Are Neutral and Ground Wires Together in the Main Panel
It’s not a good idea for neutrals and grounds to be together. This is something that a lot of electricians get wrong. That is now correct even in the NEC or The National Electrical Code. In every panel, there should always be a separate ground bar.
Only neutral wires must be in the neutral Bar and ground wires in the ground Bar. As a result, wires should never be bundled together in a panel. If a panel contains only one bus bar, the ground and neutral bars are joined together with a bonding jumper at the service entrance, which is the first panel encountered by electricity as it comes in.
It is to carry the neutral current down to the system ground and ensure that electricity wants to glide from the hot through the load and back through the neutral. After the electricity has been restored to the panel, it is routed from neutral to ground, and ultimately out into the Earth.
https://www.finehomebuilding.com/project-guides/wiring/separating-grounds-and-neutrals