I agree Mike, in my hometown we have to pull electrical permits whenever the POCO is involved, meaning new work/ service upgrade etc. Problem is politics comes to play, we got a new inspector a few years ago( small town we only have one) and he was ready to get everybody in line. Was told by the mayor after his first case of no license " that guy has been doing his own work for years, now back off and let him make a living" The guy is a general contractor, and his own work consists of wiring everything he builds with little or no reguard for the code. I guess it is all about who you know.
