<PAGE>
                                EATON CORPORATION
                        2006 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K/A
                                   ITEM 15(b)
                                   EXHIBIT 24
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:That each person whose name is signed
below has made, constituted and appointed, and by this instrument does make,
constitute and appoint, Richard H. Fearon, Billie K. Rawot or William J. Nowak
his or her true and lawful attorney, for him or her and in his or her name,
place and stead to subscribe, as attorney-in-fact, his or her signature as
Director or Officer or both, as the case may be, of Eaton Corporation, an Ohio
corporation, to its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2006 pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and to any and all
amendments to that Annual Report, hereby giving and granting unto each such
attorney-in-fact full power and authority to do and perform every act and thing
whatsoever necessary to be done in the premises, as fully as he or she might or
could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each
such attorney-in-fact shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         This Power of Attorney shall not apply to any Annual Report on Form
10-K or amendment thereto filed after December 31, 2007.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Power of Attorney has been signed at
Cleveland, Ohio this 24th day of January, 2007.


<TABLE>
<S>                                <C>            <C>                                  <C>
/s/ Alexander M. Cutler                             /s/ Richard H. Fearon
--------------------------------                    ----------------------------
Alexander M. Cutler, Chairman                       Richard H. Fearon,
and Chief Executive Officer;                        Executive Vice President--Chief
President; Principal Executive                      Financial and Planning Officer;
Officer; Director                                   Principal Financial Officer

/s/ Billie K. Rawot
-------------------------------
Billie K. Rawot,
Vice President and Controller;
Principal Accounting Officer


/s/ Christopher M. Connor                           /s/ Michael J. Critelli
--------------------------------                    ----------------------------
Christopher M. Connor               Director        Michael J. Critelli                  Director


/s/ Charles E. Golden                               /s/ Ernie Green
--------------------------------                    ----------------------------
Charles E. Golden                   Director        Ernie Green                          Director


/s/ Ned C. Lautenbach                               /s/ Deborah L. McCoy
--------------------------------                    ----------------------------
Ned C. Lautenbach                   Director        Deborah L. McCoy                      Director


/s/ John R. Miller                                  /s/ Gregory R. Page
--------------------------------                    ----------------------------
John R. Miller                      Director        Gregory R. Page                       Director


/s/ Victor A. Pelson                                /s/ Gary L. Tooker
--------------------------------                    ----------------------------
Victor A. Pelson                    Director        Gary L. Tooker                        Director


</TABLE>


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