EXHIBIT (24) POWER OF ATTORNEY ----------------- Each of the undersigned directors of Massachusetts Electric Company (the "Company"), individually as a director of the Company, hereby constitutes and appoints John G. Cochrane, Patricia M. Needham, and Robert K. Wulff, individually, as attorney-in-fact to execute on behalf of the undersigned the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and to execute any appropriate amendment or amendments thereto as may be required by law. Dated this 19th day of March, 1997. s/Urville J. Beaumont s/John F. Reilly, Jr. _________________________ _________________________ Urville J. Beaumont John F. Reilly, Jr. s/Joan T. Bok s/Lawrence J. Reilly _________________________ _________________________ Joan T. Bok Lawrence J. Reilly s/Sally L. Collins s/John W. Rowe _________________________ _________________________ Sally L. Collins John W. Rowe s/Kalyan K. Ghosh s/Richard P. Sergel _________________________ _________________________ Dr. Kalyan K. Ghosh Richard P. Sergel s/Roslyn M. Watson _________________________ _________________________ Charles B. Housen Roslyn M. Watson s/Patricia McGovern _________________________ Patricia McGovern