EXHIBIT 24.16
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


The undersigned,  as a director of West Texas Utilities Company (the "Company"),
hereby makes,  constitutes and appoints Floyd W. Nickerson and R. Russell Davis,
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  Company'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 28th
day of January, 1997.


                                                     Richard Bacon
                                                     Director







Subscribed  and sworn to before me this  28th day of  January,  1997 by  Richard
Bacon.


                                                     Martha Murray
                                                     Notary Public

My Commission Expires:
11-19-00


<PAGE>


EXHIBIT 24.16
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


The undersigned,  as a director of West Texas Utilities Company (the "Company"),
hereby makes,  constitutes and appoints Floyd W. Nickerson and R. Russell Davis,
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  Company'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 28th
day of January, 1997.


                                                     E. R. Brooks
                                                     Director







Subscribed and sworn to before me this 28th day of January, 1997 by E. R.
Brooks.


                                                     Martha Murray
                                                     Notary Public

My Commission Expires:
11-19-00






<PAGE>


EXHIBIT 24.16
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


The undersigned,  as a director of West Texas Utilities Company (the "Company"),
hereby makes,  constitutes and appoints Floyd W. Nickerson and R. Russell Davis,
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  Company'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 28th
day of January, 1997.


                                                     Paul J. Brower
                                                     Director







Subscribed and sworn to before me this 28th day of January, 1997 by Paul J. 
Brower.


                                                     Martha Murray
                                                     Notary Public

My Commission Expires:
11-19-00



<PAGE>


EXHIBIT 24.16
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


The undersigned,  as a director of West Texas Utilities Company (the "Company"),
hereby makes,  constitutes and appoints Floyd W. Nickerson and R. Russell Davis,
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  Company'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 28th
day of January, 1997.


                                                     Glenn Files
                                                     Director







Subscribed and sworn to before me this 28th day of January, 1997 by Glenn Files.


                                                     L. J. Jimmerson
                                                     Notary Public

My Commission Expires:
May 11, 2000



<PAGE>


EXHIBIT 24.16
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


The undersigned,  as a director of West Texas Utilities Company (the "Company"),
hereby makes,  constitutes and appoints Floyd W. Nickerson and R. Russell Davis,
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  Company'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 28th
day of January, 1997.


                                                     Tommy Morris
                                                     Director







Subscribed  and  sworn to  before  me this  28th day of  January,  1997 by Tommy
Morris.


                                                     Martha Murray
                                                     Notary Public

My Commission Expires:
11-19-00



<PAGE>


EXHIBIT 24.16
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


The undersigned,  as a director of West Texas Utilities Company (the "Company"),
hereby makes,  constitutes and appoints Floyd W. Nickerson and R. Russell Davis,
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  Company'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 31st
day of January, 1997.


                                                     Dian G. Owen
                                                     Director







Subscribed and sworn to before me this 31st day of January, 1997 by Dian G. 
Owen.

                                                     Diane K. Nichols
                                                     Notary Public

My Commission Expires:
2-14-99



<PAGE>


EXHIBIT 24.16
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


The undersigned,  as a director of West Texas Utilities Company (the "Company"),
hereby makes,  constitutes and appoints Floyd W. Nickerson and R. Russell Davis,
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  Company'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 28th
day of January, 1997.


                                                     James Parker
                                                     Director







Subscribed  and  sworn to  before  me this  28th day of  January,  1997 by James
Parker.

                                                     Martha Murray
                                                     Notary Public

My Commission Expires:
11-19-00



<PAGE>


EXHIBIT 24.16
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


The undersigned,  as a director of West Texas Utilities Company (the "Company"),
hereby makes,  constitutes and appoints Floyd W. Nickerson and R. Russell Davis,
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  Company'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 2nd day
of February, 1997.


                                                     Ted Steans
                                                     Director







Subscribed and sworn to before me this 2nd day of February, 1997 by Ted Steans.


                                                     Diane John
                                                     Notary Public

My Commission Expires:
October 28, 1997




<PAGE>


EXHIBIT 24.16
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


The undersigned,  as a director of West Texas Utilities Company (the "Company"),
hereby makes,  constitutes and appoints Floyd W. Nickerson and R. Russell Davis,
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  Company'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 28th
day of January, 1997.


                                                     F. L. Stephens
                                                     Director







Subscribed and sworn to before me this 28th day of January, 1997 by F. L. 
Stephens.

                                                     Martha Murray
                                                     Notary Public

My Commission Expires:
11-19-00