<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 24.2

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     Each of the undersigned Directors of PG&E Gas Transmission, Northwest
Corporation (formerly Pacific Gas Transmission Company) hereby constitutes and
appoints LINDA Y.H. CHENG and FRANK R. LINDH, and each of them, as his or her
attorneys in fact with full power of substitution to sign and file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission in his or her capacity as such Director of
said corporation the Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31,
1997, required by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
and any and all amendments and other filings or documents related thereto, and
hereby ratifies all that said attorneys in fact or any of them may do or cause
to be done by virtue hereof.

     This document may be signed in counterparts.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have signed these presents this 20th day of March,
1998.

                                                    /s/ Joseph P. Kearney
                                              ----------------------------------
                                                        Joseph P. Kearney


                                                       /s/ M.E. Rescoe
                                              ----------------------------------
                                                           M.E. Rescoe


                                                  /s/ Bruce R. Worthington
                                              ----------------------------------
                                                      Bruce R. Worthington



Power of Attorney

                                       1
<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 24.2


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     JOSEPH P. KEARNEY, the undersigned, Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer of PG&E Gas Transmission, Northwest Corporation, hereby
constitutes and appoints LINDA Y.H. CHENG and FRANK R. LINDH, and each of them,
as his attorneys in fact with full power of substitution to sign and file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission in his capacity as Chairman of the Board
and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) of said corporation
the Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December  31, 1997, required by
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and any and all
amendments and other filings or documents related thereto, and hereby ratifies
all that said attorneys in fact or any of them may do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have signed these presents this 20th day of
March, 1998.

                                                        /s/ Joseph P. Kearney
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                            Joseph P. Kearney


Power of Attorney

                                       2
<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 24.2

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     STANLEY C. KARCZEWSKI, the undersigned, Vice President, Finance, and
Controller and Chief Financial Officer of PG&E Gas Transmission, Northwest
Corporation, hereby constitutes and appoints LINDA Y.H. CHENG and FRANK R.
LINDH, and each of them, as his attorneys in fact with full power of
substitution to sign and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission in his
capacity as Vice President, Finance, and Controller and Chief Financial Officer
(principal financial officer) of said corporation the Form 10-K Annual Report
for the year ended December 31, 1997, required by Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any and all amendments and other filings or
documents related thereto, and hereby ratifies all that said attorneys in fact
or any of them may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have signed these presents this 20th day of
March, 1998.

                                                    /s/ Stanley C. Karczewski
                                                --------------------------------
                                                        Stanley C. Karczewski



Power of Attorney

                                       3