Free electricity

This installation was discovered after the local serving utility, somewhere in southern California, found that the electricity usage and electric bills did not seem to agree with previous readings. The original service raceway was run through the roof into the service equipment below. This raceway was cut to expose the service entrance conductors so that the “bootlegged” raceway could be run to supply a hidden panelboard in the same ceiling space above the shop. The use of water hose clamps and a bonding jumper certainly does not comply with any Code rules, and probably is considered as “stealing” and punishable by a stiff fine or imprisonment. This is a common problem in many areas.