Abstract: The invention relates to a device for controlling the variation of the power and/or the speed of a load (2), such as an asynchronous, synchronous, universal motor, a transformer, an inductance, a condenser or a resistor, comprising a switch (5) placed on a phase (4) of a single-phase or multiphase alternating-current supply-circuit (3), this switch (5) being associated with means (6) for controlling the cyclic ratio .alpha./T in which .alpha. corresponds to the time of opening and closing of the circuit (3) by the switch (5) and T to the period of the phase (4) on which this latter is placed. In fact, the switch (5) is of the bidirectional MOS, IGBT or bipolar transistor switch type, this switch (5) being associated with means (9) for controlling the switching time, of the DRIVER type, capable of extending the switching time at closing so that it be within a range from 10 microseconds to 1 millisecond.