A washing machine having a plurality of washing units to separately wash laundry according to quantity and type of the laundry, and a method to control the same. In the washing machine having the plurality of washing units to separately wash laundry having different quantities and types, when the plurality of washing units are being simultaneously operated, a current load value of one of the washing units is detected through monitoring of a power line, to thereby determine the operation state of the washing unit. Therefore, the operation of the other washing unit may be controlled so that the power limit is not exceeded. As a result, the plurality of washing units may be operated simultaneously within the range of allowable power capacity of the installation place of the washing machine.