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Electric Fence and Lightning

A long wire in an open field is a natural path for lightning energy. Understanding that helps you protect people, animals and equipment during storm season.

Why is lightning a concern for fences?

Fences are long, often run across open ground and may connect to buildings. Lightning near a fence can send surges along the wire. Surges can damage controllers, harm animals and travel into barns or homes through connected wiring.

People touching or standing near a fence during a storm can also be at risk. Treat fences as places to avoid when lightning is nearby.

A fence that touches or crosses other metal such as gates, roofing or water lines can carry surges in unexpected directions.

• Long wires reach across open ground
• Surges can travel into controllers and barns
• Connected metal can carry energy unexpectedly

What should people do during a storm?

Stay away from fences, gates, metal and open areas, and move to a safe shelter as the National Weather Service advises. Do not finish a fencing job when storms approach. Watch forecasts and alerts, and set a rule that work stops when storms are near.

For official lightning safety guidance, see the National Weather Service. This site does not give timing or distance rules from memory.

Teach everyone that a fence is not a shelter and that standing under a lone tree or leaning on a gate during a storm is risky.

• Stop work when storms approach
• Stay away from fences and metal
• Move to proper shelter
• Follow National Weather Service guidance

How can you protect the controller and buildings?

Ask your supplier or an electrician about lightning protection for controllers and any wiring connected to buildings. Some setups include surge protection, and the maker may give disconnect advice for storm season. Follow their instructions.

Do not improvise protective devices. Incorrect grounding can make matters worse and can interfere with building electrical safety.

Keep records of any surge damage, since patterns can show where protection is weakest.

• Ask about surge protection
• Ask about disconnect steps for storms
• Avoid improvised grounding
• Keep building wiring safe
• Record surge damage and where it happened
• Replace damaged controllers rather than patching
• Ask about protection for connected buildings

What about disconnecting the fence?

Some people disconnect the fence from the controller or the controller from the power source when storms approach. Whether this is advised for your system depends on the equipment and the instructions. Ask the maker.

Never go out into a storm just to disconnect equipment. Plan disconnect steps for before storms arrive.

• Ask the maker whether disconnecting is advised
• Plan any disconnect before storms arrive
• Never go out during a storm to do it
• Write the steps down for your crew

What should you do after a storm?

Check the fence once the storm has passed and conditions are safe. Look for broken wire, damaged insulators, fallen branches and burned or melted parts at the controller. Turn off the controller before touching anything.

Check whether animals are out. Lightning can also damage buildings' wiring through connected fence lines, so look for signs of trouble in nearby barns and shops, and call an electrician if you find any.

• Wait until the storm has passed
• Turn off the controller before touching anything
• Look for broken wire and burned parts
• Check animals and nearby buildings

How do you prepare animals and people?

Know where shelters are for people on the farm, including field workers. Teach children and visitors to stay clear of fences and metal in storms.

If someone is struck or shocked, call 911 right away. Recognized first aid training teaches what to do in the meantime and is worth taking before storm season.

Share this plan with seasonal workers and anyone who works in remote pastures, who may be far from shelter.

• Know where each person on the farm will shelter
• Teach children and visitors to stay clear of fences
• Call 911 if someone is struck or shocked
• Take first aid training before storm season

Who can help with storm planning?

The National Weather Service provides forecasts and safety information. Your electrician, your fence controller's manufacturer and your county extension office can help with protection and planning.

Review your storm plan before each season and update it when you change fences or buildings.

• National Weather Service
• Fence controller maker
• Licensed electrician
• County extension office
• Review your storm plan before each season
• Update it when fences or buildings change
• Share it with seasonal workers
• Keep a battery radio for weather alerts

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.