Energy Contractor Pays $11 Million to Settle DOJ Kickback Probes

Schneider Electric Buildings Americas Inc. will pay $11 million to resolve criminal and civil investigations into kickbacks and overcharges under contracts to install in federal buildings energy savings upgrades like solar panels, LED lighting, and insulation, the Justice Department said Monday.

Schneider admitted it fraudulently charged the government $1.7 million in design costs under contracts funded by the U.S. Navy, the General Services Administration, and the Department of Agriculture, the DOJ said.

The contractor admitted that its conduct, which involved burying or hiding costs among different contract line items, constituted wire fraud, the DOJ said.

Schneider admitted that a ...