The present invention relates to a surface modified overhead conductor with a coating that allows the conductor to operate at lower temperatures. The coating is an inorganic, non-white coating having durable heat and wet aging characteristics. The coating preferably contains a heat radiating agent with desirable properties, and an appropriate binder/suspension agent. In a preferred embodiment, the coating has L* value of less than 80, a heat emissivity of greater than or equal to 0.5, and/or a solar absorptivity coefficient of greater than 0.3.