ICC Clears ComEd's Underground 138-kV GRIT Project in Chicago Suburbs
The Illinois Commerce Commission has approved ComEd’s GRIT project, four underground 138-kV lines and a new substation in Cook and DuPage counties, with underground work set to begin in January 2027, T&D World reports.
Market Impact
The ICC issued a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN), which lets a utility build major infrastructure after public review of need, design and benefits. The project covers the Elk Grove Village, Wood Dale and Bensenville areas. The ICC docket number was not disclosed, so check the commission’s case file for ComEd’s CPCN application for the filed route and design details.
The lines and substation will form an underground transmission ring connecting three substations. Power can flow in multiple directions, so ComEd can reroute around a problem on part of the system. The utility says several large-load customers have entered the Wood Dale and Elk Grove Village areas, creating the need for added transmission capacity.
The underground design reflects the project’s proximity to Chicago O’Hare International Airport, where Federal Aviation Administration height restrictions limit overhead structures. The source also says underground construction suits the area’s developed, congested landscape.
“The ICC’s approval of GRIT provides a clear path to make a critical investment in the transmission system serving one of northern Illinois’ most important economic corridors,” said ComEd Executive Vice President and COO David Perez.
The schedule has two start points. Grading and drainage work for the Dierking substation, near the Elmhurst Road corridor in the Elk Grove Village area, is scheduled to begin this fall. Underground transmission work in the other project areas is scheduled for January 2027. The project is expected to be in service in the second quarter of 2029.
No contractors, procurement packages, bid dates or project cost have been disclosed.
What It Means for Subcontractors
- Get on ComEd’s bidder lists now. Underground civil, duct bank and cable-pulling subs have roughly two months before the January 2027 start. It is not clear which packages are awarded or still open, so call ComEd supplier or contractor management directly and ask. Our inference is that early work may already be placed, but the source does not confirm it.
- Substation civil and site work is first up. Grading and drainage at the Dierking substation near Elmhurst Road is the first scheduled construction. Site civil crews in the Elk Grove Village area should find out who holds that scope and whether subcontract needs remain. Substation electrical and controls trades should ask about follow-on packages.
- Plan for congested urban duct bank work. The ring runs through developed areas near O’Hare, and ComEd says it will coordinate with local authorities during construction and energization. Traffic control, restoration, locating and utility-crossing capacity will matter in Wood Dale, Bensenville and Elk Grove Village.
- Lock in a pre-qualification package this quarter. In-service is not expected until Q2 2029, so the job will run for more than two years after the January 2027 underground start. Update safety records, insurance certificates and 138-kV cable experience now, before the underground packages are bid.
