If you’ve ever walked past a small green pillar or dome-shaped box sitting quietly on your front verge or near a footpath, you’ve probably ignored it without a second thought. It doesn’t look like much — just another piece of street furniture blending into the grass.

But that little green dome is actually an important part of the electricity network that keeps your lights on and your home powered. It’s one of those hidden pieces of infrastructure that most people don’t notice until something goes wrong — and when it does, it can be as dangerous as a downed powerline.

So, what exactly is a green dome? How does it work? And what should you do if one near your home gets damaged? Let’s break it down.

The Basics — What Is a Green Dome?

In areas with underground power, you won’t see the traditional timber power poles or crossarms carrying wires between properties. Instead, the electrical cables that supply your home are buried beneath the ground.

The green dome — sometimes called a mini-pillar, pillar box, or service dome — is a protective enclosure that houses the underground connections between the local distribution network and your property’s service cable.

It’s basically the underground version of a power pole. Where overhead supply lines connect from the street to your home through aerial conductors, underground supplies connect through a green dome that sits at ground level.

Each green dome contains live electrical wiring and connection points that allow multiple properties to be supplied from the same underground feeder cable. In some cases, a single dome may service two or more homes.

The dome is usually made from durable, weather-resistant plastic or fibreglass and is coloured green so it blends into lawns, verges, and parks. It’s designed to be low-profile and unobtrusive, but don’t let that fool you — it plays a critical role in keeping your electricity supply safe and reliable.

How Green Domes Fit into the Electricity Network

To understand why green domes exist, you first need to picture how electricity gets to your home.

High-voltage transmission lines carry electricity long distances from power stations to substations.

At substations, the voltage is stepped down and fed into local distribution networks that deliver power to communities.

These distribution networks can be overhead (using poles and wires) or underground (using buried cables).

When the distribution cables reach your street, they need a way to safely connect to each property — and that’s where the green dome comes in.

The green dome serves as the junction point between the network-owned underground cable and the consumer’s service cable leading to the switchboard.

For homes connected underground, it’s essentially the “last link” in the chain — the point where the network’s responsibility ends and your property’s begins.

Why Australia Uses Green Domes

You’ll find green domes in suburbs and regional towns across Australia, particularly in areas where power lines have been installed underground.

In Western Australia, for instance, they’re common across the South West Interconnected System (SWIS), managed by Western Power. The same applies in areas served by Horizon Power, especially in towns where overhead lines have been replaced with underground systems to improve safety and reliability.

There are several reasons why Australia has embraced underground power and, consequently, green domes:

• – Safety: Underground cables reduce the risk of electrocution, bushfire ignition, and storm-related damage.
• – Aesthetics: No poles and wires mean cleaner streetscapes and unobstructed views.
• – Reliability: Underground systems are less affected by wind, falling trees, or lightning.
• – Urban development: Many modern estates are designed from the start with underground services for power, water, and communications.

Green domes are part of the infrastructure that makes this possible — providing a safe, serviceable connection point for both utilities and property owners.

Inside the Green Dome — What’s Actually In There?

If you could peek inside a green dome (don’t ever try!), you’d see a compact setup of insulated cables, connectors, and sometimes fuses.

Here’s what you’d typically find inside:

• – Incoming network cables: These are the underground cables that carry electricity from the street’s main distribution line.
• – Outgoing service cables: These connect to one or more nearby properties, feeding power directly to their switchboards.
• – Link connectors or terminals: These allow for quick isolation and reconnection of individual properties during maintenance or faults.
• – Protective covers and insulation: These keep moisture, dirt, and debris out of the live components.

The layout and configuration depend on the utility’s design, but the core function is always the same — to provide a safe, accessible, and weatherproof point where electricity can be connected and maintained without disturbing the buried cables themselves.

Why You Shouldn’t Touch or Tamper With It

A green dome might look harmless from the outside, but inside it are live electrical parts carrying up to 240 volts or higher. If the dome is cracked, open, or displaced, those components may be exposed — and that’s when things become dangerous.

In fact, a damaged green dome poses the same level of risk as a fallen powerline. Touching it, or even getting too close, could result in a severe electric shock or electrocution.

That’s why utilities like Western Power and Horizon Power repeatedly remind the public to never touch, move, or open a green dome — even if it looks like it just needs a quick fix.

If you notice one that’s been damaged, leaning, or appears to have exposed wiring, the safest thing to do is:

• – Stay well clear — keep at least 8 metres away.
• – Warn others to stay back.
• – Call your electricity network operator to report it.

If you’re not sure who the provider is, contact your retailer and they’ll direct you to the right authority.

Common Causes of Damage

Green domes are designed to be tough, but they’re not indestructible. Here are a few of the most common ways they get damaged:

• – Vehicles and trailers: A car backing over a verge or parking too close can crack or dislodge the dome.
• – Lawnmowers and whipper snippers: Repeated knocks or vibration can damage the cover or base over time.
• – Construction or landscaping: Excavation, trenching, or heavy machinery can disturb or crush the underground cables.
• – Weather events: Flooding or erosion can expose cables or undermine the dome’s base.
• – Vandalism: Occasionally, domes are tampered with or removed entirely by curious individuals.

Even a small crack or loosened base can allow water inside, which may cause faults, short circuits, or corrosion of the electrical connectors.

Staying Safe Around Green Domes

The golden rule is simple: if it’s green and sits on your verge, don’t touch it.

But there are also a few practical tips homeowners should keep in mind to stay safe and avoid accidental damage:

• – Keep the area clear. Don’t plant trees, shrubs, or install fences too close. Utilities generally recommend at least 500 mm of clearance on all sides.
• – Avoid covering it. Don’t pile mulch, soil, or gravel around it. It needs to remain visible and accessible for maintenance crews.
• – Check before you dig. If you’re doing any landscaping, fencing, or paving work, always contact Before You Dig Australia to confirm the location of underground assets.
• – Report damage immediately. If you see cracks, exposed wires, or a dome that’s been hit, report it to your network operator straight away.
• – Educate others. Kids and pets may be curious about these green boxes — make sure they know to stay away.

Remember, network crews rely on safe access to these domes for maintenance and fault repairs. If the dome is buried under plants or concrete, they may need to dig it up, which can cause unnecessary disruption to your property.

Who Owns and Maintains Green Domes

In most parts of Australia, the green dome is owned by the local distribution network service provider (DNSP) — not the homeowner.

That means if it’s damaged or needs repair, it’s the network operator’s responsibility to fix it. However, homeowners are responsible for ensuring the area around it is kept clear and for reporting any visible issues.

For example:

• – In Western Australia’s SWIS, Western Power manages and maintains all green domes.
• – In regional and remote parts of WA, Horizon Power does the same.
• – In other states, equivalent DNSPs like Ausgrid, Energex, SA Power Networks, or TasNetworks manage similar underground connection systems, though the enclosures may look slightly different.

Each network has its own process for reporting damaged domes, but generally, you can do it online or via their 24/7 emergency number.

Green Domes and Property Boundaries

It’s quite common for green domes to be located on or near a property boundary — sometimes on the council verge, other times just inside a fence line.

While it might feel like part of “your land”, legally it’s still part of the public electricity network. That means:

• – You cannot relocate or remove the dome yourself.
• – You must allow access for network crews to inspect or maintain it.
• – If you plan construction or fencing work that could obstruct it, you’ll need to check with your DNSP before proceeding.

Some homeowners get frustrated seeing a dome on their verge, but remember — without it, you wouldn’t have power! It’s a shared asset that benefits you and your neighbours.

What To Do If You Need It Moved

Occasionally, a homeowner may wish to relocate a green dome — for instance, to build a driveway or boundary wall.

In those cases, you’ll need to apply through your local DNSP. They’ll assess the request, determine if relocation is possible, and provide a cost estimate. Because these domes contain high-voltage network connections, the work must be done by authorised technicians only.

Keep in mind that moving a dome can be expensive and sometimes not feasible if it would affect multiple service connections. It’s always best to plan driveways and landscaping around the dome rather than trying to move it after the fact.

Green Domes vs Other Electrical Infrastructure

To avoid confusion, let’s clarify what a green dome isn’t.

• – It’s not a telecommunications box — though some NBN or Telstra pits look similar, they’re smaller and usually have branding or identification.
• – It’s not a water or gas meter — those are normally closer to your house and clearly labelled.
• – It’s not a solar inverter or battery unit — those are installed on your property and are owned by you.

If in doubt, assume it’s electrical and treat it as potentially live.

Reporting Damaged Green Domes

If you ever spot a damaged or open dome, here’s what you should do:

• – Keep at least 8 metres away — that’s about the length of a large SUV.
• – Warn others in the area to stay back.
• – Contact your network operator immediately.

In WA:

• – Western Power (13 13 51 for faults and emergencies)
• – Horizon Power (13 23 51 for emergencies)

In other states, you can find your DNSP’s contact details on your electricity bill or through Before You Dig Australia.

Don’t try to fix it yourself. Even touching the cover could be deadly if there’s a fault.

Reporting quickly helps crews isolate the issue before it causes a larger outage or injury.

Why Awareness Matters

The beauty of Australia’s underground power system is that it’s mostly invisible — quiet, clean, and out of sight. But that also means many people don’t realise the hazards that exist just below the surface.

Green domes are a small but vital part of that system. They connect your home to the network safely and reliably, year after year, often without anyone giving them a second glance.

By simply knowing what they are, keeping them clear, and reporting damage when it happens, you’re helping maintain the safety of your neighbourhood and protecting the crews who work on them.