In a priming erasing period, a voltage Vpe1 is applied to a common electrode, and after an electric potential of a scanning electrode is discontinuously lowered to a positive electric potential lower than the voltage Vpe1, the electric potential is continuously lowered to a voltage Vpe2. In this case, an electric potential difference between the voltage Vpe1 and the voltage Vpe2 is set equal to a firing voltage. Also, an electric potential of the scanning electrode at an end of the priming erasing period is set higher than an electric potential of a data electrode by approximately 20 V. With this operation, there is provide an AC-type plasma display panel having an extended driving margin (range) of a sustaining voltage and capable of being driven by a low voltage.