Abstract: Subsynchronous oscillations in a polyphase power network can be effectively damped with a switching arrangement having a thyristor-switched regulation and a phase shifting polyphase power system. The arrangement is controllable and is periodic in nature, being responsive to a measurement signal representing a physical parameter of the subsynchronous oscillations. This signal preferably represents the difference between the instantaneous rotational frequency of the generator and a set-point value for that frequency. Control windings are connected in series with the power-network-side polyphase windings of a block transformer. Voltages induced in these control windings are phase shifted with respect to the voltages in the respective associated power-network-side polyphase windings of the block transformer. These voltages in the control windings produce a very effective damping torque on the generator, to damp out the subsynchronous oscillations.