A discharge control apparatus for discharging a residual charge that accumulates in a smoothing capacitor interposed between a direct current main power supply and an inverter, which performs a voltage conversion between a direct current power and an alternating current power, and remains in the smoothing capacitor when a connection between the inverter and the main power supply is cut, the discharge control apparatus. The discharge control apparatus having a backup power supply and a discharge control unit that is provided independently of a driver circuit for applying a switching control signal to a switching element constituting the inverter in order to operate the switching element in a saturation region, and that generates a discharge control signal for operating the switching element in an active region and applies the generated discharge control signal to the switching element.