1
 
                                                                      EXHIBIT 24
 
                POWER OF ATTORNEY OF DIRECTOR AND/OR OFFICER OF
 
                          CENTERIOR ENERGY CORPORATION
 
     The undersigned, hereby being a director or officer or both (as stated
under his or her signature below) of Centerior Energy Corporation, an Ohio
corporation (hereinafter called the "Company"), does hereby constitute and
appoint each of Robert J. Farling, Murray R. Edelman, Fred J. Lange, Jr., Gary
R. Leidich, Terrence G. Linnert, David M. Blank, E. Lyle Pepin, Janis T. Percio,
Ronald J. Studeny, Mary E. O'Reilly, Kevin P. Murphy, Michael C. Regulinski and
Bruce T. Rosenbaum, as an attorney of the undersigned with power to act alone
for and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned, with power of
substitution and resubstitution, to sign and file, including electronic filing,
on behalf of the undersigned acting in his or her capacity as such director of
officer the Company's Form S-3 Registration Statement relating to the Company's
Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan for sales under the Plan
commencing May 1, 1995, and any and all amendments, exhibits and supplementary
information thereto, with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the
Securities Act of 1933, with full power and authority to do and perform any and
all acts and things whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in the
premises and the undersigned hereby ratifies and approves the acts of each such
attorney and any such substitute or substitutes.
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned hereby has signed his or her name this
24th day of April, 1995.
 
                                                     ROBERT J. FARLING
                                                    Robert J. Farling
                                              Chairman, President and Chief
                                              Executive Officer and Director
 
Signed and acknowledged in the presence of:             J. T. PERCIO
   2
 
                POWER OF ATTORNEY OF DIRECTOR AND/OR OFFICER OF
 
                          CENTERIOR ENERGY CORPORATION
 
     The undersigned, hereby being a director or officer or both (as stated
under his or her signature below) of Centerior Energy Corporation, an Ohio
corporation (hereinafter called the "Company"), does hereby constitute and
appoint each of Robert J. Farling, Murray R. Edelman, Fred J. Lange, Jr., Gary
R. Leidich, Terrence G. Linnert, David M. Blank, E. Lyle Pepin, Janis T. Percio,
Ronald J. Studeny, Mary E. O'Reilly, Kevin P. Murphy, Michael C. Regulinski and
Bruce T. Rosenbaum, as an attorney of the undersigned with power to act alone
for and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned, with power of
substitution and resubstitution, to sign and file, including electronic filing,
on behalf of the undersigned acting in his or her capacity as such director of
officer the Company's Form S-3 Registration Statement relating to the Company's
Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan for sales under the Plan
commencing May 1, 1995, and any and all amendments, exhibits and supplementary
information thereto, with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the
Securities Act of 1933, with full power and authority to do and perform any and
all acts and things whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in the
premises and the undersigned hereby ratifies and approves the acts of each such
attorney and any such substitute or substitutes.
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned hereby has signed his or her name this
24th day of April, 1995.
 
                                                      GARY R. LEIDICH
                                                     Gary R. Leidich
                                                    Vice President and
                                                 Chief Financial Officer
 
Signed and acknowledged in the presence of:             J. T. PERCIO
   3
 
                POWER OF ATTORNEY OF DIRECTOR AND/OR OFFICER OF
 
                          CENTERIOR ENERGY CORPORATION
 
     The undersigned, hereby being a director or officer or both (as stated
under his or her signature below) of Centerior Energy Corporation, an Ohio
corporation (hereinafter called the "Company"), does hereby constitute and
appoint each of Robert J. Farling, Murray R. Edelman, Fred J. Lange, Jr., Gary
R. Leidich, Terrence G. Linnert, David M. Blank, E. Lyle Pepin, Janis T. Percio,
Ronald J. Studeny, Mary E. O'Reilly, Kevin P. Murphy, Michael C. Regulinski and
Bruce T. Rosenbaum, as an attorney of the undersigned with power to act alone
for and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned, with power of
substitution and resubstitution, to sign and file, including electronic filing,
on behalf of the undersigned acting in his or her capacity as such director of
officer the Company's Form S-3 Registration Statement relating to the Company's
Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan for sales under the Plan
commencing May 1, 1995, and any and all amendments, exhibits and supplementary
information thereto, with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the
Securities Act of 1933, with full power and authority to do and perform any and
all acts and things whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in the
premises and the undersigned hereby ratifies and approves the acts of each such
attorney and any such substitute or substitutes.
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned hereby has signed his or her name this
21st day of April, 1995.
 
                                                       E. LYLE PEPIN
                                                      E. Lyle Pepin
                                                        Controller
 
Signed and acknowledged in the presence of:            RUTH A. HARNER
   4
 
                POWER OF ATTORNEY OF DIRECTOR AND/OR OFFICER OF
 
                          CENTERIOR ENERGY CORPORATION
 
     The undersigned, hereby being a director or officer or both (as stated
under his or her signature below) of Centerior Energy Corporation, an Ohio
corporation (hereinafter called the "Company"), does hereby constitute and
appoint each of Robert J. Farling, Murray R. Edelman, Fred J. Lange, Jr., Gary
R. Leidich, Terrence G. Linnert, David M. Blank, E. Lyle Pepin, Janis T. Percio,
Ronald J. Studeny, Mary E. O'Reilly, Kevin P. Murphy, Michael C. Regulinski and
Bruce T. Rosenbaum, as an attorney of the undersigned with power to act alone
for and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned, with power of
substitution and resubstitution, to sign and file, including electronic filing,
on behalf of the undersigned acting in his or her capacity as such director of
officer the Company's Form S-3 Registration Statement relating to the Company's
Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan for sales under the Plan
commencing May 1, 1995, and any and all amendments, exhibits and supplementary
information thereto, with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the
Securities Act of 1933, with full power and authority to do and perform any and
all acts and things whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in the
premises and the undersigned hereby ratifies and approves the acts of each such
attorney and any such substitute or substitutes.
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned hereby has signed his or her name this
24th day of April, 1995.
 
                                                     A. C. BERSTICKER
                                                     A. C. Bersticker
                                                         Director
 
Signed and acknowledged in the presence of:          TERRENCE G. LINNERT
   5
 
                POWER OF ATTORNEY OF DIRECTOR AND/OR OFFICER OF
 
                          CENTERIOR ENERGY CORPORATION
 
     The undersigned, hereby being a director or officer or both (as stated
under his or her signature below) of Centerior Energy Corporation, an Ohio
corporation (hereinafter called the "Company"), does hereby constitute and
appoint each of Robert J. Farling, Murray R. Edelman, Fred J. Lange, Jr., Gary
R. Leidich, Terrence G. Linnert, David M. Blank, E. Lyle Pepin, Janis T. Percio,
Ronald J. Studeny, Mary E. O'Reilly, Kevin P. Murphy, Michael C. Regulinski and
Bruce T. Rosenbaum, as an attorney of the undersigned with power to act alone
for and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned, with power of
substitution and resubstitution, to sign and file, including electronic filing,
on behalf of the undersigned acting in his or her capacity as such director of
officer the Company's Form S-3 Registration Statement relating to the Company's
Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan for sales under the Plan
commencing May 1, 1995, and any and all amendments, exhibits and supplementary
information thereto, with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the
Securities Act of 1933, with full power and authority to do and perform any and
all acts and things whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in the
premises and the undersigned hereby ratifies and approves the acts of each such
attorney and any such substitute or substitutes.
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned hereby has signed his or her name this
24th day of April, 1995.
 
                                                       LEIGH CARTER
                                                       Leigh Carter
                                                         Director
 
Signed and acknowledged in the presence of:              JEAN BROOKS
   6
 
                POWER OF ATTORNEY OF DIRECTOR AND/OR OFFICER OF
 
                          CENTERIOR ENERGY CORPORATION
 
     The undersigned, hereby being a director or officer or both (as stated
under his or her signature below) of Centerior Energy Corporation, an Ohio
corporation (hereinafter called the "Company"), does hereby constitute and
appoint each of Robert J. Farling, Murray R. Edelman, Fred J. Lange, Jr., Gary
R. Leidich, Terrence G. Linnert, David M. Blank, E. Lyle Pepin, Janis T. Percio,
Ronald J. Studeny, Mary E. O'Reilly, Kevin P. Murphy, Michael C. Regulinski and
Bruce T. Rosenbaum, as an attorney of the undersigned with power to act alone
for and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned, with power of
substitution and resubstitution, to sign and file, including electronic filing,
on behalf of the undersigned acting in his or her capacity as such director of
officer the Company's Form S-3 Registration Statement relating to the Company's
Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan for sales under the Plan
commencing May 1, 1995, and any and all amendments, exhibits and supplementary
information thereto, with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the
Securities Act of 1933, with full power and authority to do and perform any and
all acts and things whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in the
premises and the undersigned hereby ratifies and approves the acts of each such
attorney and any such substitute or substitutes.
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned hereby has signed his or her name this
21st day of April, 1995.
 
                                                     THOMAS A. COMMES
                                                     Thomas A. Commes
                                                         Director
 
Signed and acknowledged in the presence of:           WILLIAM F. CONWAY
   7
 
                POWER OF ATTORNEY OF DIRECTOR AND/OR OFFICER OF
 
                          CENTERIOR ENERGY CORPORATION
 
     The undersigned, hereby being a director or officer or both (as stated
under his or her signature below) of Centerior Energy Corporation, an Ohio
corporation (hereinafter called the "Company"), does hereby constitute and
appoint each of Robert J. Farling, Murray R. Edelman, Fred J. Lange, Jr., Gary
R. Leidich, Terrence G. Linnert, David M. Blank, E. Lyle Pepin, Janis T. Percio,
Ronald J. Studeny, Mary E. O'Reilly, Kevin P. Murphy, Michael C. Regulinski and
Bruce T. Rosenbaum, as an attorney of the undersigned with power to act alone
for and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned, with power of
substitution and resubstitution, to sign and file, including electronic filing,
on behalf of the undersigned acting in his or her capacity as such director of
officer the Company's Form S-3 Registration Statement relating to the Company's
Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan for sales under the Plan
commencing May 1, 1995, and any and all amendments, exhibits and supplementary
information thereto, with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the
Securities Act of 1933, with full power and authority to do and perform any and
all acts and things whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in the
premises and the undersigned hereby ratifies and approves the acts of each such
attorney and any such substitute or substitutes.
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned hereby has signed his or her name this
21st day of April, 1995.
 
                                                     WILLIAM F. CONWAY
                                                    William F. Conway
                                                         Director
 
Signed and acknowledged in the presence of:           THOMAS A. COMMES
   8
 
                POWER OF ATTORNEY OF DIRECTOR AND/OR OFFICER OF
 
                          CENTERIOR ENERGY CORPORATION
 
     The undersigned, hereby being a director or officer or both (as stated
under his or her signature below) of Centerior Energy Corporation, an Ohio
corporation (hereinafter called the "Company"), does hereby constitute and
appoint each of Robert J. Farling, Murray R. Edelman, Fred J. Lange, Jr., Gary
R. Leidich, Terrence G. Linnert, David M. Blank, E. Lyle Pepin, Janis T. Percio,
Ronald J. Studeny, Mary E. O'Reilly, Kevin P. Murphy, Michael C. Regulinski and
Bruce T. Rosenbaum, as an attorney of the undersigned with power to act alone
for and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned, with power of
substitution and resubstitution, to sign and file, including electronic filing,
on behalf of the undersigned acting in his or her capacity as such director of
officer the Company's Form S-3 Registration Statement relating to the Company's
Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan for sales under the Plan
commencing May 1, 1995, and any and all amendments, exhibits and supplementary
information thereto, with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the
Securities Act of 1933, with full power and authority to do and perform any and
all acts and things whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in the
premises and the undersigned hereby ratifies and approves the acts of each such
attorney and any such substitute or substitutes.
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned hereby has signed his or her name this
25th day of April, 1995.
 
                                                      WAYNE R. EMBRY
                                                      Wayne R. Embry
                                                         Director
 
Signed and acknowledged in the presence of:          GREGORY L. STRATTON
   9
 
                POWER OF ATTORNEY OF DIRECTOR AND/OR OFFICER OF
 
                          CENTERIOR ENERGY CORPORATION
 
     The undersigned, hereby being a director or officer or both (as stated
under his or her signature below) of Centerior Energy Corporation, an Ohio
corporation (hereinafter called the "Company"), does hereby constitute and
appoint each of Robert J. Farling, Murray R. Edelman, Fred J. Lange, Jr., Gary
R. Leidich, Terrence G. Linnert, David M. Blank, E. Lyle Pepin, Janis T. Percio,
Ronald J. Studeny, Mary E. O'Reilly, Kevin P. Murphy, Michael C. Regulinski and
Bruce T. Rosenbaum, as an attorney of the undersigned with power to act alone
for and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned, with power of
substitution and resubstitution, to sign and file, including electronic filing,
on behalf of the undersigned acting in his or her capacity as such director of
officer the Company's Form S-3 Registration Statement relating to the Company's
Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan for sales under the Plan
commencing May 1, 1995, and any and all amendments, exhibits and supplementary
information thereto, with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the
Securities Act of 1933, with full power and authority to do and perform any and
all acts and things whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in the
premises and the undersigned hereby ratifies and approves the acts of each such
attorney and any such substitute or substitutes.
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned hereby has signed his or her name this
25th day of April, 1995.
 
                                                      GEORGE H. KAULL
                                                     George H. Kaull
                                                         Director
 
Signed and acknowledged in the presence of:          TERRENCE G. LINNERT
   10
 
                POWER OF ATTORNEY OF DIRECTOR AND/OR OFFICER OF
 
                          CENTERIOR ENERGY CORPORATION
 
     The undersigned, hereby being a director or officer or both (as stated
under his or her signature below) of Centerior Energy Corporation, an Ohio
corporation (hereinafter called the "Company"), does hereby constitute and
appoint each of Robert J. Farling, Murray R. Edelman, Fred J. Lange, Jr., Gary
R. Leidich, Terrence G. Linnert, David M. Blank, E. Lyle Pepin, Janis T. Percio,
Ronald J. Studeny, Mary E. O'Reilly, Kevin P. Murphy, Michael C. Regulinski and
Bruce T. Rosenbaum, as an attorney of the undersigned with power to act alone
for and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned, with power of
substitution and resubstitution, to sign and file, including electronic filing,
on behalf of the undersigned acting in his or her capacity as such director of
officer the Company's Form S-3 Registration Statement relating to the Company's
Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan for sales under the Plan
commencing May 1, 1995, and any and all amendments, exhibits and supplementary
information thereto, with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the
Securities Act of 1933, with full power and authority to do and perform any and
all acts and things whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in the
premises and the undersigned hereby ratifies and approves the acts of each such
attorney and any such substitute or substitutes.
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned hereby has signed his or her name this
25th day of April, 1995.
 
                                                     RICHARD A. MILLER
                                                    Richard A. Miller
                                                         Director
 
Signed and acknowledged in the presence of:          TERRENCE G. LINNERT
   11
 
                POWER OF ATTORNEY OF DIRECTOR AND/OR OFFICER OF
 
                          CENTERIOR ENERGY CORPORATION
 
     The undersigned, hereby being a director or officer or both (as stated
under his or her signature below) of Centerior Energy Corporation, an Ohio
corporation (hereinafter called the "Company"), does hereby constitute and
appoint each of Robert J. Farling, Murray R. Edelman, Fred J. Lange, Jr., Gary
R. Leidich, Terrence G. Linnert, David M. Blank, E. Lyle Pepin, Janis T. Percio,
Ronald J. Studeny, Mary E. O'Reilly, Kevin P. Murphy, Michael C. Regulinski and
Bruce T. Rosenbaum, as an attorney of the undersigned with power to act alone
for and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned, with power of
substitution and resubstitution, to sign and file, including electronic filing,
on behalf of the undersigned acting in his or her capacity as such director of
officer the Company's Form S-3 Registration Statement relating to the Company's
Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan for sales under the Plan
commencing May 1, 1995, and any and all amendments, exhibits and supplementary
information thereto, with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the
Securities Act of 1933, with full power and authority to do and perform any and
all acts and things whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in the
premises and the undersigned hereby ratifies and approves the acts of each such
attorney and any such substitute or substitutes.
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned hereby has signed his or her name this
24th day of April, 1995.
 
                                                      FRANK E. MOSIER
                                                     Frnak E. Mosier
                                                         Director
 
Signed and acknowledged in the presence of:        PATRICIA G. CUMBERLAND
   12
 
                POWER OF ATTORNEY OF DIRECTOR AND/OR OFFICER OF
 
                          CENTERIOR ENERGY CORPORATION
 
     The undersigned, hereby being a director or officer or both (as stated
under his or her signature below) of Centerior Energy Corporation, an Ohio
corporation (hereinafter called the "Company"), does hereby constitute and
appoint each of Robert J. Farling, Murray R. Edelman, Fred J. Lange, Jr., Gary
R. Leidich, Terrence G. Linnert, David M. Blank, E. Lyle Pepin, Janis T. Percio,
Ronald J. Studeny, Mary E. O'Reilly, Kevin P. Murphy, Michael C. Regulinski and
Bruce T. Rosenbaum, as an attorney of the undersigned with power to act alone
for and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned, with power of
substitution and resubstitution, to sign and file, including electronic filing,
on behalf of the undersigned acting in his or her capacity as such director of
officer the Company's Form S-3 Registration Statement relating to the Company's
Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan for sales under the Plan
commencing May 1, 1995, and any and all amendments, exhibits and supplementary
information thereto, with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the
Securities Act of 1933, with full power and authority to do and perform any and
all acts and things whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in the
premises and the undersigned hereby ratifies and approves the acts of each such
attorney and any such substitute or substitutes.
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned hereby has signed his or her name this
24th day of April, 1995.
 
                                              SISTER MARY MARTHE REINHARD, SND
                                             Sister Mary Marthe Reinhard, SND
                                                         Director
 
Signed and acknowledged in the presence of:    SISTER MARY JOANNE MILLER, SND