The invention relates to a method for averaging the voltage in an on-load tap changer used to switch between various winding taps of a tapped transformer. The general inventive concept consists in reaching a predefined operating position of the on-load tap changer by having a parameterized control device activate a motor drive in a first rotational direction once the on-load tap changer has been turned on, such that the on-load tap changer starts running through its stationary operating positions, i.e. the various winding taps of the tapped transformer, in the direction of the first tap; the control device recognizes when the on-load tap changer has reached its final position, whereupon the motor drive is activated in a second rotational direction such that the on-load tap changer then runs through the control range in the opposite switching direction until reaching the first stationary operating position; the first stationary operating position is subsequently configured as a predefined operating position using the control device parameterization stored in a non-volatile manner.