While metal oxide arresters are comparatively modern devices, they have nonetheless undergone rapid development. For example, such arresters were among the first apparatus in power systems to be equipped with polymeric insulation. Progress has also been achieved in improving MO resistor performance

Silicone coatings have traditionally been applied mainly to mitigate insulator contamination problems at substations but the past 25 years have seen their application to overhead lines grow significantly. As this process evolved, coating line insulators moved progressively from something performed mostly in the field to industrial scale application in specialized factories to allow for greater consistency, reliability and economy.

Manufacturers of power distribution equipment are expected to provide products that last for decades, even under harsh service conditions. In the case of surge arresters, the housing protects the internal metal oxide varistor discs.

As surge protective devices, arresters mitigate the impact of events that might otherwise trigger outages.

There are a variety of reasons why an arrester might reach such a state.