Method for feeding thermal energy into an exhaust emission control unit connected in the exhaust gas system of an internal combustion engine, in particular of a diesel engine, by heating the exhaust gas flowing to the exhaust emission control unit to a SET temperature, with which method the exhaust gas discharged from the internal combustion engine is heated to the SET temperature by converting hydrocarbons metered into the exhaust gas flow at two oxidation catalytic converters (7,10) series-connected in the flow direction of the exhaust gas, of which the first oxidation catalytic converter closer in the flow direction of the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine is arranged in a branch line and the second oxidation catalytic converter downstream of this is arranged in the exhaust gas line after the conjoining of the main and branch lines (3, 4), wherein - as a function of the ACTUAL temperature and the SET temperature of the exhaust gas flowing to the exhaust gas emission control unit, the HC metering for the introduction of hydrocarbons into the branch line is adjusted upstream of the first oxidation catalytic converter and/or the exhaust gas flow flowing through the branch line is adjusted, characterised in that - the HC metering for the introduction of hydrocarbons into the branch line and/or the exhaust gas flow flowing through the branch line is additionally adjusted as a function of the mass of the total exhaust gas flow discharged from the internal combustion engine, - wherein the setting of the HC metering and/or of the exhaust gas flow flowing through the branch line takes place by means of a pilot control value from a pilot control characteristic map, taking account of the exhaust gas flow and the temperature rise which is to be achieved, according to the present conditions, or, if such a pilot control value is not deposited in the pilot control characteristic map, it takes place by means of that value which comes close to this, - the ACTUAL temperature of the exhaust gas flowing to the exhaust emission control unit is again determined, and - in the event of a difference being detected between the ACTUAL temperature and the SET temperature, the setting of the HC metering and/or of the exhaust gas flow flowing through the branch line is changed in order to reach the SET temperature, wherein the steps of temperature monitoring are repeated as often as required until the SET temperature is reached. - as a function of the ACTUAL temperature and the SET temperature of the exhaust gas flowing to the exhaust gas emission control unit, the HC metering for the introduction of hydrocarbons into the branch line is adjusted upstream of the first oxidation catalytic converter and/or the exhaust gas flow flowing through the branch line is adjusted, characterised in that - the HC metering for the introduction of hydrocarbons into the branch line and/or the exhaust gas flow flowing through the branch line is additionally adjusted as a function of the mass of the total exhaust gas flow discharged from the internal combustion engine, - wherein the setting of the HC metering and/or of the exhaust gas flow flowing through the branch line takes place by means of a pilot control value from a pilot control characteristic map, taking account of the exhaust gas flow and the temperature rise which is to be achieved, according to the present conditions, or, if such a pilot control value is not deposited in the pilot control characteristic map, it takes place by means of that value which comes close to this, - the ACTUAL temperature of the exhaust gas flowing to the exhaust emission control unit is again determined, and - in the event of a difference being detected between the ACTUAL temperature and the SET temperature, the setting of the HC metering and/or of the exhaust gas flow flowing through the branch line is changed in order to reach the SET temperature, wherein the steps of temperature monitoring are repeated as often as required until the SET temperature is reached.