EXHIBIT 23

                            INDEPENDENT AUDITORS'
                       CONSENT OF ERNST AND YOUNG LLP







                                                                  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 March 3, 2004,
included in the 2003 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 15(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

St. Louis, Missouri
March 3, 2004