The Illinois Commerce Commission announced on Oct. 22, 2014 that it approved ComEd’s Grand Prairie Gateway Project, a new transmission line that extends for 60 miles across Ogle, DeKalb, Kane and DuPage Counties. This new line creates immediate customer savings by reducing grid congestion, increasing customers’ access to lower-cost generation, including wind power, and will reduce carbon emissions by 473,000 tons over 15 years. Construction began in June 2015 and the line was placed in service in the second quarter of 2017.
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.
System congestion increases the costs of delivering power to customers. The addition of this new transmission line allows for the more efficient flow of electricity across the grid, alleviating congestion and reducing costs. The line adds a third west-east path across the ComEd territory, which provides ComEd with more options to meet customer needs.
The line creates immediate customer savings by reducing grid congestion, increasing customers’ access to lower-cost generation, including wind power, and will reduce carbon emissions by 473,000 tons over 15 years. A detailed analysis indicates that customers will save approximately $250 million collectively within that time frame. This is net of construction costs.
The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) issued ComEd a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) on October 22, 2014, authorizing ComEd to construct the Grand Prairie Gateway Project.
On October 10, 2013, ComEd completed the third round of public open houses for the Grand Prairie Gateway Project, and we are grateful for the input of the stakeholders, local community leaders and the public throughout this planning process.
On October 22, 2014, the Illinois Commerce Commission issued ComEd a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to construct, operate and maintain the Grand Prairie Gateway Transmission Line.
Construction began in June 2015 and the line was placed in service in the second quarter of 2017.
Case Information: All information related to the case including the application, case filings, the case schedule and ICC rulings can be found on the ICC's e-Docket, numbers 15-0370 and 15-0545.
The transmission line is supported by single-pole steel structures ranging from 115’ to 195’ tall. This project required the installation of 399 transmission poles, spaced approximately 700 feet apart along the route, extending for nearly 60 miles.
Our goal is safety: your families and our personnel. During construction, large trucks, wooden mats, and special equipment can be interesting to children and adults, but for your safety:
Right-of-way clearing was necessary to meet clearance regulations and to allow the matting and construction to take place.
As crews began work in each section of the Project, the first priority was the installation of temporary wooden matting on the ground which allowed equipment and work forces to access the construction site, while protecting the sensitive terrain (wetlands, agricultural fields, and underground utilities).
After matting was completed, sediment controls were used to slow down the velocity of storm water runoff and trap sediment before it could leave the construction site to prevent soil erosion and protect nearby water ways.
During the installation of the single pole foundations, which average 30 feet in depth, dirt and rock was excavated. Area residents saw trucks in the area as this material was hauled from the site. In addition, concrete trucks delivered concrete to complete the foundations.
It took 1-3 days to complete the installation of each foundation. After the foundations were set, the transmission poles were installed, which took up to five days to complete.
Through an integrated process incorporating input from the public and other community stakeholders, ComEd identified a route for the transmission line. The width of the right-of-way that ComEd required to install the transmission lines extended up to 220-feet.
The ICC-approved route, as depicted on the maps provided below, was not intended to represent a precise, surveyed width, nor were the maps intended to represent the precise center line of the transmission facilities as those determinations were made once surveying and design engineering was complete. Like similar projects of this nature, they are intended only to represent the approximate location of the new transmission line relative to other existing physical features such as roads, railroads and property lines.
In specific areas of the project, weathered steel poles were installed. This finish is a russet red in color that will change to brown over time.
This type of steel protects the structure and reduces maintenance cost. These poles will not be painted.
Wooden matting is used to protect the environment while installing structures and other equipment.
Drilling of a foundation for poles.
Installation of an anchor bolt cage.
The finished foundation.
Installation of weathering steel poles.
Completed weathered steel poles.
Bird Diverters are installed on existing transmission line.
Pulling rope is installed in advance of transmission wire installation.
Matting in Ogle County to support construction of the new line.
Erection of a weathered steel pole in Ogle County along an existing transmission line.
Staging of wire pulling equipment on the matted road in Ogle County along an existing transmission line.
