Hey there Sparksaflyin,
I've read the responses but I am still not convinced. I also just got off of the phone after a long conversation with your boss and he isn't convinced either. Note that we are talking about UL Listed SE and USE wire which is not necessarily any THWN, XHHW, etc wire but wire tested and certified by UL to the service entrance requirements. I believe 230.43 by the word shall restricts you to the wiring methods listed. Also, Article 338.10 specifically grants permission for SE and USE to be used as service entrance conductors as well as 332.10 for MI cable, and 330.10 for MC cable, 326.10 for IGS cable. All of these same cable types are specifically mentioned in 230.43. None of the other cable types in Article 330 have that specific permission. The UL Listing for USE and USE-2 shows wire sizes up to 2000 kcm accommodating any industrial requirements for a service entrance. So far, I stand with my position.
bilbo336 (aka the client)
To understand how to interpret the NEC and understand the rules and requirements one must understand that the NEC is a model code to be adopted as law where it is to be enforce.
As a law it is considered a permissive code, if it doesn't say it can not be used then it can, and is one of the most important things we much understand, other wise we can easily think it doesn't allow a wiring method just because it doesn't give exact permission to use it, this is wrong and a very common mistake that many make.
If we look at 90.5 and the commentary in the NEC hand book which is wrote by the vary people who also sit on the code making panels who wrote the NEC we will see that at times the code can make permissive statements but it does not mean this is the only allowed method:
90.5 Mandatory Rules, Permissive Rules, and
Explanatory Material
(A) Mandatory Rules. Mandatory rules of this Code are
those that identify actions that are specifically required or
prohibited and are characterized by the use of the terms shall
or shall not.
The Code uses two distinctive types of rules: mandatory
rules and permissive rules. Mandatory rules, characterized
by the terms shall and shall not, are covered in 90.5(A).
(B) Permissive Rules. Permissive rules of this Code are
those that identify actions that are allowed but not required,
are normally used to describe options or alternative methods,
and are characterized by the use of the terms shall be
permitted or shall not be required.
Permissive rules are simply options or alternative methods
of achieving equivalent safety — they are not requirements.
A close reading of permissive terms is important because
permissive rules are often misinterpreted. For example, the
frequently used permissive term shall be permitted can be
mistaken for a requirement. Substituting “the inspector must
allow [item A or method A]” for “[item A or method A] shall
be permitted” generally clarifies the interpretation.
As we can see from above a permissive is only a statement allowing a method to be used for a purpose but not that it is the only method.
Now let's take a look at article 338.10 "Uses permitted"
338.10 Uses Permitted
(A) Service-Entrance Conductors. Service-entrance
cable shall be permitted to be used as service-entrance conductors
and shall be installed in accordance with 230.6,
230.7, and Parts II, III, and IV of Article 230.
All this is saying is SE cable is allowed to be used as service entrance conductors, what it is not saying is it is the only wiring method, as it can't be simply because it is only manufactured up to 4/0, what would happen if we had a 400 amp service? also 310.15 only allow SE cable to be sized from the 60?c table which will reduce its Ampacity when compared to other wiring methods.
Also in 40 years of installing services I have never seen a weather head made for conduit but also allowed to be used with SE cable, SE cable has it's own type of weather head that goes right on the cable, most all other weather heads will have three or four holes for use with single conductors.
Basically the NEC allows any wiring method in 310.104 that meets the requirements of location such as: wet location and if exposed to the sun, it would have to be sunlight resistant which is required in 310.10(C) and (D), and (D) allows us to even use a non sunlight resistant conductor if we use a sunlight resistant tape or covering over the exposed end subject to direct rays of the sun.
As a member of NFPA, and the IAEI who also has traveled the country sitting in on NFPA meetings with many of the code making panels members, I hope this helps clear up your misunderstandings