The invention discloses a method for controlling an electric drive that drives reels of a slitter in the paper machine. In the method at least speed and acceleration/deceleration of a slitter is controlled. According to the invention a limit value of the electric drive is defined in the method, values of at least two or more parameters effecting to the electric drive is monitored, a reference value of the acceleration/deceleration is defined on the basis of at least two parameters, and the electric drive is controlled so that the acceleration/deceleration corresponds to the highest possible reference value, by which the reference value of the acceleration/deceleration defined on the basis of any parameter is not exceeded, and that the limit value of the electric drive is not exceeded.