POWER OF ATTORNEY



            The undersigned  hereby  constitutes and appoints Eugene R. McGrath,
Joan S.  Freilich,  Peter J. O'Shea,  Jr., and Peter A. Irwin,  and each of them
(with   full  power  to  act   without   the   others),   the  true  and  lawful
attorney-in-fact  and agent for and on  behalf  of the  undersigned,  and in the
undersigned's name, place and stead, in the undersigned's capacity as a Director
or  Officer  or both,  as the case may be, of  Consolidated  Edison,  Inc.  (the
"Company")  to  sign  one or more  registration  statements  and any  amendments
thereto  and one or more  amendments  to  existing  registration  statements  of
Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. ("CECONY") and one or more further
amendments  thereto to be filed by the Company with the  Securities and Exchange
Commission to register  under the Securities Act of 1933 shares of the Company's
Common  Shares  ($.10 par  value) to be  offered  and sold  under the  Automatic
Dividend  Reinvestment  and Cash Payment Plan,  Discount Stock Purchase Plan and
1996 Stock Option Plan which the Company will assume  pursuant to the  Agreement
and Plan of  Exchange,  dated as of October  28,  1997,  between the Company and
CECONY.

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned has executed this instrument,
this 23rd day of December, 1997






                                                /s/ Eugene R. McGrath
                                                     Eugene R. McGrath










                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



            The undersigned  hereby  constitutes and appoints Eugene R. McGrath,
Joan S.  Freilich,  Peter J. O'Shea,  Jr., and Peter A. Irwin,  and each of them
(with   full  power  to  act   without   the   others),   the  true  and  lawful
attorney-in-fact  and agent for and on  behalf  of the  undersigned,  and in the
undersigned's name, place and stead, in the undersigned's capacity as a Director
or  Officer  or both,  as the case may be, of  Consolidated  Edison,  Inc.  (the
"Company")  to  sign  one or more  registration  statements  and any  amendments
thereto  and one or more  amendments  to  existing  registration  statements  of
Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. ("CECONY") and one or more further
amendments  thereto to be filed by the Company with the  Securities and Exchange
Commission to register  under the Securities Act of 1933 shares of the Company's
Common  Shares  ($.10 par  value) to be  offered  and sold  under the  Automatic
Dividend  Reinvestment  and Cash Payment Plan,  Discount Stock Purchase Plan and
1996 Stock Option Plan which the Company will assume  pursuant to the  Agreement
and Plan of  Exchange,  dated as of October  28,  1997,  between the Company and
CECONY.

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned has executed this instrument,
this 12th day of December, 1997






                                                /s/ Joan S. Freilich
                                                     Joan S. Freilich










                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



            The undersigned  hereby  constitutes and appoints Eugene R. McGrath,
Joan S.  Freilich,  Peter J. O'Shea,  Jr., and Peter A. Irwin,  and each of them
(with   full  power  to  act   without   the   others),   the  true  and  lawful
attorney-in-fact  and agent for and on  behalf  of the  undersigned,  and in the
undersigned's name, place and stead, in the undersigned's capacity as a Director
or  Officer  or both,  as the case may be, of  Consolidated  Edison,  Inc.  (the
"Company")  to  sign  one or more  registration  statements  and any  amendments
thereto  and one or more  amendments  to  existing  registration  statements  of
Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. ("CECONY") and one or more further
amendments  thereto to be filed by the Company with the  Securities and Exchange
Commission to register  under the Securities Act of 1933 shares of the Company's
Common  Shares  ($.10 par  value) to be  offered  and sold  under the  Automatic
Dividend  Reinvestment  and Cash Payment Plan,  Discount Stock Purchase Plan and
1996 Stock Option Plan which the Company will assume  pursuant to the  Agreement
and Plan of  Exchange,  dated as of October  28,  1997,  between the Company and
CECONY.

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned has executed this instrument,
this 30th day of December, 1997






                                                /s/ Hyman Schoenblum
                                                     Hyman Schoenblum










                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



            The undersigned  hereby  constitutes and appoints Eugene R. McGrath,
Joan S.  Freilich,  Peter J. O'Shea,  Jr., and Peter A. Irwin,  and each of them
(with   full  power  to  act   without   the   others),   the  true  and  lawful
attorney-in-fact  and agent for and on  behalf  of the  undersigned,  and in the
undersigned's name, place and stead, in the undersigned's capacity as a Director
or  Officer  or both,  as the case may be, of  Consolidated  Edison,  Inc.  (the
"Company")  to  sign  one or more  registration  statements  and any  amendments
thereto  and one or more  amendments  to  existing  registration  statements  of
Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. ("CECONY") and one or more further
amendments  thereto to be filed by the Company with the  Securities and Exchange
Commission to register  under the Securities Act of 1933 shares of the Company's
Common  Shares  ($.10 par  value) to be  offered  and sold  under the  Automatic
Dividend  Reinvestment  and Cash Payment Plan,  Discount Stock Purchase Plan and
1996 Stock Option Plan which the Company will assume  pursuant to the  Agreement
and Plan of  Exchange,  dated as of October  28,  1997,  between the Company and
CECONY.

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned has executed this instrument,
this 12th day of December, 1997






                                                /s/ E. Virgil Conway
                                                     E. Virgil Conway










                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



            The undersigned  hereby  constitutes and appoints Eugene R. McGrath,
Joan S.  Freilich,  Peter J. O'Shea,  Jr., and Peter A. Irwin,  and each of them
(with   full  power  to  act   without   the   others),   the  true  and  lawful
attorney-in-fact  and agent for and on  behalf  of the  undersigned,  and in the
undersigned's name, place and stead, in the undersigned's capacity as a Director
or  Officer  or both,  as the case may be, of  Consolidated  Edison,  Inc.  (the
"Company")  to  sign  one or more  registration  statements  and any  amendments
thereto  and one or more  amendments  to  existing  registration  statements  of
Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. ("CECONY") and one or more further
amendments  thereto to be filed by the Company with the  Securities and Exchange
Commission to register  under the Securities Act of 1933 shares of the Company's
Common  Shares  ($.10 par  value) to be  offered  and sold  under the  Automatic
Dividend  Reinvestment  and Cash Payment Plan,  Discount Stock Purchase Plan and
1996 Stock Option Plan which the Company will assume  pursuant to the  Agreement
and Plan of  Exchange,  dated as of October  28,  1997,  between the Company and
CECONY.

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned has executed this instrument,
this 11th day of December, 1997






                                                /s/ Gordon J. Davis
                                                     Gordon J. Davis










                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



            The undersigned  hereby  constitutes and appoints Eugene R. McGrath,
Joan S.  Freilich,  Peter J. O'Shea,  Jr., and Peter A. Irwin,  and each of them
(with   full  power  to  act   without   the   others),   the  true  and  lawful
attorney-in-fact  and agent for and on  behalf  of the  undersigned,  and in the
undersigned's name, place and stead, in the undersigned's capacity as a Director
or  Officer  or both,  as the case may be, of  Consolidated  Edison,  Inc.  (the
"Company")  to  sign  one or more  registration  statements  and any  amendments
thereto  and one or more  amendments  to  existing  registration  statements  of
Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. ("CECONY") and one or more further
amendments  thereto to be filed by the Company with the  Securities and Exchange
Commission to register  under the Securities Act of 1933 shares of the Company's
Common  Shares  ($.10 par  value) to be  offered  and sold  under the  Automatic
Dividend  Reinvestment  and Cash Payment Plan,  Discount Stock Purchase Plan and
1996 Stock Option Plan which the Company will assume  pursuant to the  Agreement
and Plan of  Exchange,  dated as of October  28,  1997,  between the Company and
CECONY.

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned has executed this instrument,
this 12th day of December, 1997






                                                /s/  Ruth M. Davis
                                                      Ruth M. Davis











                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



            The undersigned  hereby  constitutes and appoints Eugene R. McGrath,
Joan S.  Freilich,  Peter J. O'Shea,  Jr., and Peter A. Irwin,  and each of them
(with   full  power  to  act   without   the   others),   the  true  and  lawful
attorney-in-fact  and agent for and on  behalf  of the  undersigned,  and in the
undersigned's name, place and stead, in the undersigned's capacity as a Director
or  Officer  or both,  as the case may be, of  Consolidated  Edison,  Inc.  (the
"Company")  to  sign  one or more  registration  statements  and any  amendments
thereto  and one or more  amendments  to  existing  registration  statements  of
Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. ("CECONY") and one or more further
amendments  thereto to be filed by the Company with the  Securities and Exchange
Commission to register  under the Securities Act of 1933 shares of the Company's
Common  Shares  ($.10 par  value) to be  offered  and sold  under the  Automatic
Dividend  Reinvestment  and Cash Payment Plan,  Discount Stock Purchase Plan and
1996 Stock Option Plan which the Company will assume  pursuant to the  Agreement
and Plan of  Exchange,  dated as of October  28,  1997,  between the Company and
CECONY.

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned has executed this instrument,
this 12th day of December, 1997






                                                /s/ Ellen V. Futter
                                                     Ellen V. Futter










                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



            The undersigned  hereby  constitutes and appoints Eugene R. McGrath,
Joan S.  Freilich,  Peter J. O'Shea,  Jr., and Peter A. Irwin,  and each of them
(with   full  power  to  act   without   the   others),   the  true  and  lawful
attorney-in-fact  and agent for and on  behalf  of the  undersigned,  and in the
undersigned's name, place and stead, in the undersigned's capacity as a Director
or  Officer  or both,  as the case may be, of  Consolidated  Edison,  Inc.  (the
"Company")  to  sign  one or more  registration  statements  and any  amendments
thereto  and one or more  amendments  to  existing  registration  statements  of
Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. ("CECONY") and one or more further
amendments  thereto to be filed by the Company with the  Securities and Exchange
Commission to register  under the Securities Act of 1933 shares of the Company's
Common  Shares  ($.10 par  value) to be  offered  and sold  under the  Automatic
Dividend  Reinvestment  and Cash Payment Plan,  Discount Stock Purchase Plan and
1996 Stock Option Plan which the Company will assume  pursuant to the  Agreement
and Plan of  Exchange,  dated as of October  28,  1997,  between the Company and
CECONY.

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned has executed this instrument,
this 12th day of December, 1997






                                                /s/ Arthur Hauspurg
                                                     Arthur Hauspurg









                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



            The undersigned  hereby  constitutes and appoints Eugene R. McGrath,
Joan S.  Freilich,  Peter J. O'Shea,  Jr., and Peter A. Irwin,  and each of them
(with   full  power  to  act   without   the   others),   the  true  and  lawful
attorney-in-fact  and agent for and on  behalf  of the  undersigned,  and in the
undersigned's name, place and stead, in the undersigned's capacity as a Director
or  Officer  or both,  as the case may be, of  Consolidated  Edison,  Inc.  (the
"Company")  to  sign  one or more  registration  statements  and any  amendments
thereto  and one or more  amendments  to  existing  registration  statements  of
Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. ("CECONY") and one or more further
amendments  thereto to be filed by the Company with the  Securities and Exchange
Commission to register  under the Securities Act of 1933 shares of the Company's
Common  Shares  ($.10 par  value) to be  offered  and sold  under the  Automatic
Dividend  Reinvestment  and Cash Payment Plan,  Discount Stock Purchase Plan and
1996 Stock Option Plan which the Company will assume  pursuant to the  Agreement
and Plan of  Exchange,  dated as of October  28,  1997,  between the Company and
CECONY.

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned has executed this instrument,
this10th day of December, 1997






                                                /s/ Sally Hernandez-Pinero
                                                     Sally Hernandez-Pinero











                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



            The undersigned  hereby  constitutes and appoints Eugene R. McGrath,
Joan S.  Freilich,  Peter J. O'Shea,  Jr., and Peter A. Irwin,  and each of them
(with   full  power  to  act   without   the   others),   the  true  and  lawful
attorney-in-fact  and agent for and on  behalf  of the  undersigned,  and in the
undersigned's name, place and stead, in the undersigned's capacity as a Director
or  Officer  or both,  as the case may be, of  Consolidated  Edison,  Inc.  (the
"Company")  to  sign  one or more  registration  statements  and any  amendments
thereto  and one or more  amendments  to  existing  registration  statements  of
Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. ("CECONY") and one or more further
amendments  thereto to be filed by the Company with the  Securities and Exchange
Commission to register  under the Securities Act of 1933 shares of the Company's
Common  Shares  ($.10 par  value) to be  offered  and sold  under the  Automatic
Dividend  Reinvestment  and Cash Payment Plan,  Discount Stock Purchase Plan and
1996 Stock Option Plan which the Company will assume  pursuant to the  Agreement
and Plan of  Exchange,  dated as of October  28,  1997,  between the Company and
CECONY.

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned has executed this instrument,
this 11th day of December, 1997






                                                /s/ Donald K. Ross
                                                     Donald K. Ross









                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



            The undersigned  hereby  constitutes and appoints Eugene R. McGrath,
Joan S.  Freilich,  Peter J. O'Shea,  Jr., and Peter A. Irwin,  and each of them
(with   full  power  to  act   without   the   others),   the  true  and  lawful
attorney-in-fact  and agent for and on  behalf  of the  undersigned,  and in the
undersigned's name, place and stead, in the undersigned's capacity as a Director
or  Officer  or both,  as the case may be, of  Consolidated  Edison,  Inc.  (the
"Company")  to  sign  one or more  registration  statements  and any  amendments
thereto  and one or more  amendments  to  existing  registration  statements  of
Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. ("CECONY") and one or more further
amendments  thereto to be filed by the Company with the  Securities and Exchange
Commission to register  under the Securities Act of 1933 shares of the Company's
Common  Shares  ($.10 par  value) to be  offered  and sold  under the  Automatic
Dividend  Reinvestment  and Cash Payment Plan,  Discount Stock Purchase Plan and
1996 Stock Option Plan which the Company will assume  pursuant to the  Agreement
and Plan of  Exchange,  dated as of October  28,  1997,  between the Company and
CECONY.

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned has executed this instrument,
this 13th day of December, 1997






                                                /s/ Robert G. Schwartz
                                                     Robert G. Schwartz










                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



            The undersigned  hereby  constitutes and appoints Eugene R. McGrath,
Joan S.  Freilich,  Peter J. O'Shea,  Jr., and Peter A. Irwin,  and each of them
(with   full  power  to  act   without   the   others),   the  true  and  lawful
attorney-in-fact  and agent for and on  behalf  of the  undersigned,  and in the
undersigned's name, place and stead, in the undersigned's capacity as a Director
or  Officer  or both,  as the case may be, of  Consolidated  Edison,  Inc.  (the
"Company")  to  sign  one or more  registration  statements  and any  amendments
thereto  and one or more  amendments  to  existing  registration  statements  of
Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. ("CECONY") and one or more further
amendments  thereto to be filed by the Company with the  Securities and Exchange
Commission to register  under the Securities Act of 1933 shares of the Company's
Common  Shares  ($.10 par  value) to be  offered  and sold  under the  Automatic
Dividend  Reinvestment  and Cash Payment Plan,  Discount Stock Purchase Plan and
1996 Stock Option Plan which the Company will assume  pursuant to the  Agreement
and Plan of  Exchange,  dated as of October  28,  1997,  between the Company and
CECONY.

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned has executed this instrument,
this 11th day of December, 1997






                                                /s/ Richard A. Voell
                                                     Richard A. Voell









                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



            The undersigned  hereby  constitutes and appoints Eugene R. McGrath,
Joan S.  Freilich,  Peter J. O'Shea,  Jr., and Peter A. Irwin,  and each of them
(with   full  power  to  act   without   the   others),   the  true  and  lawful
attorney-in-fact  and agent for and on  behalf  of the  undersigned,  and in the
undersigned's name, place and stead, in the undersigned's capacity as a Director
or  Officer  or both,  as the case may be, of  Consolidated  Edison,  Inc.  (the
"Company")  to  sign  one or more  registration  statements  and any  amendments
thereto  and one or more  amendments  to  existing  registration  statements  of
Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. ("CECONY") and one or more further
amendments  thereto to be filed by the Company with the  Securities and Exchange
Commission to register  under the Securities Act of 1933 shares of the Company's
Common  Shares  ($.10 par  value) to be  offered  and sold  under the  Automatic
Dividend  Reinvestment  and Cash Payment Plan,  Discount Stock Purchase Plan and
1996 Stock Option Plan which the Company will assume  pursuant to the  Agreement
and Plan of  Exchange,  dated as of October  28,  1997,  between the Company and
CECONY.

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned has executed this instrument,
this 10th day of December, 1997






                                                /s/ Stephen R. Volk
                                                     Stephen R. Volk