E3, a Willdan Company, Publishes Study for Amazon on Rate Design to Manage Large Electric Load Growth

ANAHEIM, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Willdan Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: WLDN) announced today that it has released an independent study for Amazon, evaluating rate design to manage large electric load growth. The study examines how new large energy users, such as data centers, affect utilities and their customers, especially with growing demand from artificial intelligence (AI). The study provides practical guidance for regulators and energy providers as they plan for continued growth.

Energy + Environmental Economics (E3), Willdan’s wholly owned subsidiary, conducted this study and provided several key findings:

• The Amazon data centers included in the study generate sufficient or surplus revenues relative to the utility’s cost of service, demonstrating other ratepayers are not subsidizing the data centers’ costs.
• Given the rapid and dynamic nature of load growth, the paper identifies tools that utilities and their regulators can use to maintain these equitable outcomes and prevent future cross-subsidization.
• New rate design tools and power supply approaches are increasingly being used to manage large load growth at scale, such as self-supply of generation and signing long-term contracts for emerging clean energy technologies.

“We appreciate this opportunity to support Amazon and other large energy customers as they navigate an energy landscape increasingly shaped by AI, digitalization, transportation electrification, and reshoring of manufacturing,” said Mike Bieber, Willdan’s CEO. “This study provides critical guidance for utilities seeking to manage rapid load growth and economic development while keeping rates affordable.”

E3’s analysis builds on decades of experience advising utilities, policymakers, and large energy consumers on electricity system planning, rate design, and the integration of clean energy. The full study, including E3’s findings and recommendations, can be found here.

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, energy policy planning and advisory, engineering and planning, and municipal financial consulting. For additional information, visit Willdan's website at www.willdan.com or follow Willdan on LinkedIn and Facebook.

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