Indeed but if there is a huge surge which could potential damage consumer units I understand there is equipment in place on certain poles to prevent this which is what I was on about. However having read Kurnals post again it seems he wasn't talking necessarily about power poles
the protective devices on the poles are relatively primitive, surge protection is expensive and not normally installed on poles, while the utility will have some surge protection its quite limited and mainly to protect their network.
Even the limited surge protection will not protect from lightning strikes, which cause alot of damage to electrical equipment, especially electronic equipment.
A simple example of this we are currently working on - 11kV on poles for several miles, no surge protection, into Network Operator switchgear, into private 11kV switch gear, run underground to transformer - output of transformer connected to a panel board with some surge protection built in - however this surge protection is quite basic (although it costs nearly £1,000) and is not required by any statutory documents.
As it is, we should hopefully not have any serious surges, however a lightning strike to any of the network in the area (which as its overhead is quite likely) could create a fault large enough to destroy the surge protection, and other equipment.
the main problem is this type of voltage distortion is more often than not, either caused by lightning or another consumer.
think of the domestic arrangement, I could cause a fault in my house, causing a power surge, this would likely affect and could damage all the houses on this phase electrically on the street, as we are all connected directly to the same cable.
It can become a real nightmare
