Okay, this is a classic case of "stray voltage" or "neutral current" on your grounding system. It's definitely a tricky situation, and your electrician is right to be methodical. Let's break down the possibilities and how to troubleshoot

Understanding the Problem:
Grounding System's Purpose

The grounding system (ground wires, grounding electrode conductor to your pipes and ground rod) is designed to provide a low-resistance path back to the source (the utility transformer) in case of a fault. This allows the breaker to trip and protect you from shock hazards. It is NOT intended to be a normal current carrying conductor.

Neutral's Role

The neutral wire is supposed to carry the imbalanced current in a circuit back to the source. In a perfect world, the current on the hot wires equals the current on the neutral.

Why Ground Current Happens

When the neutral path has high resistance (poor connection, damaged wire), some current will seek an alternative path, which is often the lower-resistance ground path. This is bad.

Copper Pipe Connection

Your water pipes, being conductive, can become part of this unintended current path. This can lead to electrolysis (corrosion) and potentially dangerous touch voltages.

Possible Causes (From Most Likely to Less Likely)


Shared Neutral Problems Within Your Home



Loose or Corroded Neutral Connections

The most common culprit. Very carefully (with the power off!) your electrician should inspect every neutral connection in your main panel, subpanels (if you have them), and potentially even at major appliances. Look for loose connections, corrosion, or signs of arcing (blackened wires). A loose neutral connection can create high resistance, forcing current onto the ground. This also can be a symptom of "Multiwire Branch Circuits" where the neutral is disconnected.

Improperly Wired Circuits

Someone could have accidentally connected a neutral and ground wire together at an outlet. While this might seem to "work," it creates a parallel path for neutral current through the ground. Your electrician should check outlets, especially if any have been recently worked on.

Internal Appliance Faults

A faulty appliance might be leaking current to ground. This is less likely to cause such a large current, but it's possible.2.

Utility Neutral Problems (More Likely Given the Service Line Replacement)



Utility Transformer Neutral Issues

While the power company replaced the service line, the problem might lie further upstream, at the transformer serving your neighborhood. A poor neutral connection at the transformer can cause significant ground current in surrounding homes.

Neighbor's Neutral Issues

If your home and your neighbor's home are on the same transformer, a neutral issue in your neighbor's home could also cause current to flow through your grounding system.3.

Ground Loops (Less Likely in a Residential Setting, But Possible)

If you have multiple grounding points (e.g., ground rods in addition to the water pipe connection), you can create a ground loop. This happens when the ground potential is slightly different at each grounding point, causing current to flow between them.

Troubleshooting Steps (What Your Electrician Should Do)


Systematic Neutral Testing



Voltage Drop Testing

With a normal load on the circuit (e.g., a lamp), your electrician should measure the voltage drop on the neutral wire from the furthest outlet back to the panel. A significant voltage drop indicates high resistance.

Continuity Testing

With the power off, test the continuity of the neutral wire from the main panel to various points in the house. This confirms that the neutral wire is intact and has a good connection.2.

Neutral-to-Ground Voltage Measurements

With the power on, your electrician should measure the voltage between the neutral and ground at various outlets and the main panel. A significant voltage (more than a few volts) indicates that neutral current is flowing through the ground.3.

Isolate Circuits

Turn off all breakers except the main breaker. Measure the current on the grounding electrode conductor (wire to your water pipe). Then, turn on each breaker one at a time, measuring the current after each breaker is turned on. This helps to identify which circuits contribute the most to the ground current.4.

Appliance Testing

Unplug all appliances. If the ground current decreases significantly, then plug in appliances one by one, measuring the ground current after each. This can help identify a faulty appliance.

Leakage Current Testing

Your electrician can use a leakage current tester to measure the amount of current leaking from an appliance to its chassis (ground).5.

Ground Rod Testing

If you have ground rods, test the resistance to ground using a ground resistance meter. This ensures that the ground rods are providing a good path to earth.6.

Contact the Utility Company Again

Even though they replaced the service line, emphasize that you're still experiencing significant ground current. Request that they investigate the neutral connection at the transformer and check for problems on their side of the meter. They have equipment to do this that you don't.

Important Considerations



Safety First

Working with electricity is dangerous. All testing and repairs should be performed by a qualified electrician.

Documentation

Keep detailed records of all measurements and tests performed. This will help in troubleshooting and communication with the utility company.

Don't Ignore It

High ground current can be dangerous and can damage your electrical system. It needs to be resolved.

Specific Responses to Your Questions



"Is there any possibility it could still be on the power company side?" Absolutely. While the service line replacement should have fixed a neutral problem on their end, it's not a guarantee. The problem could be at the transformer or further upstream. Don't rule it out. "It just seems overwhelming on my side because no matter which appliance I use on no matter which circuit, it increases the amps on the ground cable." This does suggest a more widespread neutral problem, possibly in the main panel or even originating from the utility. It's less likely that every* appliance and circuit is faulty.

In summary: The most likely causes are a loose/corroded neutral connection in your panel or wiring, or a utility neutral problem. Your electrician needs to systematically test and isolate circuits to pinpoint the source of the current. Be persistent with the power company – a faulty neutral on their side is a common cause of this issue. Good luck! Flag for review