A computerized control system for receiving information concerning the operating parameters in an electrical furnace, and for controlling the feeding of corrective and additive charge to the furnace, for controlling the position of the electrodes, and for controlling the power consumed by the furnace. The system includes a discharge hopper for the selective discharge of solid materials to electric smelting furnaces. The hopper comprises a transit part and a reservoir part. Because of its physical construction, the transit part will empty before the reservoir part, but when the transit part is empty the contents of the reservoir part will follow automatically.