Paldean legend holds that, a bit over 150 years ago, a Pawmot stole electricity from Zapdos, Raikou, and Thundurus and transferred it to Man; thus was born our modern, technological civilization. According to prophecy, it will likewise transfer it to Hariyama, Tyranitar, and Cyclizar at points in the distant future, and will thereby invent the paradox forms which dominate much of Area Zero.
Pawmot's ability to transfer electricity, as of this writing, is unproven; there is no doubting, however, its capacity to steal it. It is common for trainers of flying or water pokemon to keep a Pawmot around as a teammate, for its ability to render them harmless; in the wild, despite their being herbivorous, Bellibolt and Kilowattrel treat them as they do far more dangerous predators, and Magnemite regard them with something akin to sheer terror.
Much to the surprise of Paldea's first electricians, and quite unlike Pachirisu and Vikavolt, however, Pawmot represent no threat at all to power lines or other human electric infrastructure. Pawmot are commonly used as generators by their trainers – a role most fully evolved electric pokemon, admittedly, can fulfill whenever a storm knocks out the power, but these pokemon eagerly take to supplying electricity year-round. Unlike the hungry Pawmo, it is generally held that whatever a Pawmot costs to feed will be more than made up for by the savings on the electric bill. It is a common sight on Paldean roads to see a Pawmot strapped into the passenger's seat, powering the car.
Perhaps this is the true meaning behind the myths casting this pokemon as a friend of humanity – for, in this electrified age, despite the ability to act otherwise, Pawmot have more than lived up to that title.