Abstract: An automatic control for a power plant having a plurality of mutually interacting plant components includes an automation system shared by the plant components having automation devices executing various functions. The automation devices are connected to one another and to a master control unit through a data bus which transmits plant-relevant data. According to the invention the automation devices are combined in a manner corresponding to the technological structure of the plant to form mutually independently functional units. Each functional unit corresponds to a function chain which includes a plurality of subfunction devices. Each subfunction device includes a plurality of subsystems with controllable plant components.