ANAHEIM, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Willdan Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:WLDN) today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Willdan Energy Solutions ("Willdan") is contracting with Southern California Edison Company (SCE) to help reduce public and private school energy use. SCE's Schools Energy Efficiency Program (SEEP), with an initial budget of $4 million, targets pre-kindergarten through secondary schools, private colleges and universities, and vocational schools for high-efficiency lighting retrofits and other energy-saving measures.

SEEP's objective is to lower overall energy use and utility grid peak demand and, as a result, reduce school operating costs through a combination of no-cost and ratepayer-subsidized incentives and services.¹

Under SEEP, Willdan will conduct site walk-through audits to identify energy-saving opportunities, consult with school clients to select solutions, oversee installations, and assist with incentive paperwork. Willdan will assist the traditionally underserved education market with a wide variety of retrofits for fluorescent lamps, ballasts and high-bay lighting. In addition, where appropriate, Willdan will install light-emitting diode (LED) lamps, lighting occupancy sensors, and various other energy-saving measures that benefit school environments.

In the past, Willdan administered SCE's Public Pre-Schools, Elementary and Secondary Schools Energy Efficiency Program. In just over eight months, that program saved more than 14 million kilowatt hours and reduced demand by nearly 2,000 kilowatts for more than 300 public schools in 17 school districts. Willdan produced high-quality installations with zero safety incidents.

Willdan will administer the Schools Energy Efficiency Program through December 2014, providing official program services. Willdan will also provide assistance in utilizing additional energy efficiency programs and rebate incentives to help education clients leverage available funding.

¹ SEEP is funded by the California utility ratepayers and administered by SCE through a contract awarded to Willdan under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission. Incentives and savings will vary by customer, and neither SCE nor Willdan make any representation herein concerning actual or potential savings amounts. Funds are limited and are available on a first-come, first served basis until December 31, 2014, or until funds are depleted. Terms and conditions apply. The trademarks used herein are the property of their respective owners.

About Willdan Energy Solutions

Willdan Energy Solutions is a leading national provider of specialized energy, water, and resource management services to a growing list of clients that includes utilities, local and federal governments, hospitals, schools and private enterprises. Our integrated portfolio of services comprises marketing and engineering, program management and implementation of energy efficiency and water conservation programs and development and implementation of information systems for the energy industry. Additional areas of expertise include hardware retrofits, commissioning and retro-commissioning, demonstrations of new technologies, energy efficiency education/outreach, sustainability strategy, and local government partnerships.

About Willdan Group, Inc.

Founded in 1964, Willdan provides professional technical and consulting services to public agencies at all levels of government, public and private utilities, and commercial and industrial firms. Willdan provides a broad range of services to clients throughout the United States, including engineering and planning, energy efficiency and sustainability, economic and financial consulting, and national preparedness and interoperability. For additional information, visit Willdan's website at www.willdan.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Safe Harbor Statement: Statements in this press release which are not purely historical, including statements regarding Willdan's intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations, representations, projections, estimates, plans or predictions of the future are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the risk that Willdan will not be able to expand its services or meet the needs of customers in markets in which it operates. It is important to note that Willdan's actual results could differ materially from those in any such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, a slowdown in the local and regional economies of the states where Willdan conducts business and the loss of or inability to hire additional qualified professionals. Willdan's business could be affected by a number of other factors, including the risk factors listed from time to time in Willdan's SEC reports including, but not limited to, the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2012 filed on March 26, 2013 and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 29, 2013 filed on May 9, 2013. Willdan cautions investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Willdan disclaims any obligation to, and does not undertake to, update or revise any forward-looking statements in this press release.

Willdan Energy Solutions
Paul Whitelaw
Senior Vice President
858.750.5876
pwhitelaw@willdan.com
or
Financial Profiles, Inc.
Moira Conlon
Tel: 310-478-2700 x11
mconlon@finprofiles.com

Source: Willdan Group, Inc.

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