A method for operating an exhaust system of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine upstream of the exhaust system and having an energy network is provided. The method includes operating the energy network in an operating situation with a voltage at a starting position, wherein a heating element is associated with the exhaust system, the heating element being connected to the energy network via a switching element, wherein the heating element in a first switching state of the switching element, when the switching element is switched on, is connected to the energy network in an electrically conductive manner, and in a second switching state of the switching element, when the switching element is switched off, is electrically separated from the energy network, and changing the voltage from the starting position to a switchover position when switching the switching element between the first and second switching states.