A/C unit in the pic is new, old one was aprox 20 years old so I would guess that would be the time frame that was wired like that. The old A/C was also about 20 inches closer to the house heavily infringing on the working space in front of the meter and disconnect. I don't think I'd be going out on a limb by saying there was probably no permit pulled when it was installed back then.
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