Bonding Meter Illinois

[PeteF]

Around here in Illinois, the standard is meter outside (without disconnect) and panel down inside basement. Meter and panel are required to be connected with galvanzied steel RMC so usually multiple nipples, couplings, a conduit body elbow, and grounding bushings to connect the RMC on each end. The grounding bushing on the panel end connect to the ground bar/panel enclosure. The grounding bushing on the meter end connects to the built in neutral grounding terminal (main bonding jumper). AKA The meter socket has built in grounding connecting the neutral conductor to the socket base/enclosure. Bonding in the panel would create a situation that can allow neutral current to travel on the RMC/conduit body so I understand why that is not done, but I thought that the main bonding jumper was supposed to be at the first point of disconnect which I would think is the panel. I have a feeling that this case might be specific to the Chicago area where we seem to be the only area required to use nothing but steel conduits and non metallic conduit between the meter and panel would solve this issue.

My questions are:
By code, shouldn't the main bonding jumper be located at the first point of disconnect which I would consider the panel?
Also, I believe I remember it being a code violation to run a ground wire from the panel ground bar, through the RMC with the service conducters, to the bonded neutral/ground terminal? This would be in parallel to the RMC but I have my concerns about the continuity of the RMC connections which may become rusty, the combination of straight and NPT threads, etc. I feel we are really relying too much on those connections

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Where you have metallic raceways between the meter and the service equipment, it will be in parallel with the neutral. A main bonding jumper is required at the panel.
The connections in the raceway are not an issue. The fault clearing path is via the main bonding jumper and the neutral back to the utility transformer.

 

[retirede]

I see you’re in Chicago. Downstate (Ameren and RECs) PVC is almost always used - I can’t remember the last time I saw RGC on a residence.