Stay safe around the big green box.

You should avoid transformer pads that route large amounts of electricity.Only professional lineworkers and crews should be near them.

Electricity might come under your feet or over your head.It is easy to spot wires on wooden poles and figure out how electricity is delivered.There is a way to know if you have underground lines.There are green metal boxes about the size of a minifridge in people's front yards.

They are called pad-mounted transformers and they do the same thing as those gray cans up on top of the poles, step higher-voltage electricity down so it is more useful and safer for your home.A pad-mounted transformer connects to underground power lines.

According to an industry study, 18 percent of the power lines in the U.S. are underground.The underground lines look better to a lot of people.According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, they are more expensive to install.Falling trees and cars crashing into poles can knock out above-ground power lines, but underground problems can be more difficult to fix.

The wires come in and go out through the green boxes that connect the power lines.You don't have to look inside now that you know what they are.Only expert lineworkers should be near the locked boxes.

Don't use pad-mounted transformers as benches while waiting for the bus or ride, and instruct kids not to play on or near them.Your co-op's crews may need to get to the transformers, and roots can interfere with the underground wires, so don't plant landscaping around them.Call 8-1-1 if you need to dig near a transformer.

Stay away from power lines if you are around underground or overhead utility equipment.