Exhibit 24.01


                             POWER OF ATTORNEY

     Each of the undersigned  directors of South Carolina Electric & Gas Company
(the  "Company")  hereby  appoints W. B. Timmerman and K. B. Marsh,  and each of
them severally, his or her true and lawful attorney or attorneys,  with power to
act  with or  without  the  other,  and with  full  power  of  substitution  and
re-substitution,  to execute  in his or her name,  place and stead in his or her
capacity as director of the Company and to file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission  under  the  Securities  Act of  1933,  as  amended,  a  registration
statement  on Form S-3, and any and all  amendments  thereto with respect to the
issuance and sale of up to $300,000,000 of such Company's mortgage bonds.

Dated: February 16, 1999
       Columbia, South Carolina


          s/B. L. Amick                        s/W. H. Hipp
          B. L. Amick                          W. H. Hipp
          Director                             Director



          s/J. A. Bennett                      s/F. C. McMaster
          J. A. Bennett                        F. C. McMaster
          Director                             Director



          s/W. B. Bookhart, Jr.                s/L. M. Miller
          W. B. Bookhart, Jr.                  L. M. Miller
          Director                             Director



          s/W. T. Cassels, Jr.                 s/J. B. Rhodes
          W. T. Cassels, Jr.                   J. B. Rhodes
          Director                             Director



          s/H. M. Chapman                      s/M. K. Sloan
          H. M. Chapman                        M. K. Sloan
          Director                             Director



          s/E. T. Freeman                      s/W. B. Timmerman
          E. T. Freeman                        W. B. Timmerman
          Director                             Director



          s/L. M. Gressette, Jr.
          L. M. Gressette, Jr.
          Director