Green domes / pillars
You may have seen a green dome (also known as a green pillar) on your property or in your neighbourhood and wondered, what does a green dome do and why do I have one?
Green domes play an important role in delivering electricity to you – it is the point of connection between your property and the main electrical network that runs along your street.
It is the same electrical wiring that runs from power poles to the top of houses, except underground. The green dome acts as a protective housing for the electrical wires that feed a property.
They are primarily found in areas where there is an underground power supply.
Green domes can be found in areas with overhead power poles and wires, in particular public areas like parks and roadsides, or where new houses have been built in the area (as all new subdivisions must install underground power connections).
It’s easy to miss them, as they are coloured green to blend in with natural surrounds, however it is important to remember that they play an important role in supplying your property with power and, if damaged, pose the same risk as a downed powerline. If you see a damaged green dome, it is important you report it to Western Power immediately on 13 13 51.
You can also apply to relocate your green dome or convert your overhead power supply to underground.
Green domes should be clear and accessible at all times so that our crews or electrical contractors can access the electrical wiring as needed.
We may require access to repair/isolate power in an emergency, repair a fault, replace a damaged green dome cover or change the position of your electricity supply. By having the green domes visible and clear of interference, we can maintain and isolate the underground power with minimal disruption to customers.
To ensure access, green domes should be kept vertically unimpeded and have a 500mm clearance zone around the base of the unit. This includes installations such as fences or vegetation.
If the green dome has limited or poor access, it may result in delays to restoring your power during faults.
This clearance zone also ensures the green dome and its electrical wiring has sufficient ventilation to operate efficiently and safely.
Human interference is the main cause of damage to green domes.
This includes vehicles driving into or over the green dome, construction/building activity, landscaping activity and people playing or jumping on the green dome.
Grass or bushfires also lead to green dome damage.
If you or somebody in your presence damages a green dome, report it to Western Power immediately on 13 13 51.
Remember, a damaged green domes is as dangerous as a downed powerline.
There are multiple types of pillars that you may come across in your area, all with a similar function - to get power safely and efficiently to your property.
The most common type is the green dome (also known as green pillar or mini pillar). Traditionally, the shape of these pillars has been dome-like, hence the nickname 'green dome'. There's also more of these types of pillars in the community than other types.
In 2018, we changed the standard pillar shape to rectangular for all new installations. So you'll see more of these popping up in the future.
Uni pillars are a larger version of a green dome. They are used to house larger cables and enable us to conduct switching work when conducting maintenance or fault repair work.
Not all houses in underground power areas have their own green dome. Some green domes can service multiple properties, so you may see one for every second or third property along the street.
Where it's part of undergrounding work that we deliver, green domes are installed by Western Power crews or our approved contractors. We have specific requirements as to how the green domes must be installed to ensure they operate efficiently and safely.
Private electrical contractors also install green domes when they are doing work for private customers, such as residents, builders or land developers. Western Power does not own all the green domes / pillars in the community. Some are privately owned and maintained as part of an installation, or by utilities such as the Water Corporation.
If you’ve contacted a green dome with your vehicle it’s important you stay inside until you have sought further instruction from Western Power. Wires carrying potentially life threatening amounts of electricity may be in contact with the vehicle which may energise it.
The safest option is to stay inside the vehicle until help arrives or you’re instructed otherwise by Western Power. If it’s unsafe to stay in your vehicle, jump well clear keeping both feet together. Don’t touch the vehicle and ground at the same time then shuffle away keeping both feet together. Check out this handy video about what to do if your vehicle is in contact with live electricity.
For people with underground power, you are highly likely to have a green dome for your electrical wiring. This is the standard and most cost-effective protective housing.
However, there are pits and wall-mounted boxes available to customers where space or personal preference requires alternative options.
These alternatives are available at a higher cost than the standard green dome. How do customers enquire/request this?
(image of pit and wall-mounted box for reference)