Abstract: A grounding apparatus is provided including a generally cylindrically-shaped grounding cage assembly which includes a plurality of vertically disposed, uniformly spaced grounding rods. Each of the grounding rods has a predetermined diameter and length. The grounding cage assembly also includes electrically conductive joining wire for joining the rods to form the cylindrical shape. In one embodiment, the grounding apparatus also includes a center rod assembly having a specific diameter and length disposed centrally within the cage assembly, and an electrically conductive joining element affixing the center rod assembly to the cage assembly. The diameter of the grounding cage assembly, the diameter and the length of the grounding rods, and the diameter and the length of the center rod assembly are pre-selected to cooperate to provide a predetermined desired overall ohmic value of the apparatus in soils having varying resistivity.