Landscaping Around Electrical Boxes

I recently read an article in a well known garden magazine that gave several options for landscaping around enclosures for underground distribution systems. I was amazed and dismayed at how little the author had researched the subject from the practicability point of view.


The landscaping did indeed camouflage the box; hiding it from view from every angle. I suspect there are innocent homeowners taking the advice and designs to heart as we speak.


The design methods for totally surrounding the boxes will be a lose-lose situation when there is a maintenance issue in the box.


Lose-lose in these ways:


(1) The box is placed on an easement signed by the property owner and the utility. It is a legally binding contract even if the property owner was prior to your purchase. That easement gives the utility the right to access the equipment for routine and emergency maintenance. If access is blocked, the utility can take what measures are necessary to bring equipment and manpower to the site in a safe manner.

(2) For utility workers to gain access to the equipment, your beautiful (and probably expensive) landscaping could be destroyed. A worker will need to have room to maneuver and work on the equipment without being put in an unsafe position. If the work requires other equipment (truck, backhoe, etc.) the probability of more damage to landscaping is high.

The utility and it's employees do not want to damage your property. It is bad for customer relations, it places them in a safety hazard and it prolongs the time needed to do the job. There is also the cost for the homeowner for damages.

Some homeowners don't realize these boxes need routine maintenance to keep the electrical systems running without problems. Others believe underground systems are problem free. Some customers believe the utility can't be on their property even to access the utility's equipment, especially, if there are no outages. There's a lot of misinformation floating around.

Think this through:


You want to have dependable and continuous electric service. To have this reliable service, expect the utility to do their job.

• Before landscaping, call the utility and ask if they can direct you on how they will access the equipment, from what direction, and how much room they will need.
• Do not put landscaping plants, fences, borders, rocks, decorations and other blocking material around the entire unit.
• NEVER open, paint, damage, hang or sit things on a piece of electric or gas equipment.
• NEVER NEVER let children play on electric or gas equipment.
• None of this is the punish or infringe upon the customer's landscaping or beautification plans.
• It is all about safety and reliability for the utility workers and for their customers.
• Horror Stories:
• Children taking hammers and pointed objects to put holes in the boxes. Seriously, there is energized equipment in those boxes - that's why there is the box over them.
• 6 foot chain link fence totally around the box. Seriously, this fence was cut and removed in a not so beautiful manner during an emergency situation.
• Large bushes, a tree, and many perennials totally surrounding the box. Seriously, one whole site was flattened when an equipment failure necessitated removal and replacement.
• The entire right of way access from the road had been blocked by many homeowners on the block. This easement is much like an alleyway. Seriously, the fences, landscaping and a shed had to be removed at the owners' expense when a large truck and a crane were needed for heavy repairs.

There are ways to hide this equipment, it just needs some planning before things are put in place. For instance, use landscaping at a safe distance from the electrical equipment. Situate between your views and the objects. Behind the landscaping, let there be an area of grass or other low plants that do not require much effort and will allow utility access.


Turn the situation from lose-lose into win-win.