ComEd Gives Overview of the Grand Prairie Gateway Project

The proposed Grand Prairie Gateway Project is a new 345kV electric transmission line to be constructed between ComEd’s existing substations near the communities of Byron and Wayne. The new line will connect these substations and travel across the counties of Ogle, DeKalb, Kane and DuPage. ComEd is conducting a study to determine the best possible routes for the project. Through an integrated process incorporating input from the public and other community stakeholders, ComEd will identify a primary route for the transmission line and at least one alternate route within the transmission line study area.

Needs

High voltage electricity is moved across the electric grid by transmission lines. Just like highways that don’t have enough lanes, transmission lines with insufficient capacity become congested, reducing efficiencies and increasing costs of delivering power. PJM Interconnection, the independent regional transmission grid operator and planner for the ComEd service territory, has approved the Grand Prairie Gateway Project as the best solution for addressing current system congestion and ensuring the continued efficient flow of electricity across northern Illinois.

Benefits

System congestion increases the costs of delivering power to customers. The addition of this new transmission line will allow for more efficient flow of electricity across the grid, alleviating congestion and reducing costs. The proposed line adds a third west-east path across the ComEd territory, which provides ComEd with more options to meet customer needs.

Approval Process

The project requires approval by the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) following a public proceeding. ComEd will conduct a series of public open houses in Ogle, DeKalb and Kane counties. Through an integrated process incorporating input from the public and other community stakeholders, ComEd will identify a primary route for the transmission line and at least one alternate route within the transmission line study area. ComEd expects to file a request for approval with the ICC before the end of 2013, and the Commission has up to 225 days to announce its decision. The final route must be approved by the ICC.

Schedule

This summer and fall, ComEd will conduct a series of public Open Houses in Ogle, DeKalb and Kane counties to discuss project need, benefits and potential routes. Each of these Open Houses will be advertised in local newspapers. ComEd expects to file a request for approval with the ICC before the end of 2013. The Grand Prairie Gateway Project is anticipated to be completed and begin service by June 2017.

https://www.comed.com/about-us/economic-development/reliability/Pages/overview.aspx