On occasion I have had E/Cs from an adjoining State (AL) in this area who have advised it was SOP in their home area.
Perhaps masterinbama can shed some light.
Certain rural areas surrounding Huntsville and Madison county require that the grounded conductor in the mast be continuous from the weatherhead, through the lug in the meter pan and then to the grounding electrode (whatever method you use (Sized for the load)
They will also allow a bare neutral from the meter to the panel on back to backs only in most of the jurisdictions surrounding my area.
Any idea why they have these rules?
What happens if you have a underground service - especially if aluminum conductors?
How do you connect the neutral conductor from the meter to the service disconnecting means if you have a continuous conductor from service drop to the grounding electrode? A typical 125 or 200 amp meter socket only has two neutral lugs that are full sized and a smaller one for GEC.
You pass through one of them and use the other for your conductor to the panel.
When you throw an underground at most of them they get lost.