Exhibit 24


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY




      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE  PRESENTS,  that I, PAUL J.  GANCI,  Chairman of the
Board,  President and Chief Executive Officer, a Principal Executive Officer and
a Director of CH Energy Group, Inc. ("Corporation"),  have made, constituted and
appointed, and by these presents do make, constitute and appoint, DONNA S. DOYLE
and STEVEN V.  LANT,  WILLIAM P.  REILLY,  and each of them,  my true and lawful
attorneys, for me and in my name, place and stead, and in my office and capacity
as aforesaid,  to sign and file the  Corporation's  Annual Report, on Form 10-K,
for the  year  ended  December  31,  1999,  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission, pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934,  together with any and all  amendments  and  supplements to said Annual
Report  and any and  all  other  documents  to be  signed  and  filed  with  the
Securities and Exchange Commission in connection  therewith,  hereby granting to
said  attorneys,  and each of them,  full power and  authority to do and perform
each and every act and thing  whatsoever  requisite  and necessary to be done in
the premises as fully,  to all intents and  purposes,  as I might or could do if
personally  present,  hereby  ratifying and  confirming in all respects all that
said  attorneys  or any of them may or shall  lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  I have set my hand and seal this 4th day of February,
2000.



                                          /s/ PAUL J. GANCI               L.S.

STATE OF NEW YORK    )
                            : ss.:
COUNTY OF DUTCHESS )

      On this 4th day of February, 2000, before me personally came PAUL J. GANCI
to me known and known to me to be the  individual  described in and who executed
the foregoing instrument, and duly acknowledged to me that he executed the same.



                                          /s/ DONNA M. GIAMETTA
                                                Notary Public

<PAGE>
                                                                 Exhibit 24


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY




      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, JOHN E. MACK III, a Director of CH
Energy Group, Inc. ("Corporation"), have made, constituted and appointed, and by
these presents do make,  constitute and appoint,  PAUL J. GANCI, DONNA S. DOYLE,
STEVEN  V.  LANT,  WILLIAM  P.  REILLY,  and  each of them,  my true and  lawful
attorneys, for me and in my name, place and stead, and in my office and capacity
as aforesaid,  to sign and file the  Corporation's  Annual Report, on Form 10-K,
for the  year  ended  December  31,  1999,  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission, pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934,  together with any and all  amendments  and  supplements to said Annual
Report  and any and  all  other  documents  to be  signed  and  filed  with  the
Securities and Exchange Commission in connection  therewith,  hereby granting to
said  attorneys,  and each of them,  full power and  authority to do and perform
each and every act and thing  whatsoever  requisite  and necessary to be done in
the premises as fully,  to all intents and  purposes,  as I might or could do if
personally  present,  hereby  ratifying and  confirming in all respects all that
said  attorneys  or any of them may or shall  lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  I have set my hand and seal this 4th day of February,
2000.



                                          /s/ JOHN E. MACK III             L.S.



STATE OF NEW YORK    )
                                     : ss.:
COUNTY OF DUTCHESS )

      On this 4th day of February,  2000, before me personally came JOHN E. MACK
III to me  known  and  known  to me to be the  individual  described  in and who
executed the foregoing instrument,  and duly acknowledged to me that he executed
the same.




                                          /s/ DONNA M. GIAMETTA
                                               Notary Public

<PAGE>
                                                                 Exhibit 24


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY




      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, EDWARD P.
SWYER, a Director of CH Energy Group, Inc. ("Corporation"), have made,
constituted and appointed, and by these presents do make, constitute and
appoint, PAUL J. GANCI, DONNA S. DOYLE, STEVEN V. LANT, WILLIAM
P. REILLY, and each of them, my true and lawful attorneys, for me and in
my name, place and stead, and in my office and capacity as aforesaid, to
sign and file the Corporation's Annual Report, on Form 10-K, for the year
ended December 31, 1999, with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, together with any and all amendments and supplements to said
Annual Report and any and all other documents to be signed and filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection therewith, hereby
granting to said attorneys, and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and
necessary to be done in the premises as fully, to all intents and purposes,
as I might or could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming
in all respects all that said attorneys or any of them may or shall lawfully do
or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  I have set my hand and seal this 4th day of February,
2000.



                                          /s/ EDWARD P. SWYER       L.S.



STATE OF NEW YORK    )
                                     : ss.:
COUNTY OF DUTCHESS )

      On this 4th day of February,  2000,  before me  personally  came EDWARD P.
SWYER to me known  and  known to me to be the  individual  described  in and who
executed the foregoing instrument,  and duly acknowledged to me that he executed
the same.


                                          /s/ DONNA M. GIAMETTA
                                               Notary Public

<PAGE>
                                                                 Exhibit 24


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY




      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE  PRESENTS,  that I, JACK  EFFRON,  a Director  of CH
Energy Group, Inc. ("Corporation"), have made, constituted and appointed, and by
these presents do make,  constitute and appoint,  PAUL J. GANCI, DONNA S. DOYLE,
STEVEN  V.  LANT,  WILLIAM  P.  REILLY,  and  each of them,  my true and  lawful
attorneys, for me and in my name, place and stead, and in my office and capacity
as aforesaid,  to sign and file the  Corporation's  Annual Report, on Form 10-K,
for the  year  ended  December  31,  1999,  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission, pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934,  together with any and all  amendments  and  supplements to said Annual
Report  and any and  all  other  documents  to be  signed  and  filed  with  the
Securities and Exchange Commission in connection  therewith,  hereby granting to
said  attorneys,  and each of them,  full power and  authority to do and perform
each and every act and thing  whatsoever  requisite  and necessary to be done in
the premises as fully,  to all intents and  purposes,  as I might or could do if
personally  present,  hereby  ratifying and  confirming in all respects all that
said  attorneys  or any of them may or shall  lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  I have set my hand and seal this 4th day of February,
2000.



                                          /s/ JACK EFFRON               L.S.



STATE OF NEW YORK    )
                                     : ss.:
COUNTY OF DUTCHESS )

      On this 4th day of February,  2000,  before me personally came JACK EFFRON
to me known and known to me to be the  individual  described in and who executed
the foregoing instrument, and duly acknowledged to me that he executed the same.





                                          /s/ DONNA M. GIAMETTA
                                                Notary Public

<PAGE>
                                                                 Exhibit 24


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY




      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, HEINZ K.
FRIDRICH, a Director of CH Energy Group, Inc. ("Corporation"), have
made, constituted and appointed, and by these presents do make,
constitute and appoint, PAUL J. GANCI, DONNA S. DOYLE, STEVEN V.
LANT, WILLIAM P. REILLY, and each of them, my true and lawful
attorneys, for me and in my name, place and stead, and in my office and
capacity as aforesaid, to sign and file the Corporation's Annual Report, on
Form 10-K, for the year ended December 31, 1999, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, pursuant to the applicable provisions of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, together with any and all amendments
and supplements to said Annual Report and any and all other documents to
be signed and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in
connection therewith, hereby granting to said attorneys, and each of them,
full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in the premises as fully, to
all intents and purposes, as I might or could do if personally present, hereby
ratifying and confirming in all respects all that said attorneys or any of them
may or shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  I have set my hand and seal this 4th day of February,
2000.



                                          /s/ HEINZ K. FRIDRICH           L.S.



STATE OF NEW YORK    )
                                     : ss.:
COUNTY OF DUTCHESS )

      On this 4th day of  February,  2000,  before me  personally  came HEINZ K.
FRIDRICH to me known and known to me to be the  individual  described in and who
executed the foregoing instrument,  and duly acknowledged to me that he executed
the same.



                                         /s/ DONNA M. GIAMETTA
                                               Notary Public


<PAGE>
                                                                 Exhibit 24


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY




      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, EDWARD F. X.
GALLAGHER, a Director of CH Energy Group, Inc. ("Corporation"), have
made, constituted and appointed, and by these presents do make,
constitute and appoint, PAUL J. GANCI, DONNA S. DOYLE, STEVEN V.
LANT, WILLIAM P. REILLY, and each of them, my true and lawful
attorneys, for me and in my name, place and stead, and in my office and
capacity as aforesaid, to sign and file the Corporation's Annual Report, on
Form 10-K, for the year ended December 31, 1999, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, pursuant to the applicable provisions of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, together with any and all amendments
and supplements to said Annual Report and any and all other documents to
be signed and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in
connection therewith, hereby granting to said attorneys, and each of them,
full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in the premises as fully, to
all intents and purposes, as I might or could do if personally present, hereby
ratifying and confirming in all respects all that said attorneys or any of them
may or shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  I have set my hand and seal this 4th day of February,
2000.



                                          /s/ EDWARD F. X. GALLAGHER    L.S.



STATE OF NEW YORK    )
                                     : ss.:
COUNTY OF DUTCHESS )

      On this 4th day of February,  2000, before me personally came EDWARD F. X.
GALLAGHER to me known and known to me to be the individual  described in and who
executed the foregoing instrument,  and duly acknowledged to me that he executed
the same.




                                          /s/ DONNA M. GIAMETTA
                                                Notary Public

<PAGE>
                                                                 Exhibit 24


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY




      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS,  that I, CHARLES LAFORGE, a Director of CH
Energy Group, Inc. ("Corporation"), have made, constituted and appointed, and by
these presents do make,  constitute and appoint,  PAUL J. GANCI, DONNA S. DOYLE,
STEVEN  V.  LANT,  WILLIAM  P.  REILLY,  and  each of them,  my true and  lawful
attorneys, for me and in my name, place and stead, and in my office and capacity
as aforesaid,  to sign and file the  Corporation's  Annual Report, on Form 10-K,
for the  year  ended  December  31,  1999,  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission, pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934,  together with any and all  amendments  and  supplements to said Annual
Report  and any and  all  other  documents  to be  signed  and  filed  with  the
Securities and Exchange Commission in connection  therewith,  hereby granting to
said  attorneys,  and each of them,  full power and  authority to do and perform
each and every act and thing  whatsoever  requisite  and necessary to be done in
the premises as fully,  to all intents and  purposes,  as I might or could do if
personally  present,  hereby  ratifying and  confirming in all respects all that
said  attorneys  or any of them may or shall  lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  I have set my hand and seal this 4th day of February,
2000.



                                          /s/ CHARLES LAFORGE      L.S.



STATE OF NEW YORK    )
                                     : ss.:
COUNTY OF DUTCHESS )

      On this 4th day of  February,  2000,  before me  personally  came  CHARLES
LAFORGE to me known and known to me to be the  individual  described  in and who
executed the foregoing instrument,  and duly acknowledged to me that he executed
the same.



                                          /s/ DONNA M. GIAMETTA
                                                Notary Public


<PAGE>
                                                                 Exhibit 24


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY




      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, FRANCES D.
FERGUSSON, a Director of CH Energy Group, Inc. ("Corporation"), have
made, constituted and appointed, and by these presents do make,
constitute and appoint, PAUL J. GANCI, DONNA S. DOYLE, STEVEN V.
LANT, WILLIAM P. REILLY, and each of them, my true and lawful
attorneys, for me and in my name, place and stead, and in my office and
capacity as aforesaid, to sign and file the Corporation's Annual Report, on
Form 10-K, for the year ended December 31, 1999, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, pursuant to the applicable provisions of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, together with any and all amendments
and supplements to said Annual Report and any and all other documents to
be signed and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in
connection therewith, hereby granting to said attorneys, and each of them,
full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in the premises as fully, to
all intents and purposes, as I might or could do if personally present, hereby
ratifying and confirming in all respects all that said attorneys or any of them
may or shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  I have set my hand and seal this 4th day of February,
2000.



                                          /s/ FRANCIS D. FERGUSSON  L.S.



STATE OF NEW YORK    )
                                     : ss.:
COUNTY OF DUTCHESS )

      On this 4th day of February,  2000,  before me personally  came FRANCES D.
FERGUSSON to me known and known to me to be the individual  described in and who
executed the foregoing instrument, and duly acknowledged to me that she executed
the same.




                                          /s/ DONNA M. GIAMETTA
                                               Notary Public


<PAGE>
                                                                 Exhibit 24


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY




      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, STANLEY J.
GRUBEL, a Director of CH Energy Group, Inc. ("Corporation"), have made,
constituted and appointed, and by these presents do make, constitute and
appoint, PAUL J. GANCI, DONNA S. DOYLE, STEVEN V. LANT, WILLIAM
P. REILLY, and each of them, my true and lawful attorneys, for me and in
my name, place and stead, and in my office and capacity as aforesaid, to
sign and file the Corporation's Annual Report, on Form 10-K, for the year
ended December 31, 1999, with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, together with any and all amendments and supplements to said
Annual Report and any and all other documents to be signed and filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection therewith, hereby
granting to said attorneys, and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and
necessary to be done in the premises as fully, to all intents and purposes,
as I might or could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming
in all respects all that said attorneys or any of them may or shall lawfully do
or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  I have set my hand and seal this 4th day of February,
2000.



                                          /s/ STANLEY J. GRUBEL    L.S.



STATE OF NEW YORK    )
                                     : ss.:
COUNTY OF DUTCHESS )

      On this 4th day of February,  2000,  before me personally  came STANLEY J.
GRUBEL  to me known and known to me to be the  individual  described  in and who
executed the foregoing instrument, and duly acknowledged to me that she executed
the same.





                                          /s/ DONNA M. GIAMETTA
                                               Notary Public


<PAGE>
                                                                 Exhibit 24


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY




      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS,  that I, DONNA S. DOYLE,  Vice President -
Accounting and  Controller,  Officer of CH Energy Group,  Inc.  ("Corporation"),
have made, constituted and appointed,  and by these presents do make, constitute
and appoint,  PAUL J. GANCI and STEVEN V. LANT,  WILLIAM P. REILLY,  and each of
them, my true and lawful attorneys,  for me and in my name, place and stead, and
in my office  and  capacity  as  aforesaid,  to sign and file the  Corporation's
Annual  Report,  on Form 10-K,  for the year ended  December 31, 1999,  with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, pursuant to the applicable provisions of the
Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  together  with any and all  amendments  and
supplements  to said Annual Report and any and all other  documents to be signed
and filed with the Securities and Exchange  Commission in connection  therewith,
hereby granting to said attorneys, and each of them, full power and authority to
do and perform each and every act and thing  whatsoever  requisite and necessary
to be done in the premises as fully, to all intents and purposes,  as I might or
could do if personally present,  hereby ratifying and confirming in all respects
all that said  attorneys or any of them may or shall  lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  I have set my hand and seal this 4th day of February,
2000.



                                          /s/ DONNA S. DOYLE              L.S.



STATE OF NEW YORK    )
                                     : ss.:
COUNTY OF DUTCHESS )

      On this 4th day of  February,  2000,  before me  personally  came DONNA S.
DOYLE to me known  and  known to me to be the  individual  described  in and who
executed the foregoing instrument,  and duly acknowledged to me that he executed
the same.





                                          /s/ DONNA M. GIAMETTA
                                               Notary Public


<PAGE>
                                                                 Exhibit 24


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY




      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE  PRESENTS,  that I, STEVEN V. LANT,  Chief Financial
Officer and  Treasurer,  of CH Energy Group,  Inc.  ("Corporation"),  have made,
constituted  and  appointed,  and by  these  presents  do make,  constitute  and
appoint,  PAUL J. GANCI, DONNA S. DOYLE, WILLIAM P. REILLY, and each of them, my
true and lawful  attorneys,  for me and in my name,  place and stead,  and in my
office and  capacity as  aforesaid,  to sign and file the  Corporation's  Annual
Report,  on Form 10-K, for the year ended December 31, 1999, with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934,  together with any and all amendments  and  supplements to
said Annual  Report and any and all other  documents to be signed and filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection therewith,  hereby granting
to said attorneys,  and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform
each and every act and thing  whatsoever  requisite  and necessary to be done in
the premises as fully,  to all intents and  purposes,  as I might or could do if
personally  present,  hereby  ratifying and  confirming in all respects all that
said  attorneys  or any of them may or shall  lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  I have set my hand and seal this 4th day of February,
2000.



                                          /s/ STEVEN V. LANT              L.S.



STATE OF NEW YORK    )
                                     : ss.:
COUNTY OF DUTCHESS )

      On this 4th day of February,  2000,  before me  personally  came STEVEN V.
LANT to me known  and  known  to me to be the  individual  described  in and who
executed the foregoing instrument,  and duly acknowledged to me that he executed
the same.




                                          /s/ DONNA M. GIAMETTA
                                                Notary Public

<PAGE>

                                                                      EXHIBIT 24

      I, Gladys L. Cooper,  Corporate Secretary of CH Energy Group, Inc., hereby
certify that at the meeting of the Board of Directors of CH Energy Group,  Inc.,
a corporation organized under the laws of the State of New York, duly called and
held at the  office  of said  Corporation,  284  South  Avenue,  in the  City of
Poughkeepsie,  State of New York,  on  February  4, 2000,  at which a quorum was
present and voting throughout, the following resolution was unanimously and duly
adopted and is now in full force and effect:

                  RESOLVED,  that  the  Annual  Report  to  the  Securities  and
            Exchange  Commission,  on Form 10-K, for the year ended December 31,
            1999, in the form presented to this meeting,  be and the same hereby
            is in all  respects  approved;  and that the  Chairman of the Board,
            President  and Chief  Executive  Officer  and the  officers  of this
            Corporation  be and they  hereby are  authorized  in the name and on
            behalf of this Board of Directors  and this  Corporation  to execute
            said Form 10-K Report,  in the form  presented to this meeting,  and
            that the officers  and  Directors  of this  Corporation  be and they
            hereby are requested and authorized to join in the execution of said
            Form 10-K Report, and that the Chairman of the Board,  President and
            Chief Financial  Officer and the officers of this Corporation be and
            they hereby are authorized and directed to file or cause to be filed
            as  required  or  permitted  by law said Form  10-K,  together  with
            appropriate Exhibits,  as required in connection therewith,  subject
            to such changes therein as the Chairman of the Board,  President and
            Chief  Executive  Officer  and the  officers  of  this  Corporation,
            advised by counsel, may deem necessary or appropriate to comply with
            the requirements of the Securities and Exchange  Commission;  and to
            do and cause to be done any and all things  necessary or appropriate
            to effect the filing of said Form 10-K and any amendments thereto.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand as Corporate  Secretary of
Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation and affixed it corporate seal this 4th
day of February, 2000.


                                                      /s/   Gladys L. Cooper
                                                   ----------------------------
                                                            Gladys L. Cooper
                                                            Corporate Secretary



<PAGE>