the present embodiments related to a device having a device element to which a high voltage can be applied . the device is provided with at least one additional conducting element which is disposed , embodied and connected in such a way that the element is assigned a defined potential value and a change to the electric field generated by the high voltage in the sense of a more favorable field distribution is effected by means of position , shape and potential value . according to the invention , maximum loads on switching elements are avoided and undesirable phenomena such as voltage breakdowns or flow voltages are counteracted as a result of the more favorable field distribution .