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