A glass melting furnace including a melting tank heated from above by burners and comprising a melting section as well as a refining and homogenizing section provided with electrodes for the supply of electrical energy; a dam which separates the melting section from the refining and homogenizing section and the upper edge of which is disposed below the surface of the (glass) melt bath; and an outlet for the glass disposed in the bottom portion of the refining and homogenizing section; wherein the bottom of the refining and homogenizing section is in a position deeper than the bottom of the melting section, and the electrodes are arranged in one or more planes (levels) of the refining section, the glass melting furnace being configured such that on the side of the refining section there is provided adjacent to the dam a bottom portion which is disposed at a level substantially above the bottom of the homogenizing section.