1

                                                                  EXHIBIT 23

                       Consent of Independent Auditors

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Annual Report (Form 10-K)
of Graybar Electric Company, Inc. of our report dated February 21, 2002,
included in the 2001 Annual Report to Shareholders of Graybar Electric
Company, Inc.

Our audits also included the financial statement schedule of Graybar Electric
Company, Inc. listed in Item 14(a). This schedule is the responsibility of
the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on
the financial statement schedule based on our audits. In our opinion, the
financial statement schedule referred to above, when considered in relation
to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all
material respects the information set forth therein.


                                    /s/ Ernst & Young LLP


St. Louis, Missouri
February 21, 2002