Top Exelon exec retires amid federal investigation

Anne Pramaggiore, one of the leading women in Chicago businesses, has retired from Exelon Corp., which has received federal subpoenas connected to its lobbying activities in Illinois.

The company announced Tuesday that Pramaggiore, 61, retired as senior executive vice president and CEO of Exelon Utilities, effective immediately. She previously ran Commonwealth Edison, Exelon’s Chicago-based utility.

Exelon’s statement indicated the move was abrupt. It said Calvin Butler Jr., CEO of its Baltimore utility, has succeeded her on an interim basis. Butler will keep his job with Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. and the heads of Exelon’s other utilities, including Joseph Dominguez of ComEd, will report to him, the company said.

A spokesman declined to discuss the moves or say if they were connected to the expanding federal investigation of Illinois State Sen. Martin Sandoval and others. Exelon has acknowledged receiving two grand jury subpoenas from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

One asks for information about lobbying activities and the other, which the company said it received Oct. 4, was for records of communications with Sandoval and other individuals and entities Exelon did not disclose. The company said it has assigned a committee of independent directors to oversee matters dealing with the federal probe.

Sandoval’s daughter, Angie, lists herself online as a senior account manager in government affairs at ComEd. The utility is among the most prominent lobbyists in Springfield because it has a legal monopoly on power delivery in northern Illinois and must follow rates and rules set by the state. Consumers can choose their own provider of electricity, but it is delivered via ComEd’s lines.

Christopher Crane, Exelon’s president and CEO, said in a statement, “We thank Anne for her valuable service to Exelon and ComEd and the important contributions she made to enhance our utility operations throughout her tenure. Over the past several years, including under her leadership, Exelon’s utilities have continued to achieve high levels of reliability and record levels of customer satisfaction, while implementing industry-leading strategies for the future of our utility business.’’

Exelon said Butler has worked for the company 11 years.