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.
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. 
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.