System and method for locating faults and communicating network operational status to a utility crew using an intelligent fuse

A fuse adapted for mounting in a cutout of a power distribution network, said fuse comprising:

• a fuse holder, comprising:
• a fuse element;
• and
• an electronic circuit, having:
• 1) a circuit to condition and digitize analog signals representative of characteristic values of a power network measurement point upon which the cutout is installed to provide characteristic values;
• 2) a processor for analyzing said characteristic values and providing output data to a communications interface;
• and
• 3) said communications interface for communicating a location of said fuse element and for transmitting said output data via a communications medium to a receiver so that said output data is used by said receiver to calculate a distance from said fuse element to a fault location in an underground circuit of the power distribution network.