A large-area electroluminescent (EL) faceplate for storage CRT is described. The EL faceplate has a non-planar mesh structure which includes individual current limiting resistance between a power source and an array of small-area active regions for improving the faceplate breakdown characteristics. The mesh, which comprises high conductivity strips and delivers power to the active regions, is substantially reduced in area relative to a simple conventional device, and is disposed on thick dielectric nonactive regions to further reduce the possibility of catastrophic breakdown.