The present work deals with the effects of instantaneous charge leakage on the rise of contact temperature between the journal and a hydrodynamic journal bearing lubricated with high resistivity oil under the influence of different levels of shaft voltages. An analysis is carried out for the rise of contact stresses by the instantaneous charge leakage, where stresses lead to the initiation of craters by the arcing effects, resulting in subsequent damage to the bearing liner. Charge leakage between high points of the journal and a bearing liner during momentary contact in the zone of load carrying oil film was used to establish heat generated and instantaneous temperature rise in each shaft rotation. Using this temperature rise, the contact stresses were determined and a reduction in bearing life compared to the bearing operating without the influence of shaft voltage was established. Subsequently, the safe limit of a shaft voltage has been assessed for the reliable operation of a bearing operating under the influence of shaft voltage.