Plasma Display Panels are becoming more and more interesting for TV technology. One important criterion for picture quality is the Peak White Enhancement Factor PWEF. In a previous patent application a method for power level control in a display with which the PWEF can be increased has been proposed. With an increased PWEF the problem of local overheating of plasma cells may occur. This invention proposes a protection circuit, which deals with this problem. For protecting the plasma display against local overheating, there is provided a method, which performs the steps of local power value determination, local temperature estimation, maximum local temperature determination and maximum power level limit determination. The power level limit influences the power level control process in the display device so that local overheating is avoided and the highest possible PWEF can be used. The invention also concerns a corresponding apparatus for carrying out the proposed method.