Overview
- The Illinois Commerce Commission approved updated Commonwealth Edison terms for very large loads and directed staff to open a consumer-protection investigation by April 23, 2026.
- New refundable deposits now start at $1 million for 50–200 MW facilities and rise by $500,000 for each additional 100 MW, with a U.S. letter of credit required once the deposit exceeds $2 million.
- The tariff lets ComEd draw on a project's deposit to cover interconnection studies and grid upgrades already incurred if the developer cancels, with any remainder returned.
- ComEd disclosed a pipeline totaling about 28 GW from 75 prospective large customers, roughly 1.2 times its 24 GW all-time peak, signaling unprecedented strain on planning and infrastructure.
- Consumer and environmental groups, along with the state attorney general, urged rules that make developers pay full interconnection costs or supply dedicated clean power, and the ICC chair called the new inquiry a first step toward stronger safeguards.