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, Robert K. Wulff, and
  Geraldine M. Zipser, 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, 1998, 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 17th day of March, 1999.
  
                                     s/Michael F. Ryan
  _________________________          _________________________
  Richard W. Frost                   Michael F. Ryan
  
  
  s/Cheryl A. LaFleur                s/Richard P. Sergel
  _________________________          _________________________
  Cheryl A. LaFleur                  Richard P. Sergel
  
  
  s/Robert L. McCabe                 s/Ronald L. Thomas
  _________________________          _________________________ 
  Robert L. McCabe                   Ronald L. Thomas
  
  
  s/Lawrence J. Reilly
  _________________________
  Lawrence J. Reilly