The invention discloses a substation equipment electrified water washing robot capable of automatically recognizing an insulator and a method. The robot comprises an insulation arm which is provided with a water gun, the insulation arm is connected with an insulation arm lifting mechanism which is connected with a master controller, the master controller is used for driving the insulation arm lifting mechanism to ascend and descend vertically, and then the insulation arm drives the water gun to achieve vertical lifting action. An inclination angle sensor is further installed on the substationequipment electrified water washing robot and used for detecting the inclination angle of the substation equipment electrified water washing robot body and transmitting the inclination angle to the master controller. A laser sensor is further installed in the position, parallel to the water gun, of the insulation arm and used for calibrating the insulator and transmitting the calibration result tothe master controller. The master controller is used for judging the position and state of the insulator according to the received calibration result and the received inclination angle of the substation equipment electrified water washing robot, and outputting water washing strategies including the horizontal angle and pitching angle information of the water gun.