Disclosed is a solid state power controller configured to supply electric power from an AC power supply to at least one load via at least one power distribution channel, the at least one power distribution channel comprising a primary solid state switching device and a secondary solid state solid state switching device connected in series. The solid state power controller includes a primary control terminal driver configured to supply a primary control voltage to the control terminal (G) of the primary solid state switching device with respect to a reference potential (R) and a secondary control terminal driver configured to supply a secondary control voltage to the control terminal (G) of the secondary solid state switching device.