What is another name for shield wires?

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Shield wires on high-voltage transmission lines sit along the tops of towers to intercept lightning and carry the surge safely to ground. They’re called static wires because they normally carry little to no current and their primary job is to dissipate static electricity from lightning, protecting the energized conductors below. They may also carry fiber for communications, but their lightning protection role is the key idea.

The other terms don’t fit as well. A ground wire is a general grounding conductor used in normal operation, not the specific protective role of a shield wire. A bond wire is used to bond metal parts to maintain equipotential, not to shield lines from lightning. “Lightning wire” isn’t the standard industry term for this protective conductor.