EXHIBIT 24.4
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


The  undersigned,  as a director  of Central  and South  West  Corporation  (the
"Corporation"),  hereby makes,  constitutes and appoints E. R. Brooks,  Glenn D.
Rosilier  and  Lawrence B.  Connors,  and each of them  severally,  his true and
lawful  attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power and authority (acting
alone  and  without  the  others)  to  execute  in the name and on behalf of the
undersigned,  in any and all capacities, the Corporation's Annual Report on Form
10-K  for  1996  and any and all  amendments  thereto,  to be  filed  under  the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as  amended,  and any  other  documents  and
instruments  incidental thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto
and all  documents in connection  therewith,  with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission,  hereby granting to such attorneys-in-fact,  and agents, and each of
them,  full power and authority of  substitution  and revocation in the premises
and full  power and  authority  to do and  perform  each and every act and thing
requisite and  necessary to be done in and about the premises,  as fully for all
intents and purposes as the  undersigned  might or could do in person and hereby
ratifying and confirming all that such  attorneys-in-fact  and agents, or any of
them, may do or cause to be done by virtue of this Power of Attorney.

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have hereunto  executed this Power of Attorney this 23rd
day of January, 1997.


                                                     Glenn Biggs
                                                     Director




Subscribed and sworn to before me this 23rd day of January, 1997.


                                                     Kenneth C. Raney, Jr.
                                                     Notary Public

My Commission Expires:
07/09/00



<PAGE>


EXHIBIT 24.4
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


The  undersigned,  as a director  of Central  and South  West  Corporation  (the
"Corporation"),  hereby makes,  constitutes and appoints E. R. Brooks,  Glenn D.
Rosilier  and  Lawrence B.  Connors,  and each of them  severally,  his true and
lawful  attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power and authority (acting
alone  and  without  the  others)  to  execute  in the name and on behalf of the
undersigned,  in any and all capacities, the Corporation's Annual Report on Form
10-K  for  1996  and any and all  amendments  thereto,  to be  filed  under  the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as  amended,  and any  other  documents  and
instruments  incidental thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto
and all  documents in connection  therewith,  with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission,  hereby granting to such attorneys-in-fact,  and agents, and each of
them,  full power and authority of  substitution  and revocation in the premises
and full  power and  authority  to do and  perform  each and every act and thing
requisite and  necessary to be done in and about the premises,  as fully for all
intents and purposes as the  undersigned  might or could do in person and hereby
ratifying and confirming all that such  attorneys-in-fact  and agents, or any of
them, may do or cause to be done by virtue of this Power of Attorney.

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have hereunto  executed this Power of Attorney this 23rd
day of January, 1997.


                                                     Molly Shi Boren
                                                     Director




Subscribed and sworn to before me this 23rd day of January, 1997.


                                                     Kenneth C. Raney, Jr.
                                                     Notary Public

My Commission Expires:
07/09/00


<PAGE>


EXHIBIT 24.4
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


The  undersigned,  as a director  of Central  and South  West  Corporation  (the
"Corporation"),  hereby makes,  constitutes and appoints E. R. Brooks,  Glenn D.
Rosilier  and  Lawrence B.  Connors,  and each of them  severally,  his true and
lawful  attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power and authority (acting
alone  and  without  the  others)  to  execute  in the name and on behalf of the
undersigned,  in any and all capacities, the Corporation's Annual Report on Form
10-K  for  1996  and any and all  amendments  thereto,  to be  filed  under  the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as  amended,  and any  other  documents  and
instruments  incidental thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto
and all  documents in connection  therewith,  with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission,  hereby granting to such attorneys-in-fact,  and agents, and each of
them,  full power and authority of  substitution  and revocation in the premises
and full  power and  authority  to do and  perform  each and every act and thing
requisite and  necessary to be done in and about the premises,  as fully for all
intents and purposes as the  undersigned  might or could do in person and hereby
ratifying and confirming all that such  attorneys-in-fact  and agents, or any of
them, may do or cause to be done by virtue of this Power of Attorney.

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have hereunto  executed this Power of Attorney this 23rd
day of January, 1997.


                                                     Donald M. Carlton
                                                     Director




Subscribed and sworn to before me this 23rd day of January, 1997.


                                                     Kenneth C. Raney, Jr.
                                                     Notary Public

My Commission Expires:
07/09/00


<PAGE>


EXHIBIT 24.4
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


The  undersigned,  as a director  of Central  and South  West  Corporation  (the
"Corporation"),  hereby makes,  constitutes and appoints E. R. Brooks,  Glenn D.
Rosilier  and  Lawrence B.  Connors,  and each of them  severally,  his true and
lawful  attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power and authority (acting
alone  and  without  the  others)  to  execute  in the name and on behalf of the
undersigned,  in any and all capacities, the Corporation's Annual Report on Form
10-K  for  1996  and any and all  amendments  thereto,  to be  filed  under  the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as  amended,  and any  other  documents  and
instruments  incidental thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto
and all  documents in connection  therewith,  with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission,  hereby granting to such attorneys-in-fact,  and agents, and each of
them,  full power and authority of  substitution  and revocation in the premises
and full  power and  authority  to do and  perform  each and every act and thing
requisite and  necessary to be done in and about the premises,  as fully for all
intents and purposes as the  undersigned  might or could do in person and hereby
ratifying and confirming all that such  attorneys-in-fact  and agents, or any of
them, may do or cause to be done by virtue of this Power of Attorney.

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have hereunto  executed this Power of Attorney this 23rd
day of January, 1997.


                                                     T. J. Ellis
                                                     Director




Subscribed and sworn to before me this 23rd day of January, 1997.


                                                     Kenneth C. Raney, Jr.
                                                     Notary Public

My Commission Expires:
07/09/00


<PAGE>


EXHIBIT 24.4
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


The  undersigned,  as a director  of Central  and South  West  Corporation  (the
"Corporation"),  hereby makes,  constitutes and appoints E. R. Brooks,  Glenn D.
Rosilier  and  Lawrence B.  Connors,  and each of them  severally,  his true and
lawful  attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power and authority (acting
alone  and  without  the  others)  to  execute  in the name and on behalf of the
undersigned,  in any and all capacities, the Corporation's Annual Report on Form
10-K  for  1996  and any and all  amendments  thereto,  to be  filed  under  the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as  amended,  and any  other  documents  and
instruments  incidental thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto
and all  documents in connection  therewith,  with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission,  hereby granting to such attorneys-in-fact,  and agents, and each of
them,  full power and authority of  substitution  and revocation in the premises
and full  power and  authority  to do and  perform  each and every act and thing
requisite and  necessary to be done in and about the premises,  as fully for all
intents and purposes as the  undersigned  might or could do in person and hereby
ratifying and confirming all that such  attorneys-in-fact  and agents, or any of
them, may do or cause to be done by virtue of this Power of Attorney.

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have hereunto  executed this Power of Attorney this 23rd
day of January, 1997.


                                                     Glenn Files
                                                     Director




Subscribed and sworn to before me this 23rd day of January, 1997.


                                                     Kenneth C. Raney, Jr.
                                                     Notary Public

My Commission Expires:
07/09/00



<PAGE>


EXHIBIT 24.4
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


The  undersigned,  as a director  of Central  and South  West  Corporation  (the
"Corporation"),  hereby makes,  constitutes and appoints E. R. Brooks,  Glenn D.
Rosilier  and  Lawrence B.  Connors,  and each of them  severally,  his true and
lawful  attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power and authority (acting
alone  and  without  the  others)  to  execute  in the name and on behalf of the
undersigned,  in any and all capacities, the Corporation's Annual Report on Form
10-K  for  1996  and any and all  amendments  thereto,  to be  filed  under  the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as  amended,  and any  other  documents  and
instruments  incidental thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto
and all  documents in connection  therewith,  with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission,  hereby granting to such attorneys-in-fact,  and agents, and each of
them,  full power and authority of  substitution  and revocation in the premises
and full  power and  authority  to do and  perform  each and every act and thing
requisite and  necessary to be done in and about the premises,  as fully for all
intents and purposes as the  undersigned  might or could do in person and hereby
ratifying and confirming all that such  attorneys-in-fact  and agents, or any of
them, may do or cause to be done by virtue of this Power of Attorney.

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have hereunto  executed this Power of Attorney this 23rd
day of January, 1997.


                                                     Joe H. Foy
                                                     Director




Subscribed and sworn to before me this 23rd day of January, 1997.


                                                     Kenneth C. Raney, Jr.
                                                     Notary Public

My Commission Expires:
07/09/00



<PAGE>


EXHIBIT 24.4
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


The  undersigned,  as a director  of Central  and South  West  Corporation  (the
"Corporation"),  hereby makes,  constitutes and appoints E. R. Brooks,  Glenn D.
Rosilier  and  Lawrence B.  Connors,  and each of them  severally,  his true and
lawful  attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power and authority (acting
alone  and  without  the  others)  to  execute  in the name and on behalf of the
undersigned,  in any and all capacities, the Corporation's Annual Report on Form
10-K  for  1996  and any and all  amendments  thereto,  to be  filed  under  the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as  amended,  and any  other  documents  and
instruments  incidental thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto
and all  documents in connection  therewith,  with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission,  hereby granting to such attorneys-in-fact,  and agents, and each of
them,  full power and authority of  substitution  and revocation in the premises
and full  power and  authority  to do and  perform  each and every act and thing
requisite and  necessary to be done in and about the premises,  as fully for all
intents and purposes as the  undersigned  might or could do in person and hereby
ratifying and confirming all that such  attorneys-in-fact  and agents, or any of
them, may do or cause to be done by virtue of this Power of Attorney.

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have hereunto  executed this Power of Attorney this 23rd
day of January, 1997.


                                                     Robert W. Lawless
                                                     Director




Subscribed and sworn to before me this 23rd day of January, 1997.


                                                     Kenneth C. Raney, Jr.
                                                     Notary Public

My Commission Expires:
07/09/00



<PAGE>


EXHIBIT 24.4
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


The  undersigned,  as a director  of Central  and South  West  Corporation  (the
"Corporation"),  hereby makes,  constitutes and appoints E. R. Brooks,  Glenn D.
Rosilier  and  Lawrence B.  Connors,  and each of them  severally,  his true and
lawful  attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power and authority (acting
alone  and  without  the  others)  to  execute  in the name and on behalf of the
undersigned,  in any and all capacities, the Corporation's Annual Report on Form
10-K  for  1996  and any and all  amendments  thereto,  to be  filed  under  the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as  amended,  and any  other  documents  and
instruments  incidental thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto
and all  documents in connection  therewith,  with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission,  hereby granting to such attorneys-in-fact,  and agents, and each of
them,  full power and authority of  substitution  and revocation in the premises
and full  power and  authority  to do and  perform  each and every act and thing
requisite and  necessary to be done in and about the premises,  as fully for all
intents and purposes as the  undersigned  might or could do in person and hereby
ratifying and confirming all that such  attorneys-in-fact  and agents, or any of
them, may do or cause to be done by virtue of this Power of Attorney.

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have hereunto  executed this Power of Attorney this 23rd
day of January, 1997.


                                                     James L. Powell
                                                     Director




Subscribed and sworn to before me this 23rd day of January, 1997.


                                                     Kenneth C. Raney, Jr.
                                                     Notary Public

My Commission Expires:
07/09/00




<PAGE>


EXHIBIT 24.4
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


The  undersigned,  as a director  of Central  and South  West  Corporation  (the
"Corporation"),  hereby makes,  constitutes and appoints E. R. Brooks,  Glenn D.
Rosilier  and  Lawrence B.  Connors,  and each of them  severally,  his true and
lawful  attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power and authority (acting
alone  and  without  the  others)  to  execute  in the name and on behalf of the
undersigned,  in any and all capacities, the Corporation's Annual Report on Form
10-K  for  1996  and any and all  amendments  thereto,  to be  filed  under  the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as  amended,  and any  other  documents  and
instruments  incidental thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto
and all  documents in connection  therewith,  with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission,  hereby granting to such attorneys-in-fact,  and agents, and each of
them,  full power and authority of  substitution  and revocation in the premises
and full  power and  authority  to do and  perform  each and every act and thing
requisite and  necessary to be done in and about the premises,  as fully for all
intents and purposes as the  undersigned  might or could do in person and hereby
ratifying and confirming all that such  attorneys-in-fact  and agents, or any of
them, may do or cause to be done by virtue of this Power of Attorney.

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have hereunto  executed this Power of Attorney this 23rd
day of January, 1997.


                                                     Thomas V. Shockley III
                                                     Director




Subscribed and sworn to before me this 23rd day of January, 1997.


                                                     Kenneth C. Raney, Jr.
                                                     Notary Public

My Commission Expires:
07/09/00


<PAGE>


EXHIBIT 24.4
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


The  undersigned,  as a director  of Central  and South  West  Corporation  (the
"Corporation"),  hereby makes,  constitutes and appoints E. R. Brooks,  Glenn D.
Rosilier  and  Lawrence B.  Connors,  and each of them  severally,  his true and
lawful  attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power and authority (acting
alone  and  without  the  others)  to  execute  in the name and on behalf of the
undersigned,  in any and all capacities, the Corporation's Annual Report on Form
10-K  for  1996  and any and all  amendments  thereto,  to be  filed  under  the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as  amended,  and any  other  documents  and
instruments  incidental thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto
and all  documents in connection  therewith,  with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission,  hereby granting to such attorneys-in-fact,  and agents, and each of
them,  full power and authority of  substitution  and revocation in the premises
and full  power and  authority  to do and  perform  each and every act and thing
requisite and  necessary to be done in and about the premises,  as fully for all
intents and purposes as the  undersigned  might or could do in person and hereby
ratifying and confirming all that such  attorneys-in-fact  and agents, or any of
them, may do or cause to be done by virtue of this Power of Attorney.

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have hereunto  executed this Power of Attorney this 23rd
day of January, 1997.


                                                     J. C. Templeton
                                                     Director




Subscribed and sworn to before me this 23rd day of January, 1997.


                                                     Kenneth C. Raney, Jr.
                                                     Notary Public

My Commission Expires:
07/09/00


<PAGE>


EXHIBIT 24.4
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


The  undersigned,  as a director  of Central  and South  West  Corporation  (the
"Corporation"),  hereby makes,  constitutes and appoints E. R. Brooks,  Glenn D.
Rosilier  and  Lawrence B.  Connors,  and each of them  severally,  his true and
lawful  attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power and authority (acting
alone  and  without  the  others)  to  execute  in the name and on behalf of the
undersigned,  in any and all capacities, the Corporation's Annual Report on Form
10-K  for  1996  and any and all  amendments  thereto,  to be  filed  under  the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as  amended,  and any  other  documents  and
instruments  incidental thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto
and all  documents in connection  therewith,  with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission,  hereby granting to such attorneys-in-fact,  and agents, and each of
them,  full power and authority of  substitution  and revocation in the premises
and full  power and  authority  to do and  perform  each and every act and thing
requisite and  necessary to be done in and about the premises,  as fully for all
intents and purposes as the  undersigned  might or could do in person and hereby
ratifying and confirming all that such  attorneys-in-fact  and agents, or any of
them, may do or cause to be done by virtue of this Power of Attorney.

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have hereunto  executed this Power of Attorney this 23rd
day of January, 1997.


                                                     Lloyd D. Ward
                                                     Director




Subscribed and sworn to before me this 23rd day of January, 1997.


                                                     Kenneth C. Raney, Jr.
                                                     Notary Public

My Commission Expires:
07/09/00