The invention relates to a method for increasing the steam mass flow of a high-pressure steam turbine of a steam power plant, particularly a steam power plant including reheating, during a start-up phase of the steam power plant, particularly also during an idle period of the steam power plant, wherein at least one electric consumer is connected upstream of a generator of the steam power plant before synchronization with a power supply grid. The invention further relates to a steam power plant, comprising a generator, a high-pressure steam turbine, and at least one electric consumer, which can also be connected during a start-up phase of the steam power plant, particularly also during an idle period of the steam power plant, in order to increase a steam mass flow of the high-pressure steam turbine before a synchronization process of the generator with a power supply grid.