Exhibit 24 (b) 1
 1
                      POWER OF ATTORNEY


The undersigned, as President and Chief Executive Officer of
Central  Power  and  Light Company (the  "Company"),  hereby
makes,  constitutes and appoints R. Russell Davis  his  true
and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power and
authority  to  execute  in the name and  on  behalf  of  the
undersigned, in any and all capacities, the Company's Annual
Report  on  Form  10-K for 1994 and any and  all  amendments
thereto,  to be filed under the Securities Exchange  Act  of
1934,  as  amended, and any other documents and  instruments
incidental thereto, and to file the same, with all  exhibits
thereto and all documents in connection therewith, with  the
Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby granting to  such
attorney-in-fact,  and agent, full power  and  authority  of
substitution and revocation in the premises and  full  power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite  and  necessary  to  be  done  in  and  about  the
premises,  as  fully  for all intents and  purposes  as  the
undersigned might or could do in person and hereby ratifying
and  confirming all that such attorneys-in-fact  and  agent,
may  do  or  cause  to be done by virtue of  this  Power  of
Attorney.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto executed this Power
of Attorney this 31 day of January, 1995.



                              Robert R. Carey






      Subscribed  and sworn to before me this  12th  day  of
January, 1995 by Robert R. Carey.

                              Alice G. Crisp
                              Notary Public

My Commission Expires:
8-3-98