<PAGE>

                                                                    Exhibit 24.1

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a Director of DQE,
Inc., which company proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission
an Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999,
pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
has made, constituted and appointed and by these presents does hereby make,
constitute and appoint Gary L. Schwass, Diane S. Eismont and Victor A. Roque,
and each of them severally, his true and lawful attorney, for him and in his
name, place and stead, and in his office and capacity as aforesaid, to sign and
file said Form 10-K and any amendments thereto, and any and all other documents
to be signed and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection
therewith, hereby granting to Gary L. Schwass, Diane S. Eismont and Victor A.
Roque, and each of them severally, full power and authority to do and perform
each and every act as fully, to all intents and purposes, as he might or could
do if personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming in all respects all
that Gary L. Schwass, Diane S. Eismont and Victor A. Roque, and each of them
severally, may or shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has set his hand and seal this 25th day
of February, 2000.

                                             /s/ Daniel Berg
                                             -----------------------------
                                             Daniel Berg, Director
<PAGE>

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a Director of DQE,
Inc., which company proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission
an Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999,
pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
has made, constituted and appointed and by these presents does hereby make,
constitute and appoint Gary L. Schwass, Diane S. Eismont and Victor A. Roque,
and each of them severally, her true and lawful attorney, for her and in her
name, place and stead, and in her office and capacity as aforesaid, to sign and
file said Form 10-K and any amendments thereto, and any and all other documents
to be signed and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection
therewith, hereby granting to Gary L. Schwass, Diane S. Eismont and Victor A.
Roque, and each of them severally, full power and authority to do and perform
each and every act as fully, to all intents and purposes, as she might or could
do if personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming in all respects all
that Gary L. Schwass, Diane S. Eismont and Victor A. Roque, and each of them
severally, may or shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has set his hand and seal this 25th day
of February, 2000.


                                             /s/ Doreen E. Boyce
                                             -------------------------
                                             Doreen E. Boyce, Director
<PAGE>

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a Director of DQE,
Inc., which company proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission
an Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999,
pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
has made, constituted and appointed and by these presents does hereby make,
constitute and appoint Gary L. Schwass, Diane S. Eismont and Victor A. Roque,
and each of them severally, his true and lawful attorney, for him and in his
name, place and stead, and in his office and capacity as aforesaid, to sign and
file said Form 10-K and any amendments thereto, and any and all other documents
to be signed and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection
therewith, hereby granting to Gary L. Schwass, Diane S. Eismont and Victor A.
Roque, and each of them severally, full power and authority to do and perform
each and every act as fully, to all intents and purposes, as he might or could
do if personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming in all respects all
that Gary L. Schwass, Diane S. Eismont and Victor A. Roque, and each of them
severally, may or shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has set his hand and seal this 26th day
of February, 2000.

                                             /s/ Robert P. Bozzone
                                             -------------------------
                                             Robert P. Bozzone, Director
<PAGE>

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a Director of DQE,
Inc., which company proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission
an Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999,
pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
has made, constituted and appointed and by these presents does hereby make,
constitute and appoint Gary L. Schwass, Diane S. Eismont and Victor A. Roque,
and each of them severally, his true and lawful attorney, for him and in his
name, place and stead, and in his office and capacity as aforesaid, to sign and
file said Form 10-K and any amendments thereto, and any and all other documents
to be signed and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection
therewith, hereby granting to Gary L. Schwass, Diane S. Eismont and Victor A.
Roque, and each of them severally, full power and authority to do and perform
each and every act as fully, to all intents and purposes, as he might or could
do if personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming in all respects all
that Gary L. Schwass, Diane S. Eismont and Victor A. Roque, and each of them
severally, may or shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has set his hand and seal this 28th day
of February, 2000.

                                             /s/ Sigo Falk
                                             ------------------------
                                             Sigo Falk, Director
<PAGE>

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a Director of DQE,
Inc., which company proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission
an Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999,
pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
has made, constituted and appointed and by these presents does hereby make,
constitute and appoint Gary L. Schwass, Diane S. Eismont and Victor A. Roque,
and each of them severally, his true and lawful attorney, for him and in his
name, place and stead, and in his office and capacity as aforesaid, to sign and
file said Form 10-K and any amendments thereto, and any and all other documents
to be signed and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection
therewith, hereby granting to Gary L. Schwass, Diane S. Eismont and Victor A.
Roque, and each of them severally, full power and authority to do and perform
each and every act as fully, to all intents and purposes, as he might or could
do if personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming in all respects all
that Gary L. Schwass, Diane S. Eismont and Victor A. Roque, and each of them
severally, may or shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has set his hand and seal this 6th day
of February, 2000.

                                             /s/ William H. Knoell
                                             -------------------------
                                             William H. Knoell, Director
<PAGE>

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a Director of DQE,
Inc., which company proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission
an Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999,
pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
has made, constituted and appointed and by these presents does hereby make,
constitute and appoint Gary L. Schwass, Diane S. Eismont and Victor A. Roque,
and each of them severally, his true and lawful attorney, for him and in his
name, place and stead, and in his office and capacity as aforesaid, to sign and
file said Form 10-K and any amendments thereto, and any and all other documents
to be signed and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection
therewith, hereby granting to Gary L. Schwass, Diane S. Eismont and Victor A.
Roque, and each of them severally, full power and authority to do and perform
each and every act as fully, to all intents and purposes, as he might or could
do if personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming in all respects all
that Gary L. Schwass, Diane S. Eismont and Victor A. Roque, and each of them
severally, may or shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has set his hand and seal this 26th day
of February, 2000.

                                             /s/ Thomas J. Murrin
                                             -------------------------
                                             Thomas J. Murrin, Director
<PAGE>

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a Director of DQE,
Inc., which company proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission
an Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999,
pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
has made, constituted and appointed and by these presents does hereby make,
constitute and appoint Gary L. Schwass, Diane S. Eismont and Victor A. Roque,
and each of them severally, his true and lawful attorney, for him and in his
name, place and stead, and in his office and capacity as aforesaid, to sign and
file said Form 10-K and any amendments thereto, and any and all other documents
to be signed and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection
therewith, hereby granting to Gary L. Schwass, Diane S. Eismont and Victor A.
Roque, and each of them severally, full power and authority to do and perform
each and every act as fully, to all intents and purposes, as he might or could
do if personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming in all respects all
that Gary L. Schwass, Diane S. Eismont and Victor A. Roque, and each of them
severally, may or shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has set his hand and seal this 29th day
of February, 2000.

                                             /s/ Steven S. Rogers
                                             -------------------------
                                             Steven S. Rogers, Director