In this paper the synchronous generator excitation control is designed using the model reference control approach and its predictive extension. The control objective is to satisfy requirements on the synchronous generator performances imposed by the transmission system operator. The structure of both controllers is expressed in the form of modified Laguerre network. The efficiency of the proposed control design procedure is illustrated by simulation of the 259 MVA synchronous generator of the nuclear power plant Mochovce in Slovakia.K e y w o r d s: model reference control, predictive control, Laguerre model, synchronous generator