This paper presents a new technique for designing the variable structure load-frequency controller for a single-area power system. The variable-structure controller effectively enhances the dynamic performance of the integral controller which ia usually designed with the primary aim of zero steady-state error. Further, when the variable-structure system is operated in the so-called sliding mode, the response of the system becomes insensitive to changes in the plant parameters. The control problem is formulated and the results of a simulation study are presented for illustration.