EXHIBIT (24)

                        POWER OF ATTORNEY
                        -----------------
  
   Each of the undersigned directors of The Narragansett 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 25th day of March, 1997.
  
  s/Joan T. Bok                      s/Joseph J. Kirby
  _________________________          _________________________
  Joan T. Bok                        Joseph J. Kirby
  
  s/Stephen A. Cardi                 s/Robert L. McCabe
  _________________________          _________________________
  Stephen A. Cardi                   Robert L. McCabe
  
  s/Richard W. Frost                 
  _________________________          _________________________ 
  Richard W. Frost                   John W. Rowe
  
  s/Frances H. Gammell
  _________________________          _________________________ 
  Frances H. Gammell                 Richard P. Sergel
  
                                     s/William E. Trueheart
                                     _________________________
  
                                     William E. Trueheart