Service Bonding and the Utility Company

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Bill Smith61

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Electrician
So I installed an 800 am 3 phase 120/208 service. This utility’s service feedres came into a 3’x3’ CT cabinet spect out by the utility company. Out of the CT cabinet I ran 2 4” EMT conduits and parallel 750 mcm to an 800 amp main breaker. In each of the conduits I ran a #4 copper with bonding bushings on either end of the 4” EMT’s from the MDP to the meter cabinets case. Mind you the electrical inspection passed 100% and I am good to go. So the utility companies metering dept. “Rochester Gas and Electric“ comes to hook up the CT’S and the lineman are waiting to energize the system. The utility companies metering guy tells me that I can’t have the bonding wire with bonding bushings connected because it interferes with his system. After a 12 hour day I am very tired and arguing with this guy and I eventually just took the bonding wires completely out . Any input on this ?
 
Not sure the effects the POCO guy would be referring to but if there would be an issue better get rid of the emt as well as that also is capable of carrying fault current too. #2 you should only have had to bond the one side if I'm not mistaken, on the MDP side.
 
The two 4" EMT's are the service raceways and they require bonding on one end beyond standard locknuts. Running the #4 through each raceway puts it in parallel with the service neutrals and is therefore a violation. You could use a bonding lockout on one side of the service raceways and not use bonding bushings.
 
infinity said:
The two 4" EMT's are the service raceways and they require bonding on one end beyond standard locknuts. Running the #4 through each raceway puts it in parallel with the service neutrals and is therefore a violation. You could use a bonding lockout on one side of the service raceways and not use bonding bushings.
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Looking back, it is run through so it is a violation. Will that violation change the metering in any way?
 
Bill Smith61 said:
So I installed an 800 am 3 phase 120/208 service. This utility’s service feedres came into a 3’x3’ CT cabinet spect out by the utility company. Out of the CT cabinet I ran 2 4” EMT conduits and parallel 750 mcm to an 800 amp main breaker. In each of the conduits I ran a #4 copper with bonding bushings on either end of the 4” EMT’s from the MDP to the meter cabinets case. Mind you the electrical inspection passed 100% and I am good to go. So the utility companies metering dept. “Rochester Gas and Electric“ comes to hook up the CT’S and the lineman are waiting to energize the system. The utility companies metering guy tells me that I can’t have the bonding wire with bonding bushings connected because it interferes with his system. After a 12 hour day I am very tired and arguing with this guy and I eventually just took the bonding wires completely out . Any input on this ?
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We meter something like that 2-4 times a month. We have PLC communications with the meter. It isn’t a problem.
I’m not aware of any problems with radio communications either.
Sounds like that guy has an ultracrepiderian attitude simply because of his position as a “meter guy” That or he suffers severely from Dunning Kruger effect.

Our meter guys a very good at what they do.

Doesn’t mean they know ANYTHING about electricity or the NEC.
 
ptonsparky said:
Will that violation change the metering in any way?
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I don't see how that's possible. Without the conductor in the raceway you would have two parallel paths for the neutral current, the neutral and the metal raceway. Add the #4 conductor and now you have three paths for the neutral current. Not sure how that changes anything.
 
FWIW, I believe your bonding jumper to each bushing (on one end) should be a 2/0 based on 750 phases conductors.
(a 4/0 if you have on jumper to both bushings)
 
Remember, on the line side up to the service bonding point, everything is bonded to the neutral, is considered to be part of the neutral, and is not seen as a parallel neutral-current pathway. There is no separate EGC.
 
infinity said:
The two 4" EMT's are the service raceways and they require bonding on one end beyond standard locknuts. Running the #4 through each raceway puts it in parallel with the service neutrals and is therefore a violation.
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Not necessarily. That would happen only if the neutral was bonded to the CT can. With most of the equipment I use, and also a power company requirement from Seattle City light, generally the neutral is not bonded to the CT cabinet and instead of supply side bonding jumper is run back to the service disconnect.
 
electrofelon said:
Not necessarily. That would happen only if the neutral was bonded to the CT can. With most of the equipment I use, and also a power company requirement from Seattle City light, generally the neutral is not bonded to the CT cabinet and instead of supply side bonding jumper is run back to the service disconnect.
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Around here you'll never see an unbonded neutral on the line side of the service disconnect.
 
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