Abstract: A fusing apparatus for xerographic printing includes a fuser roll with two parallel lamps, or heating elements, therein. Each lamp defines a relatively hot end and a relatively cold end when electrical power is applied. The two lamps are disposed so that a hot end of one lamp is adjacent to the cold end of the other lamp. At power-up, power is applied to each lamp in a stair-step fashion, in which incremental increases in applied power for each lamp are staggered in time. Also during power-up, the lamps are connected in series, but the series connection is removed for a running condition. These features contribute to desirable anti-flicker effects of the whole apparatus.