Illinois Commerce Commission Approves ComEd GRIT Transmission Project in Cook County and DuPage County
Underground transmission investment will strengthen reliability, add operational flexibility, and support economic growth near O'Hare
CHICAGO, October 22, 2026--ComEd today announced Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) approval of the Grid Reliability Infrastructure Transformation (GRIT) Project, which will add new underground transmission lines to strengthen the electric grid, enhance service for customers and support economic growth in Elk Grove Village, City of Wood Dale, and Village of Bensenville areas. ComEd received a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN), which enables a public utility to construct major infrastructure following public review of the need for the project, its design, and public benefits.
"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. "This project will give our operators greater flexibility to move power through the region, strengthen resilience during extreme weather and other unexpected events, and help ensure reliable service as communities and businesses grow."
The GRIT transmission project consists of four underground 138kV electric transmission lines and one new substation. It creates a new underground transmission ring connecting three substations, which allows power to flow in multiple directions. If part of the system experiences a reliability issue, ComEd will have an alternate pathway to reroute power, helping reduce the number and duration of service interruptions and improving the flexibility and resilience of the regional grid.
Construction of the project begins this fall with grading and drainage for the Dierking substation in the Elk Grove Village area near the Elmhurst Road corridor. Transmission underground work in the other areas begins in January of next year and will be completed in the second quarter of 2029 when the GRIT project will be placed into service. ComEd will coordinate with local authorities throughout construction and the livening process.
ComEd engaged customers and communities throughout the routing planning process, holding two rounds of in-person public open houses in Cook and DuPage counties, as well as a virtual public open house in 2025. Feedback from residents, property owners, local governments, and other stakeholders helped inform the transmission line route selection and ComEd's CPCN application to the ICC.