Abstract: In a power controller for setting the power of the electrical loads of an electrical appliance, in particular of an electrical cooker, the heating resistance of a load can be connected selectively to the phase voltage of, for example, 230 V or to the line voltage of, for example 400 V. The heating power can be pulsed electromechanically in each switching level, in which case the power pulses which are supplied to the load and are switched on for relatively different times govern the percentage of the heating power. The minimum available heating power of about 2.5 to 3.5% of the maximum heating power is achieved reliably and in the long term in that a lower voltage is applied in the lower power range than in the highest power range.