Abstract: The setpoints for control systems in a pressurized water reactor are adjusted by an amount corresponding to the expected change in the controlled process variable resulting from rapid fluctuations in load to reduce the duty time of the control system components such as the rod drive mechanisms in the rod control system and the spray and heater units in the pressurizer pressure control system. In addition, the deadband in the response of the rod control system is continuously varied as a function of the variance of the magnitude of the rapid fluctuations in load to further reduce wear while maintaining good response during load following.