Abstract: A suspension insulator for supporting a high voltage power cable suspended from a transmission tower includes an elongated rod for supporting a load in tension, a plurality of insulating shells serially disposed along the rod and end connectors for attaching a high tension load to the rod. At least one of the end connectors includes an elongated metal cylindrical retainer having one or more metallic members with one or more inclined surfaces disposed within the retainer and circumferentially disposed around the rod. The space between the inclined surface or surfaces and the rod is filled by an epoxy resin compound.In order to prevent excessive heating of the compound due to external flashover of the suspension insulator and the possible resultant separation of the end connector from the rod, the suspension insulator includes a generally cylindrically shaped, electrically conductive, current bypass sleeve disposed about the retainer to provide a current path physically remote from the epoxy resin compound.