Abstract: Apparatus for controlling high voltage by absorption of capacitive vars, comprising a stator (10) having a core and a three phase winding (14) connected to the high voltage, and a rotor (12) having magnetic material (20) exhibiting a sharp magnetic saturation. The rotor (12) includes longitudinally extending damper bars (22) imbedded in grooves or slots (24) in a manner similar to the bars used in a squirrel cage rotor. The magnetic structure of the rotor can be of two types--a symmetrical structure for asynchronous operation, and a salient pole structure for synchronous operation. In the case of the symmetrical rotor construction, the stator (10) and rotor (12) constitute a rotating induction reactor (8) which operates in the same manner as a free running, unloaded induction motor. The induction reactor (8) exhibits characteristics similar to a saturable reactor with respect to var versus voltage absorption, but does not have the undesirable harmonics normally present in the saturable reactor.