The claim of deliberately jumpering out guy wire insulators to bond the guy wire to the pole or use the anchor as an electrode is highly improbable and generally not credible for standard utility practices in North America. Here's a breakdown of why

Reasons Why It's Unlikely/Incorrect:
Purpose of Guy Wire Insulators

The primary reason for installing insulators in guy wires is to insulate the grounded anchor from the energized pole. This prevents the possibility of the entire guy wire becoming energized due to a fault on the pole. Energized guy wires pose a serious electrocution hazard to anyone who touches them. Jumpering the insulator defeats this entire safety measure.

Safety Codes and Standards

Utility companies adhere to strict safety codes and standards (like the National Electrical Safety Code in the US, or similar standards in Canada) designed to protect workers and the public. Deliberately eliminating a safety feature like guy wire insulation would be a direct violation of these codes and expose the utility to enormous liability.

Grounding Principles

Anchors are not generally used as primary grounding electrodes. Utility grounding systems rely on buried ground grids, driven ground rods at substations and poles (especially multi-grounded neutral systems), and sometimes grounding to metallic water pipes (though that's becoming less common). An anchor provides very limited contact area with the earth, making it a poor grounding electrode.

Corrosion

Connecting dissimilar metals (e.g., steel guy wire, copper jumper, galvanized anchor) without proper protection can lead to galvanic corrosion, weakening the guy wire and/or anchor over time.

Unnecessary

If the intent is to provide a path to ground, proper grounding electrodes are far more effective and safe.

Possible (But Limited) Scenarios Where Something Similar Might Be Seen



Temporary Bonding During Construction/Maintenance

There might be rare, temporary situations where a lineman would use a jumper to bond a guy wire during construction or maintenance activities. This could be to ensure equipotential bonding while working on the pole to reduce the risk of step potential. However, this would be a temporary setup removed after the work is complete. And even in those cases, it's more likely they'd be using proper equipotential grounding techniques with clamps designed for that purpose, not just wrapping a jumper around an insulator.

Rural, Older Systems (Rare)

In extremely old, rural systems, you might occasionally find examples of outdated grounding practices. It's possible (though still unlikely) that some older, less sophisticated systems may have used a less-than-ideal grounding method in the past. But modern utilities are actively upgrading and replacing such infrastructure.

Misidentification/Misunderstanding

People might be misinterpreting what they're seeing. For example, a damaged insulator might have some corrosion or debris across its surface, appearing to be a jumper. Or, they may be seeing an unrelated piece of hardware or grounding connection near the guy wire that they mistakenly think is bridging the insulator.

Communication Infrastructure

Some guy wires or anchors may be related to communications facilities on the pole rather than the electrical system. This equipment may have different grounding practices.

Why the Facebook Claims Are Likely False

The claims circulating on Facebook are likely based on a combination of:

Misinformation

People sharing inaccurate information without proper knowledge of utility practices.

Conspiracy Theories

A tendency to believe in unfounded conspiracies about utilities or other institutions.

Misinterpretation

As mentioned above, people seeing something and misunderstanding its purpose.

What You Can Say in the Facebook Discussion


Acknowledge Their Concern

"I understand your concern about safety and utility practices. I want to clarify a few things."2.

Explain the Purpose of Guy Wire Insulators

"Guy wire insulators are installed to protect the public and workers from electrical hazards. They prevent the entire guy wire from becoming energized if there's a fault on the pole."3.

State That Jumpering is Dangerous and Violates Codes

"Deliberately bypassing or jumpering out these insulators would be a direct violation of safety codes and a serious electrocution hazard. It's not a standard utility practice."4.

Offer Alternative Explanations (if applicable)

"It's possible you saw something that looked like a jumper, but it could have been temporary bonding during construction or maintenance, or perhaps some unrelated hardware. Can you provide a picture or more details?"5.

Emphasize Safety and Expertise

"Utilities prioritize safety above all else. They have trained professionals who follow strict guidelines to ensure the safe operation of the power grid. If you suspect a safety hazard, contact the utility directly so they can investigate."

In summary, the claim of utilities regularly jumpering out guy wire insulators is highly unlikely and contradicts established safety practices and engineering principles. It's important to rely on credible sources and avoid spreading misinformation. Flag for review