outlawfan80 said:
Looks like the meter base to me. It where the electric company plugs in the meter to meter your electrial use. Hope you didnt pull the meter yourself without contacting the electric company. These are sealed to prvent tampering. Plus if the power is still on the top lugs will still be hot.
outlawfan80 is right, this is you electric meter box - and, if your power is cut, you'll be safe working in it BUT, if not, the top contacts are "hot" - don't mess inside that box.
You shouldn't have to replace the box. Why do you need to replace the ground wire? Usually, it is a solid copper wire that runs to the ground rod, which is usually a solid copper (or copper clad) rod, about 3/4" in size. Usually don't have to replace the rod either? But, if for some reason you need to replace it, all you need to do is pound into the ground a new copper-clad rod, usually about 6-8 feet long and attach the ground wire to it with a copper/brass clamp.
Again, I don't know why you have to replace the ground wire? and, again, don't put your hand inside the meter box if the electric company hasn't disconnected the wires servicing the box from above???
More info needed for better advise?
Also - humm, it looks to me by the pictures that someone has put in a jumper rod between the bottom and top terminals? to avoid the meter? I can't really tell for sure, but it sure looks like someone has jumper-ed the terminals???? Very dangerous and, of course, illegal ????