Abstract: A high voltage power switch has a stationary contact and an axially displaceable contact, with a nozzle-like orifice through which quenching gas flows during the disconnecting process from a quenching chamber to an expansion chamber, and a coil through which the disconnect current flows after the commutation of the disconnect arc to an annular contact. Between the stationary contact and the annular contact at least one exhaust channel is provided, whereby prior to the commutation of the disconnect arc to the annular contact, the quenching gas heated by the disconnect arc is removed from the contact-break path and conducted into a discharge chamber. This feature enables the dielectric strength of the arc path to be increased by simple means, while simultaneously effecting a commutation of the disconnect arc from the stationary arcing contact to the annular contact in a constantly secure manner.