Please call us at 448-4800 to:

Inquire about padmounted equipment

Report problems

Report trees growing into power lines

Report outages
Call the Utilities Noti cation Center of
Colorado at (800) 922-1987 to have
all your underground lines located
before you dig.
Landscaping
Around
Electrical
Equipment
Clearances, guidelines and
other information to help you
properly and safely landscape
around electrical equipment.
For your safety, all electrical
equipment is enclosed in protective
cabinets. Each piece has warning
labels that should be heeded.
Customers are cautioned not to
allow children to play on or around
the equipment.
Ever wonder what that green metal box is in your neighborhood or even your own front yard?
These green boxes house high voltage utility equipment that can pose a serious safety
hazard if treated or handled inappropriately.
In the event of an equipment failure or a power outage, its important that our workers have
safe access to the equipment to make needed repairs. Therefore, for your safety and that
of our workers, there are city codes to limit landscaping around electrical equipment. Trees,
shrubs, fences, large landscape rocks or other obstructions are not permitted in access areas
around electrical equipment.
Keep your family safe by:

Allowing ventilation to the box. Adequate air is

needed to keep the boxes cool and working properly

or they may become a fire hazard.

Leaving the boxes uncovered. Do not build a shed

around it or fence it in.

Encouraging children to play away from the boxes,

which may be hot or have sharp edges.
Stay safe around electrical equipment
New construction
Please consult with us if you plan to build
a wall or fence, or intend to do any grading
near padmounted equipment. We will help you
create a plan that meets your needs and will
not impair service to the electric system. Be
sure to call (800) 922-1987 before you
dig
to locate all underground lines.
Maintaining equipment: Who to call
Customers are responsible for landscaping
maintenance inside easements. We are
responsible for maintaining the equipment. If
you see equipment in need of repair, or if the
lock has been damaged or removed, call us
at 448-4800.
Painting equipment
You may paint vault lids or padmount
equipment to match the color scheme of
surrounding buildings. All identification
numbers and warning signs must remain
intact and clearly visible. If you choose to
paint the equipment, you assume permanent
responsibility for the upkeep of the paint.
Contact us for further information about the
required specifications for paint standards.
Outdoor fixtures and lighting
For safety reasons, outdoor garden lighting
should be kept away from equipment. Lighting
and other fixtures must maintain the same
clearances used for plantings.
Other information and recommendations Secondary junction boxes
Secondary junction boxes,
or handholes, are made of
a composite material and
installed to grade. The boxes
house secondary wires and
connecting devices.
Padmount or vault-mounted switches
Padmount or vault-mounted
switches are metal boxes set
on ground level concrete
vaults. Switches are used
to isolate portions of
different circuits.
Padmount transformers
Transformers are metal boxes
set on concrete or plastic
pads. Transformers reduce
the incoming primary voltage
to a usable amount.
Vault lid
A vault is a concrete housing
installed below ground. The
metal lid protrudes
3 to 4 inches above the ground
or matches the grade of the
surrounding area. It may contain
a transformer or equipment
used to switch power sources.
2
8
8
8
2
2
8
2
2
2
2
2
Inadequate clearance
8
8
8
2
Inadequate clearance
Inadequate clearance
Inadequate clearance
Adequate clearance
Adequate clearance
Adequate clearance
Adequate clearance
General landscaping guidelines
Trees should be planted far enough from equipment so that when they reach maturity,
overhanging branches will not obstruct a crane from setting or removing equipment.
If you wish to use decorative rock around equipment, it should be no larger than
1.5 inches in size.
Remember, all clearances are for the safety of the crews working around the
equipment. Easier access to the equipment will enable workers to repair damages
more quickly than if they were impeded by landscaping too near the equipment.
Damage to plants from heavy machines are kept to a minimum, or even eliminated, if
appropriate clearances are maintained around the equipment.
In accordance with Resolution No. 185-87, The property owner, either by requesting
electric service or by permitting a property to be served electric power...also agrees to
allow Colorado Springs Utilities to trim or remove any trees, shrubs, other plant growth or
other obstructions which, in Springs Utilities judgment, interferes with the operation and
maintenance of the power system or which could cause a safety hazard.
Plant recommendations
The plants listed below meet the requirements for height limitations and growth spread. Plants
shall be provided and maintained by the customer. Before planting shrubbery, call to have all
underground lines located. Shrubbery should not reach a height more than 30 inches at maturity
in order to comply with city ordinance.
Dry area plants
Barberry
Bulloberry
Currants
Daylily
Dogwood
Gooseberries
Iris
Juniper
Mountain Mahogany
Mahonia
Desert
Barberry
Fremond
Palo
Amarillo
Pine
Mugho Swiss Mtn.
Potentilla
Cinquefoil
Sagebrush
Tarragon
Wormwood
Sprinkler area plants
Centranthus Ruber
Jupiters
Beard
Red
Valerian
Juniper
Broadmoor
Juniper
Lilac
Mockorange
Big
Sweet
Plums
Newport
Purple
Rosemary
Spirea
Trelobe
Snowmound
Nippon
Boxwood
Sumac
Staghorn
2
8
8
8