Bill is right that is the gas company, water company, or whoever is worried about this, they can place a dielectric coupling in the line.
>Bonding it makes it part of the grounding electrode system.
Depends on whether the insulating bushing is there. I'm just saying that it can't count as 10' of buried metallic pipe for an electrode.
>doesn't bonding it defeat this.
The gas man can and should use effective means of electrical jumpering before he breaks continuity. The unsuspecting house dweller can't test the gas lines for voltage before touching them.
I think the risk to the gas man is greater if the gas line is not bonded. If it is bonded, it won't have a full 120 V on it. If it isn't bonded, it just might be energized at a full 120 V.
If a child walks up to a gas meter and touches it, she shouldn't get electrocuted. My job is to try to prevent that no matter what the gas company thinks.
