A generator having an exciting winding and a standard load associated with a standard exciting current in the exciting winding can be controlled by a voltage regulator which adjusts an exciting current in the exciting winding and a temperature measurement device in a predetermined location in the generator and/or a voltage regulator associated with the generator, which is connected to the voltage regulator, advantageously via a microprocessor device or a pulse duration modulation circuit connected to the final regulating stage of the voltage regulator for gating the exciting current. So that the generator can be dimensioned to operate above its maximum rated temperature and can be operated in a superexcited state, the method of controlling the generator includes the steps of increasing the exciting current in the exciting winding beyond the standard exciting current to operate the generator at a higher load than the standard load; measuring a temperature T.sub.G at a predetermined location, advantageously in the generator, with the temperature measurement device; determining an allowed limiting temperature T.sub.GMAX at the predetermined location; lowering the exciting current, I.sub.Err, when the temperature T.sub.G is greater than the allowed limiting temperature T.sub.GMAX and maintaining the output power as high as possible without exceeding the allowed limiting temperature.