Energy

Former ComEd CEO Sentenced to Two Years for Bribery Scheme

Former leader of Exelon and Illinois' largest utility, Commonwealth Edison, traded no-work jobs for favorable legislation

Former Commonwealth Edison CEO Anne Pramaggiore was sentenced to two years in federal prison July 21 for bribery charges connected to former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, who was convicted of conspiracy and bribery in a separate trial earlier this year.

Pramaggiore was the most well-known of the "ComEd Four" convicted of charges of conspiracy, bribery and falsifying documents involving legislation that the powerful Illinois utility got Madigan to move forward in the legislature based on agreements to hire Madigan allies and confidants. The legislation saved the once-financially unstable ComEd from bankruptcy and also effectively stopped legislation that would have required it to invest in more grid upgrades and shut down two nuclear power plants. The Madigan allies put on the payroll or given gifts by the utility totaled $1.3 million.

Pramaggiore, former lobbyist Michael McClain, retired ComEd vice president John Hooker and former consultant Jay Doherty were all found to have used their influence to reward Madigan and his associates for eight years beginning in 2011.

Three days later, on July 24, Michael McClain, 77, a former lobbyist for Commonwealth Edison and Illinois representative, was sentenced to two years in prison for bribery conspiracy and willingly falsifying ComEd’s books.

Pramaggiore, 66, was sentenced to the 24 months in federal prison and a $750,000 fine at the Dirksen Federal Courhouse in Chicago. ComEd agreed to a deferred prosecution with the federal government and paid a $200-million fine.

"We hope this verdict serves as a warning to utility companies," the Citizens Utility Board, a non-profit utility watchdog group, said in a statement. "ComEd admitted to corruption in a statement to federal prosecutors, and we continue to believe the company owes a debt to its customers for those wrongful acts. If ComEd can pay a $200-million fine to the federal government for misconduct, it should pay more to its customers, who represent the actual victims of its corporate scandal."

ENR Associate Technology, Equipment and Products Editor Jeff Yoders has been writing about design and construction innovations for 20 years. He is a five-time Jesse H. Neal award winner and multiple ASBPE winner for his tech coverage. Jeff previously wrote about construction technology for Structural Engineer, CE News and Building Design + Construction. He also wrote about materials prices, construction procurement and estimation for MetalMiner.com. He lives in Chicago, the birthplace of the skyscraper, where the pace of innovation never leaves him without a story to chase.