A method is provided for driving at least one lamp unit, which is connected to an AC voltage power supply system. The method comprises modulating a control information item for the operation of the lamp unit onto the supplied AC voltage, decoding of the modulation received on the lamp unit side for reading the control information item and driving the light-emitting device in accordance with the control information item. Provision is made for a shunt to be produced in the line used for transmitting the control information item prior to or at the beginning of the modulation of the control information item. The disclosure also provides a lamp unit and a control device for implementing the method. The disclosure also provides a lighting system.