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The green box next door

They’re green, made of steel, about the size of the air conditioning unit found outside your home and sit beside manystreets. Have you ever been curious about their function?

Called pad-mount transformers, this equipment is a vital part of the system that delivers power to your home and business. They reduce high primary voltage electricity from our substations to a lower secondary voltage that’s suitable for appliances and building electrical systems.

A single pad-mount transformer may serve one or several accounts. They’re filled with inert mineral oil that cools and insulates the inner workings of the unit. The pads they sit on are made of concrete or polyethylene plastic.

Pad-mounted transformers have these advantages:

  • Blends into landscaping
  • Durable
  • Space efficient
  • Fully enclosed, locked, grounded cabinet eliminates the need for fencing

Every pad-mount transformer installed by Walton EMC has a “KEEP OUT” warning sign attached. These signs should never be covered or painted over. “KEEP OUT” applies to the transformer itself and the surrounding area. Never climb, sit on, play on or be near these devices.

Plant landscaping 10 feet away from a pad-mount transformer. Call 811 before digging in its vicinity.

Day after day, these dependable servants do their job without much notice. Enjoy the power that flows thanks to these low-profile neighborhood heroes.

Let us Know!

Although pad-mount transformers are incredibly reliable – some remaining in service for 50 years or more – they can still fail. Notify us if you see any of these conditions concerning a pad-mount transformer:

  • Unit is unlocked
  • Physical damage
  • Moved or knocked off pad
  • Uneven or holes in ground adjacent to unit
  • Oil leak
  • Smoke or fire
  • Explosion or loud noise
  • Foul odor

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