Drying rates are strongly influenced by an electrical field even under mill drying conditions. The drying rate of paper or coatings can be controlled by the presence of a static electrical field. A nonuniform field performs better than a uniform one. This effect is highly nonlinear with respect to the voltage. The technique has been demonstrated for felted and unfelted drum drying, air-impingement drying, and radiant drying. Drying-rate increases from 5-18% were observed under pilot plant tests, with a potential for even greater increases. This phenomenon is especially significant when drying from an absorbent surface because it allows control of the drying rate with minimal effort. -- AATA