A method for determining whether a fault is on a feeder line or a lateral line so as to allow an upstream recloser on the feeder line to immediately open in response to the fault if it determines the fault is on the feeder line. The method includes measuring a downstream voltage on the feeder line at a downstream recloser during the fault and transmitting the downstream voltage from the downstream recloser to the upstream recloser. The method can determine that the fault is on the feeder line or the lateral line by determining whether the fault voltage is approximately the same as the downstream voltage, or by comparing a first distance from the upstream recloser to the fault location using the fault voltage and a second distance from the upstream recloser to a last location of the fault current on the feeder line using the downstream voltage.