Electric Distribution crews will be identifying transformer boxes without adequate space for safe access. They will leave doorhangers for the property owners to inform them of the situation. Courtesy/DPU

Many Los Alamos County residents have large metal boxes, or cabinets, on their properties with transformers fed by 13,600 volts of electricity locked inside. Electric Distribution crews from the Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities (DPU) are assessing the surroundings of these boxes throughout the townsite and White Rock to make sure they are safe for residents and accessible for linemen.

To work on the transformers safely, electric linemen need at least 8 feet of clearance in front and 3 feet on the other three sides to open the boxes and access the equipment inside. When shrubbery or trees are planted too close to the green or tan boxes, it creates problems for the crews.

“A lot of people plant shrubs or trees around the transformer boxes to hide them or make them blend in with the landscape,” said DPU Electrical Engineering Manager Stephen Marez. “If our linemen can’t open a transformer box because a tree has been planted in front of it, that’s a big problem.”

One transformer feeds the electric service for several homes. If power is out for those homes and electric crews need to access the transformer to restore it, a tree in front of the box can make for a slow, difficult repair. That tree not only presents a safety issue for DPU staff working on the transformer, but it may also be dangerous for anyone who tries to remove it.

“Tree roots will grow around underground power lines so we never want our customers to try to transplant trees that have been planted too close to transformer boxes,” Marez said. “This is a good example of why we remind residents to call for locates before they dig in their yards.”

DPU’s linemen will be leaving doorhangers at properties that have vegetation or other landscaping too close to transformer boxes. The doorhangers will let the property owners know if they need to act or if their trees will be cut down by DPU. Even when situated on private property, all transformer boxes are on county electric easements.

For clarification, there are different types of green boxes that protect wiring and equipment outdoors. The transformer boxes are about 2 feet by 2 feet and varying heights. Narrower boxes that are about 8 inches by 8 inches are power pedestals, not transformer boxes. While power pedestals may also enclose electrical equipment, they don’t require as much clearance as transformer boxes. There also are pedestals that enclose phone wiring. The sticker on the outside of the box indicates what is enclosed.

When planting trees or shrubs, call for locates by dialing 811 first even if a transformer is not in the area. Call NM811 at least two days before digging to initiate the process of locating and marking the underground utility lines at the property. Locate requests also may be submitted online at www.NM811.org . Click on “I’m About to Dig”.

Electric Distribution crews will be identifying transformer boxes without adequate space for safe access. They will leave doorhangers for the property owners to inform them of the situation. Courtesy/DPU

These transformer boxes have plenty of clear space around them for safe access by County crews. Courtesy/DPU

These transformer boxes have plenty of clear space around them for safe access by County crews. Courtesy/DPU

Transformer boxes often bear stickers illustrating safety clearances. Courtesy/DPU

Copyright © 2012-2022 The Los Alamos Daily Post is the Official Newspaper of Record in Los Alamos County. This Site and all information contained here including, but not limited to news stories, photographs, videos, charts, graphs and graphics is the property of the Los Alamos Daily Post, unless otherwise noted. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is hereby granted, provided that the Los Alamos Daily Post and the author/photographer are properly cited. Opinions expressed by readers, columnists and other contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of the Los Alamos Daily Post. The Los Alamos Daily Post newspaper was founded by Carol A. Clark on  Feb. 7, 2012.