Los Angeles, CA (August 21, 2025) – The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is helping local businesses cut energy costs and reduce usage through its new Commercial Direct Install (CDI) Program. The no-cost program supports small to medium-size businesses and large commercial customers by upgrading facilities with energy-efficient equipment. It also furthers the City of Los Angeles’ goals to achieve 100 percent carbon-free energy by 2035 and reduce energy use citywide by 15 percent by 2030.
The five-year program provides eligible customers with a full-service assessment of their facility’s energy savings potential, installation of qualifying energy-saving measures, and managed warranty service. LADWP has contracted Willdan Group Inc. to implement the program and provide no-cost installation services.
Customers can benefit from this comprehensive energy management program through:
- Education on and installation of energy efficiency measures including indoor and outdoor LED lighting, high-efficiency refrigeration motors, automatic door closers for walk-in freezers and coolers, and other energy-saving technologies.
- Technical support for new energy-saving measures
- Electric utility bill savings through installation of no-cost, high efficiency and performance, energy efficiency measures.
- Improved system reliability
Eligible customers include small and medium commercial businesses with a monthly electrical demand of less than 250 kilowatts (kW). To confirm eligibility, interested businesses and customers should submit a request for an assessment at www.ladwp.com/cdi.
“This program is a win-win for our city,” said Janisse Quiñones, CEO and Chief Engineer of LADWP. “It helps local businesses save energy and money, supports our clean energy goals, and creates good jobs right here in L.A. With nearly 200,000 customers eligible, our Commercial Direct Install Program can make a real difference — especially for small and medium businesses that power our neighborhoods and drive our local economy.”
In addition to energy-saving and efficiency measures, the CDI program emphasizes community and economic impact by employing 120 full-time local union workers over five years under a project labor agreement that ensures consistent labor availability and supports apprenticeship opportunities. The program prioritizes equity, aiming for 70 percent participation from historically disadvantaged communities (DACs), in alignment with the LA100 Equity Strategies Initiative. While this target reflects the program’s commitment to inclusive access, historical participation rates in DACs have typically ranged between 55–60 percent. Furthermore, the program commits to allocating 33 percent of the total contract value to small business enterprises (SBEs) and disabled veteran business enterprises (DVBEs).
“LADWP looks forward to this exciting new partnership with Willdan to support customers who shape and support our communities,” said Joseph Ramallo, Chief Customer Officer & Senior Assistant General Manager, Communications and Community Affairs for LADWP. “This energy-saving contract offers no-cost facility enhancements for businesses like theirs and provides high-quality equipment and workmanship with our highly-skilled workforce.”
“We’re proud to expand our support for LADWP’s mission and help deliver cost-effective energy solutions to businesses and schools across Los Angeles,” said Mike Bieber, CEO of Willdan. “This program is a powerful tool to improve community infrastructure while moving the City of Los Angeles closer to 100 percent clean energy by 2035. This program aligns well with Willdan’s wide-ranging expertise, from planning energy resources for states and utilities to running large-scale direct install programs across the country.”
About the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP)
LADWP is the nation’s largest municipal utility, with 8,019 megawatt (MW) electric capacity and serving an average of 435 million gallons of water per day to over 4 million residents of the City of Los Angeles, and its businesses. For over a century, LADWP has delivered reliable, cost-effective, and environmentally responsible water and power.
About Willdan Group, Inc. (Willdan)
Willdan provides professional, technical, and consulting services to utilities, government agencies, and private industry nationwide. Willdan’s services span a broad set of disciplines including electric grid solutions, energy efficiency, sustainability, energy policy planning, and efficiency advisory. Learn more at www.willdan.com.
# # #
