I am going to make some educated guesses here as I did not take the picture.

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What is the small conductor on the left zip tied to the frame?

Very likely to be a neutral connection for control power of GFP unit or a voltage / power quality meter on the face of the gear.

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What is the conduit on the right appearing to pass through this section?

Very likely it contains the wiring between the CTs in the switch gear and a remote electric meter.

Bob

Bob Badger
Construction & Maintenance Electrician
Massachusetts