I guess someone should have asked if you were in the US. All US commercial power is "ground return neutral" systems. That is, no matter where the lightning strike occurs, the huge earth conduction path will dissipate a lightning strike as long as the lightning strike is not a direct hit. That being said, even direct hits can be managed as is the case in New York City and the Empire State Building which receives direct lightning strikes many times during a year. I think one of the Bell techs I worked with in the 60s in New York told me the Empire State Building is nothing but a huge lightning rod covered with a building. With enough conductive mass, a lightning strike can be managed.
Whilst the article is appropriate to Australian power systems, it is in direct violation of the US NESC standards which require all telecommunication cabling to be bonded and grounded to the same point as the building electrical system.
Rcaman
