An explanation of the difference in the electrical properties of polymers in the DC and AC electric fields is proposed. Energy release during recombination of electrons and holes injected into a polymer dielectric is considered as a factor accelerating the processes of electric aging of these dielectrics in an AC field. It is shown that nonradiative relaxation of electron excited states causes breaks of bonds in macromolecules and formation of free radicals. Due to the lower ionization energy of free radicals (compared to the original molecules), the rate of charge accumulation in the polymer dielectric increases, which leads to a decrease in its durability in an AC field compared to the durability of polymers in a DC field.