a method of regulating the melting rate of a self - consumable electrode during electroslag remelting in a slag bath , wherein the lowering speed of the electrode which is to be remelted , the length of which is determined , is regulated in consideration of maintaining a set or reference value of the melting rate and the current intensity and / or the potential . there is continuously determined the weight of the part of the electrode immersing into the slag bath from the actual total electrode weight and the length of the electrode above the surface of the slag bath and such is compared with a set or reference value and altered when there is present a deviation of the quotient u ref and j ref , wherein the former represents the reference potential or voltage and the latter the reference current , and the product remains constant . the actual melting rate is compared with a set or reference melting rate and when there is present a deviation there is correspondingly altered the product of j ref and u ref .