EXHIBIT 24.16
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


The undersigned, as a director of West Texas Utilities Company (the "Company"),
hereby makes, constitutes and appoints Paul J. Brower 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 1997 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 27th
day of January, 1998.


                                  E. R. Brooks
                                  Director







Subscribed and sworn to before me this 27th day of January, 1998 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 Paul J. Brower 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 1997 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 27th
day of January, 1998.


                                   Glenn Files
                                   Director







Subscribed and sworn to before me this 27th day of January, 1998 by Glenn Files.


                                  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 Paul J. Brower 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 1997 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 27th
day of January, 1998.


                                Alphonso Jackson
                                Director







Subscribed and sworn to before me this 27th day of January, 1998 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 Paul J. Brower 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 1997 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 27th
day of January, 1998.


                                  Tommy Morris
                                  Director







Subscribed and sworn to before me this 27th day of January, 1998 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 Paul J. Brower and R. Russell Davis, and
each of them severally, her 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 1997 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 27th
day of January, 1998.


                                  Dian G. Owen
                                  Director







Subscribed and sworn to before me this 27th day of January, 1998 by 
Dian G. Owen.

                                  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 Paul J. Brower 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 1997 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 27th
day of January, 1998.


                                  James Parker
                                  Director







Subscribed and sworn to before me this 27th day of January, 1998 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 Paul J. Brower 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 1997 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 27th
day of January, 1998.


                                 F. L. Stephens
                                 Director







Subscribed and sworn to before me this 27th day of January, 1998 by 
F. L. Stephens.

                                  Martha Murray
                                  Notary Public

My Commission Expires:
11-19-00