Method for controlling and regulating a rechargeable battery having energy storage cells, control electronics, a voltage measurement device and a sensor device, wherein the sensor device and the energy storage cells are respectively connected to one another via at least one controllable switching element so that electrical energy can be conducted from the energy storage cells to the sensor device. The method includes: capturing a first voltage value of the first and second energy storage cells of the voltage measurement device, and adjusting the at least one switching element from a deactivation mode to an activation mode if the difference between the voltage value of the first energy storage cell and the voltage value of the second energy storage cell reaches a predetermined threshold value, in order to conduct electrical voltage from the energy storage cell with the higher voltage value to the sensor device.