holder on
such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this
Debt Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close
of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted  Interest
to be fixed by the  Trustee,  notice  whereof  shall be given to Holders of Debt
Securities  of this  series not less than 10 days prior to such  Special  Record
Date,  or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not  inconsistent  with
the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Debt Securities of this
series may be listed,  and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange,
all as more fully provided in such Indenture.

                                       1
<PAGE>

         Payment of the  principal of and premium,  if any, and interest on this
Debt  Security  will be made at the office or agency of Harris Trust and Savings
Bank, Trustee, Chicago,  Illinois, in such coin or currency of the United States
of America as at the time of payment is legal  tender for the  payment of public
and private debts; provided, however, that at the option of the Company, payment
of interest  may be made by check  mailed to the address of the Person  entitled
thereto  as such  address  shall  appear  in the  Security  Register  or by wire
transfer to an account designated by such person pursuant to an arrangement that
is satisfactory to the Trustee and the Company.

         Reference  is  hereby  made to the  further  provisions  of  this  Debt
Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all
purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

         Unless the  certificate of  authentication  hereon has been executed by
the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof,  by manual  signature,  this Debt
Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or
obligatory for any purpose.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed under its corporate seal.

Dated:  January 24, 2000                    SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON COMPANY


                                            By:       Robert C. Boada
                                                  -------------------------
                                                      Robert C. Boada
                                                         Treasurer

(Seal)
ATTEST:

Bonita J. Smith
- ----------------------------
Bonita J. Smith
Assistant Secretary


<PAGE>

                          CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

         This is one of the Debt  Securities  of the series  referred  to in the
within-mentioned Indenture.

                                   HARRIS TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK,
                                   as Trustee


                                   By: Judith Bartolini
                                       ------------------------------
                                       Judith Bartolina
                                       Authorized Signatory


                                       3
<PAGE>


                                 Reverse of Bond

     This Debt Security is one of a duly  authorized  issue of securities of the
Company (herein called the "Debt Securities"), issued and to be issued in one or
more series under an Indenture,  dated as of January 15, 1993 (herein called the
"Indenture"), between the Company, and Harris Trust and Savings Bank, as Trustee
(herein  called the "Trustee",  which term includes any successor  trustee under
the  Indenture),  to which  Indenture and all  indentures  supplemental  thereto
reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective  rights,  limitations
of rights,  duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the
Holders of the Debt  Securities and of the terms upon which the Debt  Securities
are, and are to be,  authenticated  and delivered.  This Debt Security is one of
the series designated on the face hereof,  limited in aggregate principal amount
to $250,000,000.

     If an Event of Default with respect to Debt Securities of this series shall
occur and be continuing, the principal of the Debt Securities of this series may
be declared  due and  payable in the manner and with the effect  provided in the
Indenture.

     This Debt Security may be redeemed at any time prior to the Stated Maturity
of the principal hereof at the option of the Company at a Redemption Price equal
to the greater of (1) the principal  amount or (2) the sum of the present values
of the  remaining  scheduled  payments of  principal  and  interest on this Debt
Security,  discounted to the Redemption  Date on a semiannual  basis (assuming a
360-day year  consisting  of twelve  30-day  months) at the Treasury  Yield plus
0.15%, plus in each case accrued interest to the Redemption Date.

     "Treasury  Yield" means,  with respect to any Redemption Date, the rate per
annum equal to the  semiannual  equivalent  yield to maturity of the  Comparable
Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as
a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for
the Redemption Date.

     "Comparable  Treasury  Issue"  means the United  States  Treasury  security
selected by an Independent  Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to
the remaining term of the Debt Securities that would be utilized, at the time of
selection and in accordance with customary  financial  practice,  in pricing new
issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term
of the Debt Securities.

     "Independent  Investment  Banker" means Chase  Securities  Inc. or, if such
firm is  unwilling  or  unable to  select  the  Comparable  Treasury  Issue,  an
independent  investment banking institution of national standing selected by the
Company and appointed by the Trustee.

     "Comparable Treasury Price" means, with respect to any Redemption Date, (i)
the  average  of the bid and asked  prices  for the  Comparable  Treasury  Issue
(expressed in each case as a percentage  of its  principal  amount) on the third
business  day  preceding  such  Redemption  Date,  as set  forth  in  the  daily
statistical  release (or any successor release) published by the Federal Reserve
Bank of New  York  and  designated  "Composite  3:30  p.m.  Quotations  for U.S.
Government Securities" or (ii) if that release (or any successor release) is not
published or does not contain such prices on such  business  day, the average of
all the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption Date.

     "Reference   Treasury  Dealer  Quotations"  means,  with  respect  to  each
Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by
the  Trustee,  of the bid and asked  prices for the  Comparable  Treasury  Issue
(expressed  in each case as a  percentage  of its  principal  amount)  quoted in
writing to the  Trustee by such  Reference  Treasury  Dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the
third business day preceding such Redemption Date.

                                       4
<PAGE>

     "Reference  Treasury  Dealer" means each of Chase  Securities  Inc.,  Bear,
Stearns & Co.  Inc.,  and First Union  Securities,  Inc.,  and their  respective
successors,  provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a
primary U.S. Government  Securities dealer in New York City (a "Primary Treasury
Dealer"), the Company shall substitute for it another Primary Treasury Dealer.

     If the Company elects to redeem less than all of the Debt  Securities,  the
Trustee shall select, in a manner it deems fair and appropriate,  the particular
Debt Securities or portions of them to be redeemed.  Notice of redemption  shall
be given by mail not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the  Redemption
Date to the Holders of Debt  Securities  to be redeemed  (which,  as long as the
Debt Securities are held in the book-entry  only system,  will be The Depository
Trust Company,  its nominees or  successors).  On and after the Redemption  Date
(unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Redemption Price and interest
accrued  thereon  to such  date),  interest  shall  cease to  accrue on the Debt
Securities or the portions of them called for redemption and the Debt Securities
shall cease to be outstanding.

     The Indenture  permits,  with certain  exceptions as therein provided,  the
amendment  thereof and the  modification  of the rights and  obligations  of the
Company and the rights of the Holders of the Debt  Securities  of each series to
be affected  under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with
the  consent  of the  Holders  of a  majority  in  principal  amount of the Debt
Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected.  The Indenture
also contains  provisions  permitting  the Holders of specified  percentages  in
principal amount of the Debt Securities of each series at the time  Outstanding,
on  behalf  of the  Holders  of all Debt  Securities  of such  series,  to waive
compliance  by the Company with certain  provisions of the Indenture and certain
past defaults  under the Indenture and their  consequences.  Any such consent or
waiver by the Holder of this Debt Security  shall be conclusive and binding upon
such Holder and upon all future  Holders of this Debt  Security  and of any Debt
Security issued upon the  registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor
or in lieu  hereof,  whether or not  notation of such  consent or waiver is made
upon this Debt Security.

     No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Debt Security
or of the Indenture  shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company,  which
is absolute and unconditional,  to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and
interest on this Debt Security at the times,  place and rate, and in the coin or
currency, herein prescribed.

     As provided in and subject to the provisions of the  Indenture,  the Holder
of this Debt Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding  with
respect to the Indenture or for the  appointment of a receiver or trustee or for
any other remedy thereunder,  unless such Holder shall have previously given the
Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Debt
Securities of this series,  the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount
of the Debt  Securities  of this series  (or,  in the case of certain  Events of
Default  under  the  Indenture,  not less  than 25% in  principal  amount of all
Securities)  at the time  Outstanding  shall  have made  written  request to the
Trustee to institute  proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee
and offered  the Trustee  reasonable  indemnity  and the Trustee  shall not have
received from the Holders of a majority in principal  amount of Debt  Securities
of this  series  at the time  Outstanding  a  direction  inconsistent  with such
request,  and shall have failed to institute  any such  proceeding,  for 60 days
after  receipt of such notice,  request and offer of  indemnity.  The  foregoing
shall not apply to any suit  instituted  by the Holder of this Debt Security for
the  enforcement  of any payment of principal  hereof or any premium or interest
hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.


                                       5
<PAGE>

     As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set
forth,  the  transfer  of this Debt  Security  is  registrable  in the  Security
Register,  upon surrender of this Debt Security for  registration of transfer at
the office or agency of the  Company  in any place  where the  principal  of and
premium,  if any, and interest of this Debt Security are payable,  duly endorsed
by, or accompanied by a written  instrument of transfer in form  satisfactory to
the Company and the Security  Registrar  duly  executed by, the Holder hereof or
the Holder's attorney duly authorized in writing,  and thereupon one or more new
Debt  Securities of this series and of like tenor,  of authorized  denominations
and for the same aggregate  principal  amount,  will be issued to the designated
transferee or transferees.

     The Debt  Securities of this series are issuable  only in  registered  form
without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and integral  multiples  thereof.  As
provided in the Indenture and subject to certain  limitations therein set forth,
Debt Securities of this series are exchangeable  for a like aggregate  principal
amount of Debt  Securities  of this  series and of like  tenor,  of a  different
authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

     No service  charge shall be made for any such  registration  of transfer or
exchange,  but the Company may require  payment of a sum sufficient to cover any
tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

     Prior  to due  presentment  of  this  Debt  Security  for  registration  of
transfer,  the Company,  the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee
may treat the Person in whose name this Debt Security is registered as the owner
hereof for all  purposes,  whether or not this Debt  Security  be  overdue,  and
neither the Company,  the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice
to the contrary.

                                  ABBREVIATIONS

     The following  abbreviations,  when used in the  inscription on the face of
this  certificate,  shall be  construed  as though they were written out in full
according to applicable laws or regulations.




<PAGE>


TEN COM - as tenants in common            UNIF GIFT MIN ACT -

TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties                 Custodian
                                          -------------          ---------------
JT TEN  - as joint tenants with right       (Cust)                   (Minor)
          of survivorship and not         under Uniform Gifts of Minors
          as tenants in common            Act
                                              ----------------------------------
                                                          (State)

     Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.


                                       6
<PAGE>



                                   ASSIGNMENT

     FOR  VALUE  RECEIVED,   the  undersigned  hereby  sell(s),   assign(s)  and
transfer(s) unto

Please insert Social Security or Other
Identifying Number of Assignee

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
the Debt Security and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting
and appointing

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------Attorney
to transfer the said Debt Security on the books of the Company,
with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated:
      -----------------------       --------------------------------------------



                                   NOTICE: The  signature to this  assignment
                                           must correspond with the name as
                                           written  upon the face of the within
                                           instrument in every particular,
                                           without alteration or enlargement
                                           or any change whatsoever.







Southern California Edison Company                            Kenneth S. Stewart
P.O. Box 800
2244 Walnut Grove Avenue
Rosemead, California 91770

                                                                       EXHIBIT 5

                                January 19, 2000


Southern California Edison Company
2244 Walnut Grove Avenue
Rosemead, California  91770

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         This  opinion is rendered in  connection  with the offering and sale of
$250,000,000   aggregate  principal  amount  of  7-5/8%  Notes,  Due  2010  (the
"Securities") of Southern  California Edison Company,  a California  corporation
(the  "Company"),  registered  under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Act"), pursuant to Registration Statement No. 333-497.

         As  Assistant   General   Counsel  of  the  Company,   I  have  general
responsibility   over  the  attorneys   within  the  Company's  Law   Department
responsible  for  rendering  legal counsel to the Company  regarding  corporate,
financial,   and  securities   matters.   I  am  generally   familiar  with  the
organization,  history,  and affairs of the Company. I am also familiar with the
proceedings taken and proposed to be taken by the Company in connection with the
offering and sale of the Securities, and I have examined such corporate records,
certificates,  and  other  documents  and  such  questions  of the law as I have
considered  necessary  or  appropriate  for the  purposes  of this  opinion.  In
addition, I have responsibility for supervising lawyers who may have been asked,
by me or others, to review legal matters arising in connection with the offering
and sale of the Securities.  Accordingly, some of the matters referred to herein
have not been handled  personally  by me, but I have been made familiar with the
facts  and  circumstances  and  the  applicable  law,  and the  opinions  herein
expressed are my own or are opinions of others in which I concur.

         Based upon the foregoing, I advise you that, in my opinion:

         (1)  The  Company  has  been  duly  incorporated  and  is  an  existing
corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of California.

         (2)  Subject to the continued  effectiveness of the appropriate  orders
of the Public  Utilities  Commission of the State of California  authorizing the
issuance and sale of the Securities, when the Securities have been duly executed
and authenticated in accordance with the related  Indenture,  and the Securities
have been  issued and sold as  contemplated  in the  Prospectus  and  Prospectus
Supplement  relating to the Securities,  the Securities will constitute  legally
valid and binding obligations of the Company.


<PAGE>


Southern California Edison Company
January 19, 2000
Page Two


         I hereby  consent to the filing of this opinion with the Securities and
Exchange  Commission  and to the reference to me under the heading  "Validity of
Debt Securities" in the Prospectus and "Validity of the Notes" in the Prospectus
Supplement.  In giving such  consent,  I do not  thereby  admit that I am in the
category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act.

                                                     Very truly yours,


                                                     KENNETH S. STEWART
                                                     KENNETH S. STEWART
                                                    Assistant General Counsel





SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON COMPANY AND CONSOLIDATED UTILITY-RELATED SUBSIDIARIES

                       RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

                             (Thousands of Dollars)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                                       Year Ended December 31,
                                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          1994               1995           1996            1997           1998           1999
                                      --------------    --------------  --------------  -------------  -------------  --------------


EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES
  AND FIXED CHARGES:

<S>                                   <C>               <C>             <C>            <C>            <C>             <C>
Income before interest expense (1)    $   1,081,800     $   1,143,477   $   1,108,410  $  1,049,866   $    999,910    $     992,354
Add:
  Taxes on income (2)                       452,091           509,632         511,819       520,468        442,356          438,006
  Rentals (3)                                 3,512             4,018           3,269         2,639          2,208            1,901
  Allocable portion of interest
      on long-term Contracts for
      the purchase of power (4)               1,870             1,848           1,824         1,797          1,767            1,735
  Spent nuclear fuel interest (6)                68                 -               -             -              -                -
  Amortization of previously
      capitalized fixed charges               2,271             1,185             814         1,127          1,571            1,508
                                       -------------      ------------   -------------  ------------   ------------    -------------
Total earnings before income
  taxes and fixed charges (A)         $   1,541,612     $   1,660,160   $   1,626,136  $  1,575,897   $  1,447,812    $   1,435,504
                                       =============      ============   =============  ============   ============    =============




FIXED CHARGES:
  Interest and amortization           $     443,219     $     463,786   $     453,015  $    444,272   $    484,788    $     482,933
  Rentals (3)                                 3,512             4,018           3,269         2,639          2,208            1,901
  Capitalized fixed charges -
      nuclear fuel (5)                          254             1,531           1,711         2,398          1,294            1,211
  Allocable portion of interest on
      long-term contracts for
      the purchase of power (4)               1,870             1,848           1,824         1,797          1,767            1,735
  Spent nuclear fuel interest (6)                68                 -               -             -              -                -
                                       -------------      ------------   -------------  ------------   ------------    -------------
Total fixed charges (B)               $     448,923     $     471,183   $     459,819  $    451,106   $    490,057    $     487,780
                                       =============      ============   =============  ============   ============    =============


RATIO OF EARNINGS TO
  FIXED CHARGES (A) / (B):                     3.43              3.52            3.54          3.49           2.95             2.94
                                       =============      ============   =============  ============   ============    =============
</TABLE>




(1)  Includes  allowance for funds used during construction and accrual of
     unbilled revenue.
(2)  Includes allocation of federal income and state franchise taxes to other
     income.
(3)  Rentals include the interest factor relating to certain significant
     rentals plus one-third of all remaining annual rentals.
(4)  Allocable portion of interest included in annual minimum debt service
     requirement of supplier.
(5)  Includes fixed charges associated with Nuclear Fuel.
(6)  Represents interest on spent nuclear fuel disposal obligation.



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