ground wire on gas meter

ChrisJ

I just had my gas service installed and I personally ran all of the gas piping in the house and connected the meter to my piping.  I also installed a new steam boiler and PV water heater.

I have permits to do all of this as a home owner through the town and am getting ready for my final inspection.  I noticed there is a 6 or 8 AWG ground wire wrapped around the gas line coming in from the road.  Meter is outside and the wire comes up and isn't hooked to anything.



Whats the deal with this?  Its way too short to reach my line going into the house and if it belongs clamped to the street side line, why didn't the gas co do it?  A picture can be seen at

<a href="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/384506_10150443924141253_637721252_10878135_39662598_n.jpg">http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/384506_10150443924141253_637721252_10878135_39662598_n.jpg</a>



I understand this seems to be a touchy subject however I'd appreciate any info you can give.  I'd rather not have to wait for the inspector to come out to button everything up correctly.



Happy Thanksgiving!

Mark Eatherton

Not a ground wire...

And it is not for consumer use.



It is simply a trace wire ran along side the plastic gas line coming to your house so that if you decide that some day you want to do some excavating in the area, a location signal can be induced into the wire and the exact location of the incoming fuel line located.



PS, The riser coming out of the ground may be metal (steel) but the fuel line is PE plastic, hence the need for the trace wire.



ME

ChrisJ

Ahhh

I see.



Thanks for the info Mark, I appreciate it!  I did bind all pipes to the electrical panel ground so all is well there.  I just noticed that line while painting the black pipe this morning.