A method for controlling a power plant, the method comprising: providing a steam turbine, the steam turbine comprising a rotor disposed within a first section and a second section, wherein a flow path around the rotor allows for steam to fluidly communicate between the first section and the second section; providing a first valve configured for controlling steam flow entering the first section; and a second valve configured for controlling steam flow entering the second section; receiving a command that provides reference strokes for the first valve and the second valve, wherein the command is a speed/load command; and determining an operational parameter, wherein the operational parameter limits the reference strokes relative to the command, which command is a speed/load command; wherein the operational parameter controls the steam flow, independent of the command, to at least one of the first section and the second section; wherein determining the operational parameter comprises determining individual operational parameters for each of the first section and the second section, wherein the operational parameters limits the reference strokes of the first valve and the second valve relative to the speed/load command, and wherein the operational parameter is based on at least one of a pressure requirement of the steam turbine, a temperature requirement of the steam turbine, a flow rate requirement of the steam turbine, or combinations thereof and comprises at least one of: axial thrust, rotor stress, steam pressure, or a physical range; limit the steam flow into each section (110, 112) based on the respective determined operational parameter; comparing the speed/load command and the individual outputs of the flow limiters (302, 304) and selecting a minimum value between the output of each flow limiter (302, 304) and the speed/load command; determining reference strokes for first valve and the second valve based on the selected minimum values for each of the flow limiters so as to independently control the steam entering each of the first section and the second section. providing a steam turbine, the steam turbine comprising a rotor disposed within a first section and a second section, wherein a flow path around the rotor allows for steam to fluidly communicate between the first section and the second section; providing a first valve configured for controlling steam flow entering the first section; and a second valve configured for controlling steam flow entering the second section; receiving a command that provides reference strokes for the first valve and the second valve, wherein the command is a speed/load command; and determining an operational parameter, wherein the operational parameter limits the reference strokes relative to the command, which command is a speed/load command; wherein the operational parameter controls the steam flow, independent of the command, to at least one of the first section and the second section; wherein determining the operational parameter comprises determining individual operational parameters for each of the first section and the second section, wherein the operational parameters limits the reference strokes of the first valve and the second valve relative to the speed/load command, and wherein the operational parameter is based on at least one of a pressure requirement of the steam turbine, a temperature requirement of the steam turbine, a flow rate requirement of the steam turbine, or combinations thereof and comprises at least one of: axial thrust, rotor stress, steam pressure, or a physical range; limit the steam flow into each section (110, 112) based on the respective determined operational parameter; comparing the speed/load command and the individual outputs of the flow limiters (302, 304) and selecting a minimum value between the output of each flow limiter (302, 304) and the speed/load command; determining reference strokes for first valve and the second valve based on the selected minimum values for each of the flow limiters so as to independently control the steam entering each of the first section and the second section.