Electrical box

Can I plant around the green box in my yard?

You may have a green metal box near or in front of your home. These are called padmounted transformers and are a key part of the electrical system that delivers power to your home. They are only found in areas where electric service is buried underground.

A 3 image display showing how to plant around an electrical box

Planting shrubs or tress too close to these boxes creates a hazard for WH linemen. At times, crews need quick access to unlock and open the cover. Two examples of this are in a power outage when linemen need to access the equipment inside, or in the event of a fire at your home, when power would need to be turned off. 

When considering landscaping near electrical equipment, please keep these guidelines in mind:

  1. Always maintain a clearance of 10 feet in front of the transformer. This is the side with the lock, generally facing the front of your house.
  2. Maintain a clearance of 4 feet on the other three sides of the transformer.
  3. Never dig beside the transformer.
  4. Adequate space is needed for air circulation around transformers. This allows heat to escape during hot weather and extends the life of the equipment. Please do not cover this equipment in any way.

If you have any questions, please contact WH.