What device connects the grounding terminal of receptacles according to NEC standards?

The correct answer is that the device connecting the grounding terminal of receptacles according to National Electrical Code (NEC) standards is the equipment bonding jumper. This component plays a crucial role in establishing a low-resistance path to ground, which is essential for safety in electrical installations. By connecting the grounding terminal of receptacles to the grounding system, it helps to ensure that any fault current will safely be directed to ground.

The equipment bonding jumper is specifically designed to bond metal parts and equipment to the grounding system, thereby reducing the risk of electric shock by ensuring that all conductive parts are at the same electrical potential. This is vital in preventing dangerous voltage discrepancies and provides a reliable path for fault currents, allowing protective devices to function correctly.

Other devices listed, such as the grounding electrode, circuit breaker, and ground fault circuit interrupter, serve different purposes in the grounding and bonding system. The grounding electrode is involved in connecting the grounding system to the earth, whereas a circuit breaker protects from overloads and short circuits, and a ground fault circuit interrupter provides protection against ground faults but does not directly connect grounding terminals of receptacles. Therefore, the equipment bonding jumper is the relevant component for the specific question regarding the connection of grounding terminals at receptacles.