Abstract: When there are variations in the short-circuit power of a system, the operating conditions can change, particularly in a controller of a compensating device. To automatically adapt the controller and to avoid or suppress oscillations or voltage variations in the system, a method is provided according to a first solution, where the circuit state of a compensating element is modified for testing purposes. The reaction of the system is detected in a device and, then a parameter which determines the damping of the controller is modified by means of a computing device. According to a second solution, an oscillation of the controller is established by detecting a signal which is dependent on the system voltage and by comparing specific variations. To suppress the oscillations, the hysteresis of the controller is damped by means of the computing device.