Hello. I have an existing condition wherein a solid #6 ground wire is connected from the ground bar to the conduit of the meter mast (see attached image). The only other ground that I have is a braided #6 wire (top wire in the image) that is connected from the ground bar to the galvanized water piping. Am wondering if this ground to the conduit of the meter mast has any value or if I should remove it and install two 8' ground rods. Please let me know your thoughts and thank you very much!

I know parts of this topic have been covered in other threads but I am not 100% sure it covered my exact scenario. The closest I found was the following: Question about using EMT/conduit for exposed work [url]https://www.doityourself.com/forum/electrical-ac-dc/558827-question-about-using-emt-conduit-exposed-work.html[/url] So I have an unfinished basement with open ceilings. The previous owner has a few wall outlets that seem to be using BX cable from the panel through the ceiling joists to the general area. Then the BX cable goes into EMT conduit from just above the ceiling joists down to the outlet. I would like to install some new circuits from the panel to new locations, as well as possibly replace the existing runs. Considering replacing the existing 14/2 with 12/2 so I can add a 20A breaker since this will be a workshop with a bunch of power tools. Originally I envisioned taking the same approach and running NM cable from the panel into the existing EMT for the existing runs and PVC for the new runs. I started to do more research to make sure my approach was safe and meet code requirements. So it seems that running the NM cable through holes in the ceiling joists is acceptable, but running NM cable in any kind of conduit is not. I know there is a debate on that last point but I would like to take the safer approach and just avoid it. So when going through conduit (EMT/PVC) it is recommend to use THHN which is just the since wire where I would need to run a minimum of the three for hot, neutral, and ground. I think this is not too bad if the full end to end run is entirely conduit, but I would think that running the 3 individual wires for each circuit through the series of ceiling joists is gonna be a huge pain and not easy. Thinking about it further, I guess I can put a junction box in the ceiling near the the location where the conduit running from the outlet to the ceiling is located. This would allow me to run NM from panel to junction box and then run THHN from junction box, through conduit into outlet box. Not a huge fan of this as IF I ever wanted to cover up the ceiling with sheet rock, there would be a lot of junction boxes that I would need to keep exposed (there are already some existing ones). I also wondered if running the NM cable from the panel up to the start of the conduit and then using a cable ripper to remove the sheathing from the NM cable. This would leave just the individual wires (similar to THHN cable) to run through the conduit to the outlet box. Should I just follow the same approach and run BX cable from the panel straight into the conduit and into the outlet box? So I am not 100% sure which is the best approach based on safety, best practices, and code (NY-Westchester). Any advice or additional information would be greatly appreciated. A few other quick questions: 1)I am also planning on adding a lot more ceiling lights (workshop lights). I planned on installing more electrical boxes in the ceiling between the joists. Instead of hard wiring the light fixtures in them I would like to install an electrical outlet in the box. Several of the workshop lights I have are the plug in type and I would like to keep them that way (not modify them). I think I could run NM cable (14/2) from the panel, through the ceiling joists directly to the ceiling box. Is installing an electrical outlet in this manner in violation of any codes? 2)I believe it is code to have a service outlet right near the panel. I have one in place with a GFCI outlet installed. Am I allowed to tap off of that box and extend add another, lets say above it or on the other side of the panel? It would only be maybe 12-18" away and I would use EMT and THHN cables for that short run. Thanks in advance..!