Bottom Line Up Front: Your home's distribution box (electrical panel) is typically located in the basement, garage, utility room, or mounted outside near your electrical meter. To find it quickly, look for a rectangular gray metal box about the size of a medicine cabinet, often positioned close to. A distribution box, also known as a power distribution box or electrical distribution box, is used to distribute electrical power safely to multiple circuits. It helps organize, protect, and control electrical connections in residential, commercial, and industrial electrical systems. It is where the main electrical service enters your house and is distributed to different areas and appliances.