Stay Clear of Electrical Equipment (Green Boxes)

Media
16 minutes ago
3 min read

Pad-mounted transformers route large amounts of electricity and you should avoid them. Only professional lineworkers and crews should be near them. |Photo courtesy of Runestone Electric Association — Pad-mounted transformers route large amounts of electricity and you should avoid them. Only professional lineworkers and crews should be near them. |*Photo courtesy of Runestone Electric Association*

Stay safe! Never play on or around electrical equipment. If equipment is damaged, always assume it’s energized.

Paul Wesslund of Runestone Electric Association writes:

"Electricity might flow into your neighborhood over your head or under your feet. It’s easy to spot wires on top of those wooden poles and figure out how electricity gets delivered by overhead lines. But there’s also a way to deduce that you’ve got underground lines. Look for green metal boxes about the size of a minifridge sitting in people’s front yards.

They’re called pad-mounted transformers and they do the same thing as those gray cans up on top of the poles—step higher-voltage electricity down so it’s more useful and safer for your home. The major difference is a pad-mounted transformer connects to underground power lines.

No one’s exactly sure what share of power lines in the U.S. are underground, but one industry study estimated 18 percent. To a lot of people, underground lines look better. But they’re more expensive to install—as much as five or 10 times the cost, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. And while falling trees and cars crashing into poles can knock out above-ground power lines, underground problems can be more difficult to pinpoint and correct.

The big green boxes that connect power lines look surprisingly simple inside—wires come in and go out through the transformer. Now that you know what they are, you don’t have to go looking inside, and you shouldn’t. Those locked boxes are routing a lot of electricity, so only expert lineworkers should be near the equipment.

Never use pad-mounted transformers as benches while waiting for the bus or a ride, and instruct kids not to play on or near them. Don’t plant landscaping around pad-mounted transformers because your co-op’s crews may need to get to them, and roots can interfere with the underground wires. Never dig near a pad-mounted transformer––dial 8-1-1 for any outdoor projects that require digging.

Remember, whether you’re around underground or overhead utility equipment, the same safety rules apply—stay away from power lines."

Vehicle-Involved Accident

If you’re ever in a vehicle accident involving electrical equipment:

🚗 Stay Put: Call 911 and stay inside your vehicle.

⏲️ Wait for Help: Allow emergency crews to handle the situation.

⚠️ Warn Others: Keep people away from the area.

✅ Exit Carefully: If you must leave, jump clear without touching the vehicle and ground at the same time, as the ground may be energized.

For more safety tips, visit sdge.com/safety. | Message funded by ratepayers.

Maintain a minimum of 10 feet of clearance from all SDGE overhead power lines and electrical equipment, including transformers and substations. Keep machinery, ladders, and tools away from lines, and never climb trees near power lines. Report damaged equipment immediately, as it may be energized and deadly.

Essential Safety Guidelines

Downed Power Lines: Assume any downed line is energized, stay at least 10 feet away, and call 911 or SDG&E immediately.
Underground Equipment: Keep an 8-foot clearance in front of, and 18 inches from the sides of pad-mounted transformers (green boxes).
Vehicle Accidents: If a vehicle hits power lines, stay inside, call 911, and wait for emergency crews.
Digging: Call 8-1-1 before digging to avoid striking underground electric lines.
Storm Safety: Do not touch or go near broken electric lines or poles during storms.