ANAHEIM, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Willdan Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: WLDN) announced today that it has been selected by Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) to implement the utility’s new Schools Energy Efficiency Program (SEEP).  This $2.7 million direct install program promotes natural gas savings by delivering no-cost energy-efficiency projects and education to participating public and private schools throughout SoCalGas’ service territory.  Willdan will implement approximately 350 energy audits and facility upgrades with the goal to deliver nearly 2,000,000 annual therms savings to eligible pre-schools, K-12 schools, private colleges or universities, and trade schools.

“SEEP will make natural-gas-saving upgrades more accessible and provide valuable energy efficiency information to our school customers,” said Dan Rendler, director of customer programs and assistance at SoCalGas. “Making energy upgrades can reduce their energy consumption significantly and keep their utility bills affordable.”

“We have served educational facilities since 1986 and have delivered energy savings to over 950 schools in Southern California alone,” said Tom Brisbin, Willdan’s CEO and Chairman.  “SoCalGas’ SEEP expands our offerings to existing and new school customers, providing more comprehensive savings from the same trusted team.”

Following an energy site audit, Willdan will administer gas savings measures by installing appropriate upgrades at the schools, such as energy efficient aerators, low-flow pre-rinse spray valves, and thermostats, with minimal classroom disruptions.  The company will also validate energy and cost savings.

Willdan currently delivers programs for other major Southern California investor-owned utilities that focus on energy savings for K-12 schools and higher education institutions.

About Willdan
Willdan is a nationwide provider of professional technical and consulting services to utilities, government agencies, and private industry. Willdan’s service offerings span a broad set of complementary disciplines that include electric grid solutions, energy efficiency and sustainability, engineering and planning, and municipal financial consulting. For additional information, visit Willdan's website at www.willdan.com.

About SoCalGas
Headquartered in Los Angeles, SoCalGas® is the largest natural gas distribution utility in the United States. SoCalGas delivers affordable, reliable, clean and increasingly renewable natural gas service to 21.8 million customers across 24,000 square miles of Central and Southern California, where more than 90 percent of residents use natural gas for heating, hot water, cooking, drying clothes or other uses. Natural gas delivered through the company's pipelines also plays a key role in providing electricity to Californians—about 60 percent of electric power generated in the state comes from gas-fired power plants.  

SoCalGas is committed to investing in its natural gas system infrastructure, while keeping bills affordable for customers. From 2013 through 2017, the company spent nearly $6 billion to upgrade and modernize its natural gas system to enhance safety and reliability. The company is also committed to being a leader in the region's clean energy future, and is working to accelerate the use of renewable natural gas from dairy farms, landfills and wastewater treatment plants and the development of renewable energy storage technologies. SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), an energy services holding company based in San Diego. For more information visit socalgas.com/newsroom or connect with SoCalGas on Twitter (@SoCalGas), Instagram (@SoCalGas) and Facebook .  

Forward-Looking Statements 
Statements in this press release that 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, Willdan’s ability to adequately complete projects in a timely manner, Willdan’s ability to compete successfully in the highly competitive energy efficiency services market, changes in state, local, and regional economies and government budgets, Willdan’s ability to win new contracts, to renew existing contracts (including with its two primary customers) and to compete effectively for contract awards through bidding processes and Willdan’s ability to successfully integrate its acquisitions and execute on its growth strategy.  Willdan’s business could be affected by a number of other factors, including the risk factors listed from time to time in Willdan’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed for the year ended December 29, 2017.  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.

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