The West Loop project also adds the equivalent of a 400MW power plant to the power available in the heart of the city.

The project includes the construction of a 345kV West Loop substation, the installation of two new 34kV transmission lines across the city, one 10-mile line connecting the Crawford substation on the south side to the new 345kV West Loop substation.

Additionally, the project also comprises a second three-mile 345kV line which connects the West Loop to the existing Taylor substation and the installation of new 138kV transmission lines adding another layer of redundancy among Chicago substations, and adding new equipment at 11 new and existing ComEd substations throughout the city.

Frank Clark, ComEd chairman and CEO, said: The West Loop project marks a fundamental change in the way ComEd serves Chicago. We are greatly enhancing reliability in the city by adding redundancies to our high-voltage transmission grid, the backbone of our energy delivery system. Customers depend on us to deliver electricity to run their businesses and enhance their quality of life, and the West Loop project is central to our ability to fulfill our promise of reliable service.