Exhibit 24

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY



      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS,  that I, JOHN E. MACK III, Chairman of the
Board,  a Principal  Executive  Officer  and a Director of Central  Hudson Gas &
Electric Corporation ("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,  1998,  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 29th day of January,
1999.



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

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

      On this 29th day of January,  1999, 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, PAUL J. GANCI, President and Chief
Executive  Officer,  a  Principal  Executive  Officer  and a Director of Central
Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation  ("Corporation"),  have made,  constituted and
appointed,  and by these presents do make,  constitute and appoint, JOHN E. MACK
III,  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, 1998, 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 29th day of January,
1999.


                                      /s/ PAUL J. GANCI        L.S.

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

      On this 29th day of January, 1999, 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, EDWARD P. SWYER, a
Director of Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation
("Corporation"), have made, constituted and appointed, and by
these presents do make, constitute and appoint, JOHN E. MACK III,
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, 1998, 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 29th day of January,
1999.

                                      /s/ EDWARD P. SWYER      L.S.

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

      On this 29th day of January,  1999,  before me  personally  came EDWARD P.
SYWER 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 Central
Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation  ("Corporation"),  have made,  constituted and
appointed,  and by these presents do make,  constitute and appoint, JOHN E. MACK
III, 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, 1998,  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 29th day of January,
1999.

                                      /s/ JACK EFFRON          L.S.

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

      On this 29th day of January,  1999,  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 Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation
("Corporation"), have made, constituted and appointed, and by
these presents do make, constitute and appoint, JOHN E. MACK III,
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, 1998, 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 29th day of January,
1999.

                                      /s/ HEINZ K. FRIDRICH    L.S.

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

      On this 29th day of  January,  1999,  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 Central Hudson Gas & Electric
Corporation ("Corporation"), have made, constituted and
appointed, and by these presents do make, constitute and appoint,
JOHN E. MACK III, 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, 1998, 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 29th day of January,
1999.

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

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

On this 29th day of  January,  1999,  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
Central  Hudson  Gas  &  Electric   Corporation   ("Corporation"),   have  made,
constituted  and  appointed,  and by  these  presents  do make,  constitute  and
appoint,  JOHN E. MACK III,  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, 1998, 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 29th day of January,
1999.


                                      /s/ CHARLES LAFORGE     L.S.

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

      On this 29th day of  January,  1999,  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 Central Hudson Gas & Electric
Corporation ("Corporation"), have made, constituted and
appointed, and by these presents do make, constitute and appoint,
JOHN E. MACK III, 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, 1998, 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 29th day of January,
1999.

                                      /s/ FRANCES D. FERGUSSON  L.S.

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

      On this 29th day of January,  1999,  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, DONNA S. DOYLE,  Controller  and
Principal  Accounting  Officer  of Central  Hudson  Gas &  Electric  Corporation
("Corporation"),  have made, constituted and appointed, and by these presents do
make,  constitute and appoint,  JOHN E. MACK III, PAUL J. GANCI, 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, 1998, 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 29th day of January,
1999.

                                      /s/ DONNA S. DOYLE       L.S.

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

      On this 29th day of  January,  1999,  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,  Treasurer and Corporate  Secretary and the Principal Financial Officer
of  Central  Hudson  Gas &  Electric  Corporation  ("Corporation"),  have  made,
constituted  and  appointed,  and by  these  presents  do make,  constitute  and
appoint,  JOHN E. MACK III,  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, 1998, 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 29th day of January,
1999.

                                      /s/ STEVEN V. LANT       L.S.

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

      On this 29th day of January,  1999,  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>