A regulating device for regulating a cooling circuit is described. The regulating device according to the disclosure includes a first regulating stage, wherein the first regulating stage is designed to determine, using one or more input variables, a cooling/heating power of the cooling circuit or a variable proportional thereto. The first regulating stage is also designed to determine a first control deviation. The first regulating stage is also designed to output a controlled variable of the first regulating stage comprising a desired temperature of a coolant or a variable proportional thereto, which is derived from the first control deviation. The regulating device according to the disclosure also includes a second regulating stage, wherein the second regulating stage is positioned in series with the first regulating stage and designed to receive the controlled variable of the first regulating stage as a control output. The second regulating stage is also designed to determine a second control deviation. The second regulating stage is also designed to output a controlled variable of the second regulating stage comprising an abstract signal, which is derived from the second control deviation.