

                                                                    EXHIBIT 24.1



                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

The undersigned  (other than Dennis W. Bakke and Barry J. Sharp),  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 sign for and in the name of the undersigned in
the capacities  indicated below the Registration  Statement on Form S-3 relating
to the Debt  Securities  of this Company to be filed and to become  effective in
accordance  with Rule 462 (b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  and
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.





<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
         SIGNATURE                       POSITION WITH AES                     DATE
---------------------------   ----------------------------------------   -----------------
<S>                           <C>                                        <C>
  /s/ Roger W. Sant           Chairman of the Board and Director          October 14, 1997
-------------------------
Roger W. Sant

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

  /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 H. McArthur        Director                                    October 14, 1997
-------------------------
John H. McArthur
</TABLE>



<PAGE>



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                           <C>                                            <C>

  /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 Financial Officer  October 14, 1997
-------------------------     (Principal Financial and Accounting
Barry J. Sharp                Officer)

</TABLE>

