Abstract: Transmission and distribution lines are typical wind-sensitive structures, and wind loads on cables are often larger than that on poles or towers. The wind loads always exhibit the strong randomness, which need to be reasonably considered for the design and risk analysis of lines. The method of equivalent static wind loads on cables is established with the combination of random vibration theory and aeroelastic wind tunnel tests. By introducing the randomness of a high wind field, the probabilistic model of random equivalent static wind loads is derived. The established probabilistic load model is applied to the reliability analysis of distribution lines. The reliability analysis results show that: when the line wind load contributes to more than 5% of total wind load on the pole, the reliability index of the pole designed according to the currently used codes is lower than the target reliability level of the pole when it assumes the ductile failure of category 2. With the inclusion of the randomness of mean winds, of the random process of fluctuating winds and its dynamic effects on structures, and of the randomness of parameters used to characterize the fluctuating winds, the model developed in this study can be used to assess the design safety and risk of transmission and distribution networks under strong winds.