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The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) on October 22, 2026, authorized ComEd to build its Grid Reliability Infrastructure Transformation (GRIT) project in the northwest Chicago suburbs. The Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity covers four underground 138-kilovolt transmission lines and a new Greenleaf substation in Cook and DuPage counties near Elk Grove Village, Wood Dale and Bensenville. ComEd estimates the work will cost $318 million. Site preparation is scheduled for fall 2026, underground line construction for January 2027, and the completed system is expected to enter service in the second quarter of 2029.
What did Illinois regulators approve for ComEd near O’Hare?
The ICC approval gives ComEd legal authority to construct the GRIT facilities and associated substation work. The project is designed as a transmission ring linking the new Greenleaf substation with ComEd’s existing Dierking and Pine substations.
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →In a ring configuration, electricity can move through more than one path. If a section has a problem, operators can reroute power through another part of the network instead of relying on a single transmission corridor. ComEd says that flexibility should improve reliability for existing customers while accommodating major new electrical demand in the region.
Project components
- Four underground 138 kV transmission lines arranged as double-circuit facilities.
- Approximately 8.8 circuit miles of new transmission infrastructure.
- One new Greenleaf substation.
- Connections to the Dierking and Pine substations.
- Work located in Cook and DuPage counties around Elk Grove Village, Wood Dale and Bensenville.
Why will the transmission lines be underground?
Two site constraints drive the underground design. The project area is close to Chicago O’Hare International Airport, where Federal Aviation Administration height restrictions limit the use of tall overhead transmission structures. The corridor is also heavily developed, with dense commercial, industrial and transportation infrastructure that leaves less room for new overhead lines.
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Underground construction avoids structures that could conflict with airport height limits and reduces the need for a continuous overhead right-of-way. It does not eliminate construction impacts: crews still need access for excavation, conduit or cable installation, splicing, restoration and substation work. The final route reflects engineering feasibility, cost, operating efficiency and community effects considered in ComEd’s two-phase routing study.
How much will GRIT cost?
ComEd’s filing puts the estimated project cost at $318 million. The estimate is divided among transmission construction, substation work and property for the new substation.
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| Cost category | Estimate | Scope described in the filing |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission lines | $241 million | Approximately 8.8 miles of underground transmission facilities |
| Substation-related work | $59 million | Construction and associated work for the Greenleaf substation |
| Substation real estate | $18 million | Property for the new substation |
| Total estimated project cost | $318 million | ComEd’s estimate in its ICC filing |
These are planning estimates presented in the regulatory filing, not a final audited construction cost. Actual spending can change as design, procurement, permitting and field conditions develop.
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- UL Listed & RoHS Compliant: Meets rigorous safety and quality standards for dependable use in a variety of environments
- Weatherproof & UV Resistant: The high-quality PVC jacket provides excellent protection against weather elements, making it waterproof, sunproof, snowproof and windproof, with an operating temperature range from -10℃ to 105℃, it maintains stable performance
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What customer demand is driving the project?
ComEd’s filing says the existing system needs reinforcement to provide adequate, efficient and reliable service for current customers and new load. One existing customer could increase demand to 250 megawatts by the end of 2027, according to the filing. Several other large-load customers have also requested service.
A 250 MW increase is a substantial addition for a local transmission system. The Greenleaf ring is intended to give system operators more ways to move that power, limit the number and duration of interruptions, and support continued commercial and industrial growth in the O’Hare-area economy.
Which communities and facilities are affected?
The authorized work spans portions of Cook and DuPage counties. The named suburban area includes Elk Grove Village, Wood Dale and Bensenville, with the new Greenleaf substation tied into the Dierking and Pine substations.
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- SPECIFICATIONS: 12/2AWG, 250 ft length; rated 600 volts, Durable Copper Construction Features two solid copper conductors with a bare copper ground wire, PVC jacket and insulation
- DIRECT BURIAL: Allows direct underground installation without conduit, significantly simplifying installation and saving substantial piping costs and labor time
- UL Listed & RoHS Compliant: Meets rigorous safety and quality standards for dependable use in a variety of environments
- Weatherproof & UV Resistant: The high-quality PVC jacket provides excellent protection against weather elements, making it waterproof, sunproof, snowproof and windproof, with an operating temperature range from -10℃ to 105℃, it maintains stable performance
- Indoor & Outdoor Use: Indoor for Wet or Corrosive Locations; Outdoor for outlets, landscape lighting, agricultural machinery, and other damp or direct-burial scenarios
ComEd held nine pre-filing public meetings before seeking approval: four in Cook County, four in DuPage County and one virtual session. The company said comments from residents, property owners, local governments and other stakeholders helped shape the preferred and alternate routes evaluated in the filing.
When does construction start, and when will GRIT be operating?
The schedule separates early substation preparation from the broader underground-line work.
- Fall 2026: Grading and drainage work is scheduled to begin at the Dierking substation near the Elmhurst Road corridor.
- January 2027: Underground transmission construction in the other project areas is scheduled to start.
- Second quarter of 2029: ComEd expects the GRIT project to enter service.
Those dates are the current schedule described in project materials. Construction sequencing, permits, utility coordination and site conditions can affect when individual work zones open or close.
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- UL Listed & RoHS Compliant: Meets rigorous safety and quality standards for dependable use in a variety of environments
- Weatherproof & UV Resistant: The high-quality PVC jacket provides excellent protection against weather elements, making it waterproof, sunproof, snowproof and windproof, with an operating temperature range from -10℃ to 105℃, it maintains stable performance
- Indoor & Outdoor Use: Indoor for Wet or Corrosive Locations; Outdoor for outlets, landscape lighting, agricultural machinery, and other damp or direct-burial scenarios
What reliability benefits does ComEd expect?
ComEd says the ring topology will let operators reroute electricity around a problem and respond more flexibly during extreme weather or other unexpected events. The company also expects the additional transmission capacity to reduce constraints as large customers add load.
In announcing the approval, ComEd Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer David Perez said the project would strengthen resilience, provide operators with greater flexibility and help maintain reliable service as communities and businesses grow. The ICC certificate authorizes construction; it does not guarantee that every proposed customer load will connect on the same date or that interruptions will disappear.
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What does a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity allow ComEd to do?
It is the ICC authorization required for ComEd to proceed with the specified transmission facilities and substation. The certificate addresses the public need and authority to build; separate construction activities still follow applicable permits, engineering approvals and local coordination.
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- SPECIFICATIONS: 10/2AWG, 100 ft length; rated 600 volts, Durable Copper Construction Features two solid copper conductors with a bare copper ground wire, PVC jacket and insulation
- DIRECT BURIAL: Allows direct underground installation without conduit, significantly simplifying installation and saving substantial piping costs and labor time
- UL Listed & RoHS Compliant: Meets rigorous safety and quality standards for dependable use in a variety of environments
- Weatherproof & UV Resistant: The high-quality PVC jacket provides excellent protection against weather elements, making it waterproof, sunproof, snowproof and windproof, with an operating temperature range from -10℃ to 105℃, it maintains stable performance
- Indoor & Outdoor Use: Indoor for Wet or Corrosive Locations; Outdoor for outlets, landscape lighting, agricultural machinery, and other damp or direct-burial scenarios
What is a double-circuit transmission line?
A double-circuit arrangement places two independent three-phase circuits in the same transmission corridor or facility system. It can carry more power than a single circuit and can provide operating flexibility, although both circuits may still share some physical infrastructure.
Will the project require overhead towers near O’Hare?
The approved transmission facilities are underground. Airport-area FAA height limits were a major reason ComEd selected an underground approach rather than building tall overhead transmission structures.
How could nearby residents notice construction before the lines are energized?
The most visible activity is likely to occur during grading, drainage, excavation, utility coordination, cable installation and surface restoration. Impacts will vary by segment and work phase, so residents should rely on project notices from ComEd and local authorities for specific access or traffic changes.
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