Abstract: The hydraulic head of a cold top electric furnace for melting of batch, such as glass batch, employing an electric resistance heater, is electrically controlled by sensed temperature. The temperature is measured below the batch layer or crust at the area of interface transition from the solid material to the liquid melted state. A second sensor is placed within the furnace liner below and adjacent the screen heater within the molten material. The temperature signals at either of the locations are related to the hydraulic head within the furnace. The head is controlled responsive to these temperature signals by either adding additional material or diminishing the amount of material being added to the furnace.