A fault-preventing circuit recloser includes a ballast impedance, power line current and voltage monitors, and controller that operates the switch based on measurements obtained from the current and voltage monitors. The controller aborts the closing (i.e., reopens the switch) when the controller detects that the switch has closed into faulted line. The circuit recloser temporarily introduces the ballast impedance into the circuit during the closing operation to limit the current spike and voltage dip caused by initially closing the switch into the faulted line. The circuit recloser also temporarily introduces the ballast impedance into the circuit during the opening operation to limit the voltage transient that can be caused by initially opening a load-carrying power line. Different ballast resistor insertion times are applied depending on the type of recloser operation (opening or closing) and whether a fault is detected.