EXHIBIT 24(A)



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned, being a
director or officer of General Electric Company, a New York corporation (the
"Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints John F. Welch, Jr., Benjamin W.
Heineman, Jr., Dennis D. Dammerman, and Philip D. Ameen and each of them, his or
her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution
and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead in
any and all capacities, to sign one or more Registration Statements under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on Form S-8 or such other form as such
attorneys-in-fact, or any of them, may deem necessary or desirable, any
amendments thereto, and all post-effective amendments and supplements to such
registration statement, for the registration of securities in connection with
the GE Savings and Security Program, in such forms as they or any one of them
may approve, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto and other documents
in connection therewith with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting
unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done to the end that such Registration Statement or Registration
Statements shall comply with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the
applicable Rules and Regulations adopted or issued pursuant thereto, as fully
and to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of
them or their substitute or resubstitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has hereunto set his or her
hand this 14th day of March, 1997.





John F. Welch, Jr.                         Dennis D. Dammerman
Chairman of the Board                      Senior Vice President -
(Principal Executive                       Finance (Principal
Officer and Director)                      Financial Officer and Director)




                               Philip D. Ameen
                               Vice President and Comptroller
                               (Principal Accounting Officer)

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D. Wayne Calloway                                John D. Opie
Director                                         Director




Paolo Fresco                                     Roger S. Penske
Director                                         Director




Robert E. Mercer                                 Barbara S. Preiskel
Director                                         Director




Sam Nunn                                         Douglas A. Warner III
Director                                         Director









                      A MAJORITY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS



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