

                                                                      Exhibit 24


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         The undersigned,  acting in the capacity or capacities  stated opposite
their  respective  names below,  hereby  constitute and appoint DENNIS W. BAKKE,
BARRY  J.  SHARP  and  WILLIAM  R.  LURASCHI  and  each of them  severally,  the
attorneys-in-fact of the undersigned with full power to them and each of them to
approve  and  sign  for and in the  name of the  undersigned  in the  capacities
indicated  below the  Registration  Statement  on Form S-8 relating to shares of
Common  Stock,  par value $.01 per  share,  of The AES  Corporation,  a Delaware
corporation  "AES",  issuable or deliverable under The AES Corporation  Deferred
Compensation  Plan  for  Directors,   any  and  all  exhibits,   amendments  and
supplements thereto, and any other documents necessary, appropriate or desirable
in  connection  therewith,  and to file the same and to do and perform  each and
every  act  and  thing   necessary,   appropriate  or  desirable  in  connection
therewith.This Power of Attorney may be executed in counterparts, which together
shall constitute one and the same instrument.


Signature                       Position with AES             Date
---------                       -----------------             ----
/s/ Roger W. Sant               Chairman of the               October 14, 1997
---------------------------     Board and Director
Roger W. Sant                   

/s/ Dennis W. Bakke             President, Chief Executive    October 14, 1997
---------------------------     Officer and Director
Dennis W. Bakke                 (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Vicki-Ann Assevero          Director                      October 14, 1997
---------------------------
Vicki-Ann Assevero

/s/ Dr. Alice F. Emerson        Director                      October 14, 1997
---------------------------
Dr. Alice F. Emerson

/s/ Robert F. Hemphill, Jr.     Director                      October 14, 1997
---------------------------
Robert F. Hemphill, Jr.

/s/ Frank Jungers               Director                      October 14, 1997
---------------------------
Frank Jungers

/s/ Dr. Henry R. Linden         Director                      October 14, 1997
---------------------------
Dr. Henry R. Linden

/s/ John McArthur               Director                      October 14, 1997
---------------------------
John McArthur

/s/ Hazel O'Leary               Director                      October 14, 1997
--------------------------     
Hazel O'Leary

/s/ Thomas I. Unterberg         Director                      October 14, 1997
---------------------------
Thomas I. Unterberg

/s/ Robert H. Waterman, Jr.     Director                      October 14, 1997
---------------------------
Robert H. Waterman, Jr.

/s/ Barry J. Sharp              Vice President and Chief      October 14, 1997
---------------------------     Financial Officer
Barry J. Sharp                  (Principal Financial a
                                Accounting Officer)


