<PAGE>

                                          Exhibit (24)-1
                                          Unicom Corporation and
                                          Commonwealth Edison Company
                                          Form 10-K File Nos. 1-11375 and 1-1839


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

         That the undersigned, a Director of Unicom Corporation and Commonwealth
Edison Company, each an Illinois corporation, does hereby constitute and appoint
JOHN W. ROWE, RUTH ANN M. GILLIS and JOHN P. MCGARRITY, and each of them, his
true and lawful attorneys 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 as such Director, the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1999 for Unicom Corporation and Commonwealth Edison Company,
to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13
or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, hereby granting to such
attorneys and agents, and each of them, full power of substitution and
revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying and confirming all that such
attorneys and agents, or any of them, may do or cause to be done by virtue of
these presents.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of
March, 2000.



                                        /s/ Edward A. Brennan
                                        --------------------------
                                            Edward A. Brennan

STATE OF ILLINOIS )
                  ) SS
COUNTY OF COOK    )

         I, Mary L. Kwilos, a Notary Public in and for said County, in the State
aforesaid, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that EDWARD A. BRENNAN, personally known to me to
be the same person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument,
appeared before me this day in person, and acknowledged that he signed and
delivered said instrument as his free and voluntary act, for the uses and
purposes therein set forth.

         GIVEN under my hand and the notarial seal this 17th day of March, 2000.



                                        /s/ Mary L. Kwilos
                                        --------------------------
                                            Mary L. Kwilos
                                            Notary Public
<PAGE>

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

         That the undersigned, a Director of Unicom Corporation and Commonwealth
Edison Company, each an Illinois corporation, does hereby constitute and appoint
JOHN W. ROWE, RUTH ANN M. GILLIS and JOHN P. MCGARRITY, and each of them, his
true and lawful attorneys 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 as such Director, the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1999 for Unicom Corporation and Commonwealth Edison Company,
to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13
or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, hereby granting to such
attorneys and agents, and each of them, full power of substitution and
revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying and confirming all that such
attorneys and agents, or any of them, may do or cause to be done by virtue of
these presents.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of March,
2000.



                                        /s/ Carlos H. Cantu
                                        --------------------------
                                            Carlos H. Cantu

STATE OF ILLINOIS )
                  ) SS
COUNTY OF COOK    )

         I, Mary L. Kwilos, a Notary Public in and for said County, in the State
aforesaid, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that CARLOS H. CANTU, personally known to me to be
the same person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument, appeared
before me this day in person, and acknowledged that he signed and delivered said
instrument as his free and voluntary act, for the uses and purposes therein set
forth.

         GIVEN under my hand and the notarial seal this 17th day of March, 2000.



                                        /s/ Mary L. Kwilos
                                        --------------------------
                                            Mary L. Kwilos
                                            Notary Public
<PAGE>

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

         That the undersigned, a Director of Unicom Corporation and Commonwealth
Edison Company, each an Illinois corporation, does hereby constitute and appoint
JOHN W. ROWE, RUTH ANN M. GILLIS and JOHN P. MCGARRITY, and each of them, his
true and lawful attorneys 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 as such Director, the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1999 for Unicom Corporation and Commonwealth Edison Company,
to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13
or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, hereby granting to such
attorneys and agents, and each of them, full power of substitution and
revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying and confirming all that such
attorneys and agents, or any of them, may do or cause to be done by virtue of
these presents.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of March,
2000.



                                        /s/ James W. Compton
                                        --------------------------
                                            James W. Compton

STATE OF ILLINOIS )
                  ) SS
COUNTY OF COOK    )

         I, Mary L. Kwilos, a Notary Public in and for said County, in the State
aforesaid, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that JAMES W. COMPTON, personally known to me to be
the same person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument, appeared
before me this day in person, and acknowledged that he signed and delivered said
instrument as his free and voluntary act, for the uses and purposes therein set
forth.

         GIVEN under my hand and the notarial seal this 17th day of March, 2000.



                                        /s/ Mary L. Kwilos
                                        --------------------------
                                            Mary L. Kwilos
                                            Notary Public
<PAGE>

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

         That the undersigned, a Director of Unicom Corporation and Commonwealth
Edison Company, each an Illinois corporation, does hereby constitute and appoint
JOHN W. ROWE, RUTH ANN M. GILLIS and JOHN P. MCGARRITY, and each of them, his
true and lawful attorneys 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 as such Director, the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1999 for Unicom Corporation and Commonwealth Edison Company,
to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13
or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, hereby granting to such
attorneys and agents, and each of them, full power of substitution and
revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying and confirming all that such
attorneys and agents, or any of them, may do or cause to be done by virtue of
these presents.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of March,
2000.



                                        /s/ Bruce DeMars
                                        --------------------------
                                            Bruce DeMars

STATE OF ILLINOIS )
                  ) SS
COUNTY OF COOK    )

         I, Mary L. Kwilos, a Notary Public in and for said County, in the State
aforesaid, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that BRUCE DEMARS, personally known to me to be the
same person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument, appeared
before me this day in person, and acknowledged that he signed and delivered said
instrument as his free and voluntary act, for the uses and purposes therein set
forth.

         GIVEN under my hand and the notarial seal this 17th day of March, 2000.



                                        /s/ Mary L. Kwilos
                                        --------------------------
                                            Mary L. Kwilos
                                            Notary Public
<PAGE>

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

         That the undersigned, a Director of Unicom Corporation and Commonwealth
Edison Company, each an Illinois corporation, does hereby constitute and appoint
JOHN W. ROWE, RUTH ANN M. GILLIS and JOHN P. MCGARRITY, and each of them, his
true and lawful attorneys 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 as such Director, the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1999 for Unicom Corporation and Commonwealth Edison Company,
to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13
or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, hereby granting to such
attorneys and agents, and each of them, full power of substitution and
revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying and confirming all that such
attorneys and agents, or any of them, may do or cause to be done by virtue of
these presents.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of March,
2000.



                                        /s/ Donald P. Jacobs
                                        --------------------------
                                            Donald P. Jacobs

STATE OF ILLINOIS )
                  ) SS
COUNTY OF COOK    )

         I, Mary L. Kwilos, a Notary Public in and for said County, in the State
aforesaid, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that DONALD P. JACOBS, personally known to me to be
the same person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument, appeared
before me this day in person, and acknowledged that he signed and delivered said
instrument as his free and voluntary act, for the uses and purposes therein set
forth.

         GIVEN under my hand and the notarial seal this 17th day of March, 2000.



                                        /s/ Mary L. Kwilos
                                        --------------------------
                                            Mary L. Kwilos
                                            Notary Public
<PAGE>

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

         That the undersigned, a Director of Unicom Corporation and Commonwealth
Edison Company, each an Illinois corporation, does hereby constitute and appoint
JOHN W. ROWE, RUTH ANN M. GILLIS and JOHN P. MCGARRITY, and each of them, his
true and lawful attorneys 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 as such Director, the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1999 for Unicom Corporation and Commonwealth Edison Company,
to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13
or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, hereby granting to such
attorneys and agents, and each of them, full power of substitution and
revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying and confirming all that such
attorneys and agents, or any of them, may do or cause to be done by virtue of
these presents.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of March,
2000.



                                        /s/ Edgar D. Jannotta
                                        --------------------------
                                            Edgar D. Jannotta

STATE OF ILLINOIS )
                  ) SS
COUNTY OF COOK    )

         I, Mary L. Kwilos, a Notary Public in and for said County, in the State
aforesaid, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that EDGAR D. JANNOTTA, personally known to me to
be the same person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument,
appeared before me this day in person, and acknowledged that he signed and
delivered said instrument as his free and voluntary act, for the uses and
purposes therein set forth.

         GIVEN under my hand and the notarial seal this 17th day of March, 2000.



                                        /s/ Mary L. Kwilos
                                        --------------------------
                                            Mary L. Kwilos
                                            Notary Public
<PAGE>

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

         That the undersigned, a Director of Unicom Corporation and Commonwealth
Edison Company, each an Illinois corporation, does hereby constitute and appoint
JOHN W. ROWE, RUTH ANN M. GILLIS and JOHN P. MCGARRITY, and each of them, his
true and lawful attorneys 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 as such Director, the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1999 for Unicom Corporation and Commonwealth Edison Company,
to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13
or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, hereby granting to such
attorneys and agents, and each of them, full power of substitution and
revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying and confirming all that such
attorneys and agents, or any of them, may do or cause to be done by virtue of
these presents.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of March,
2000.



                                        /s/ John W. Rogers, Jr.
                                        --------------------------
                                            John W. Rogers, Jr.

STATE OF ILLINOIS )
                  ) SS
COUNTY OF COOK    )

         I, Mary L. Kwilos, a Notary Public in and for said County, in the State
aforesaid, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that JOHN W. ROGERS, JR., personally known to me to
be the same person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument,
appeared before me this day in person, and acknowledged that he signed and
delivered said instrument as his free and voluntary act, for the uses and
purposes therein set forth.

         GIVEN under my hand and the notarial seal this 17th day of March, 2000.



                                        /s/ Mary L. Kwilos
                                        --------------------------
                                            Mary L. Kwilos
                                            Notary Public
<PAGE>

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

         That the undersigned, a Director of Unicom Corporation and Commonwealth
Edison Company, each an Illinois corporation, does hereby constitute and appoint
JOHN W. ROWE, RUTH ANN M. GILLIS and JOHN P. MCGARRITY, and each of them, his
true and lawful attorneys 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 as such Director, the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1999 for Unicom Corporation and Commonwealth Edison Company,
to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13
or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, hereby granting to such
attorneys and agents, and each of them, full power of substitution and
revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying and confirming all that such
attorneys and agents, or any of them, may do or cause to be done by virtue of
these presents.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of March,
2000.



                                        /s/ Richard L. Thomas
                                        --------------------------
                                            Richard L. Thomas

STATE OF ILLINOIS )
                  ) SS
COUNTY OF COOK    )

         I, Mary L. Kwilos, a Notary Public in and for said County, in the State
aforesaid, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that RICHARD L. THOMAS, personally known to me to
be the same person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument,
appeared before me this day in person, and acknowledged that he signed and
delivered said instrument as his free and voluntary act, for the uses and
purposes therein set forth.

         GIVEN under my hand and the notarial seal this 16th day of March, 2000.



                                        /s/ Mary L. Kwilos
                                        --------------------------
                                            Mary L. Kwilos
                                            Notary Public
<PAGE>

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

         That the undersigned, a Director of Unicom Corporation and Commonwealth
Edison Company, each an Illinois corporation, does hereby constitute and appoint
JOHN W. ROWE, JOHN C. BUKOVSKI and JOHN P. MCGARRITY, and each of them, her true
and lawful attorneys 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 as such Director, the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1999 for Unicom Corporation and Commonwealth Edison Company,
to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13
or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, hereby granting to such
attorneys and agents, and each of them, full power of substitution and
revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying and confirming all that such
attorneys and agents, or any of them, may do or cause to be done by virtue of
these presents.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of March,
2000.



                                        /s/ Sue L. Gin
                                        --------------------------
                                            Sue L. Gin

STATE OF ILLINOIS )
                  ) SS
COUNTY OF COOK    )

         I, Mary L. Kwilos, a Notary Public in and for said County, in the State
aforesaid, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that SUE L. GIN, personally known to me to be the
same person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument, appeared
before me this day in person, and acknowledged that she signed and delivered
said instrument as her free and voluntary act, for the uses and purposes therein
set forth.

         GIVEN under my hand and the notarial seal this 17th day of March, 2000.



                                        /s/ Mary L. Kwilos
                                        --------------------------
                                            Mary L. Kwilos
                                            Notary Public