The present study addresses the influence of a DC electric field on the laminar burning velocity (SL) of premixed flat methane/air flames. Experiments have been carried out on a flat flame stabilized between condenser electrode configurations with varying inter-electrode distance that affects the electric field strength. The grounded burner plate served as a lower electrode. The upper electrode was a non-cooled platinum wire screen woven in a stainless steel ring. All measurements were performed using the heat flux method. The effect measured was the (limited) increase of laminar burning velocity induced by the electric field which can reach values up to ∼8% from SL0 for a stoichiometric mixture. An exponential relation between the applied voltage and the change in the adiabatic burning velocity ΔSL = SL,U − SL,U=0 was found. The linear relation between the change in adiabatic burning velocity and the imposed electric current or power allows considering responsible mechanisms via a thermal power release and/or direct influence on the global chemical reaction rate. Numerical simulations, to study the possible role of conversion of electric energy into thermal energy and the effect of the electric field on the chemical reactions were conducted. The dominant role of the chemical reaction path was demonstrated. The results indicate that the electrode configuration is applicable to influence the laminar burning velocities, requiring a relative low power input.