This paper presents the thermal and electrical characteristics of ZnO arrester blocks under the AC voltages. The leakage currents of ZnO arrester blocks were measured as a function of the time. The temperature distributions of ZnO arrester blocks were observed by the thermal image infrared camera. The degradation and thermal runaway of ZnO arrester blocks were closely related to the temperature limit of ZnO arrester blocks which being decided heat generation and dissipation. The temperature and leakage current of ZnO arrester blocks were sensitively changed in a resistance of ZnO arrester blocks. As a result, the degradation and thermal runaway of ZnO arrester blocks depend on the temperature and leakage current of ZnO arrester blocks.