Method for determining a faulty section of a power supply line which is fed from one side and which is divided into a plurality of sections (14a-c) by switching devices (13a-d), wherein each section (14a-c) is delimited by two of the switching devices (13a-d) and each switching device (13a-d) has an associated measurement device (15a-d), wherein the following steps are carried out in the method: - each measurement device (15a-d) detects a current signal at a measurement point (16a-d) which is arranged in the region of the respective switching device (13a-d), said current signal indicating a current flowing at the respective measurement point (16a-d); - each measurement device (15a-d) samples the current signal so as to form current sample values, and determines a current measurement variable from the current sample values; - each measurement device (15a-d) forms a delta current value as the difference between an instantaneous current measurement variable and a previous current measurement variable; - each measurement device (15a-d) compares the delta current value with a current threshold value and identifies a jump in current when the delta current value is above the current threshold value; - each measurement device (15a-d) sends a first status message, which indicates a jump in current, when it has identified a jump in current; characterised in that - the previous current measurement variable has been determined a fixed number of periods of the current signal before the instantaneous current measurement variable; and - a fault location device identifies a fault as being present on that section (14a-c) of the power supply line which is delimited at one end by a switching device (13a-d) of which the measurement device (15a-d) has identified a jump in current, and is delimited at its other end by a switching device (13a-d) of which the measurement device (15a-d) has not identified a jump in current, wherein the fault location device identifies a fault as being present on a specific section (14a-c) of the power supply line if within a maximum period after identification of a jump in current by the measurement device (15a-d) at one end of the section (14a-c) a first status message of the measurement device (15a-d) does not materialize at the second end of the section (14a-c). - each measurement device (15a-d) detects a current signal at a measurement point (16a-d) which is arranged in the region of the respective switching device (13a-d), said current signal indicating a current flowing at the respective measurement point (16a-d); - each measurement device (15a-d) samples the current signal so as to form current sample values, and determines a current measurement variable from the current sample values; - each measurement device (15a-d) forms a delta current value as the difference between an instantaneous current measurement variable and a previous current measurement variable; - each measurement device (15a-d) compares the delta current value with a current threshold value and identifies a jump in current when the delta current value is above the current threshold value; - each measurement device (15a-d) sends a first status message, which indicates a jump in current, when it has identified a jump in current; characterised in that - the previous current measurement variable has been determined a fixed number of periods of the current signal before the instantaneous current measurement variable; and - a fault location device identifies a fault as being present on that section (14a-c) of the power supply line which is delimited at one end by a switching device (13a-d) of which the measurement device (15a-d) has identified a jump in current, and is delimited at its other end by a switching device (13a-d) of which the measurement device (15a-d) has not identified a jump in current, wherein the fault location device identifies a fault as being present on a specific section (14a-c) of the power supply line if within a maximum period after identification of a jump in current by the measurement device (15a-d) at one end of the section (14a-c) a first status message of the measurement device (15a-d) does not materialize at the second end of the section (14a-c).