For an improved assessment of the indirect-lightning performances of distribution systems, the real configuration of the system, which means the topology, the presence of protection devices such as surge arresters and shielding wire/neutral groundings, must be taken into account. In this paper, the indirect lightning performance of a distribution line with realistic configuration is evaluated by means a statistical procedure based on the Monte Carlo method. Accurate models are used to evaluate the lightning induced overvoltages, in order to estimate the effects of arresters spacing and characteristics. Results relevant to a line length of 100 km, as it is often presented in the power/lightning literature, appear to be not as useful as those relevant to the real system of interest. ©2006 IEEE.