PURPOSE: To continue operation without damage to an apparatus even when an abnormality is caused in the apparatus by controlling a hydraulic turbine in compliance with apparatus abnormality information and operation command information.

CONSTITUTION: When a generator output command is inputted to a command value selection condition part 11 via a remote control device A in a hydraulic power plant, any one of command values P1...Pn is inputted to an automatic computing part 8 of an automatic protection device B from the remote control device A. Upon input of the command values P1...Pn and an apparatus abnormality signal 2b from a state monitoring device, the automatic computing part 8 judges operation region LC, selects a control and a protection logics based thereon and changes a set value of the protection device. When an apparatus abnormality is caused during power generation operation, an automatic limiting control logic part 9, after processing by the automatic computing part 8, continues operation so as not to apply a burden to the apparatus. A setting change logic part 10, when a power demand degree is acute, changes a set value of the protection device in a setting change region in compliance with the operation region LC so as to continue the operation.