Provided is a method of controlling the operation of an electrostatic precipitator (6) using a control strategy for a power to be applied between at least one collecting electrode (28) and at least one discharge electrode (26). The control strategy is directed to controlling, directly or indirectly, a power range and/or a power ramping rate. As such, the temperature of a process gas is measured. When the control strategy controls a power range, a power range is selected based on the measured temperature, an upper limit value of the power range being lower at a high temperature of said process gas, than at a low temperature. When the control strategy controls a power ramping rate, a power ramping rate is selected based on the measured temperature, a power ramping rate being lower at a high process gas temperature, than at a low process gas temperature.