The invention relates to a method for determining properties of a negative sequence component of a space vector quantity in an electrical network. The method according to the invention includes the steps of determining on the basis of the properties of an ellipse formed by a space vector of the space vector quantity in the electrical network the magnitude of the negative sequence component of the space vector quantity in the electrical network and the location of the negative sequence component of the space vector quantity in the electrical network in relation to a positive sequence component.