What's Wrong With This Picture? Overhead Electrical Service

ANSWER: Improper Electrical Service Installation

Frequently in this inspection business, one encounters situations where you try to understand what the installer was attempting to accomplish, and what the thinking process was to complete the project.

The situation pictured here was just that. Our inspector, Gordon Glidden, from (Michigan) submitted this recent encounter of an overhead electrical service modification.

The problem begins with the utility company connection at the house (picture #1).  The connection appears to be exposed and not properly insulated. This area of wire would normally be energized and could prove disastrous should contact be made with the ground below. The height of the service entrance also appears to be in question, appearing to be under 10 feet.

Picture #2 shows the service cable being routed onto the roof and lying in ice.  This situation continues for pictures #3 and #4 when the wire is eventually routed over the side of the roof, loosely traveling to an out of sight electrical panel.  We hope.

At no time does the wire, after leaving the service connection, appear to be in any sort of conduit. Also, assuming the potential exists that the wire may not be insulated at any one point on the roof, a severe electrical hazard would exist when ice turns to water. One would not want to be anywhere on the roof at this point.

This might be a laughable situation, if it were not so dangerous. The homeowner absolutely needs to be in contact with the local utility and an electrical contractor to have this problem rectified as soon as possible.

Thanks Gordon for a watchful eye and for sharing!