EXHIBIT 24(a)

DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION

Power of Attorney

FORM 10-K

Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002

(Annual Report)

The undersigned Duke Energy Corporation, a North Carolina corporation and certain of its officers and/or directors, do each hereby constitute and appoint Robert P. Brace, Keith G. Butler, Lin S. Altamura and Robert T. Lucas III, and each of them, to act as attorneys-in-fact for and in the respective names, places, and stead of the undersigned, to execute, seal, sign, and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission the Annual Report of said Duke Energy Corporation on Form 10-K and any and all amendments thereto, hereby granting to said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary, or proper to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned, or any of them, might or could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and approving the acts of said attorneys-in-fact.

Executed as of the 25^th day of February, 2003.

DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION
By	/s/    R. B. PRIORY
	Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

(Corporate Seal)

ATTEST:

/s/    ROBERT T. LUCAS III

            Assistant Secretary

/s/    R. B. PRIORY         R. B. Priory	Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer and Director)
/s/    ROBERT P. BRACE         Robert P. Brace	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
/s/    KEITH G. BUTLER         Keith G. Butler	Senior Vice President and Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)
G. Alex Bernhardt	(Director)
/s/    ROBERT J. BROWN         Robert J. Brown	(Director)
William A. Coley	(Director)
/s/    WILLIAM T. ESREY         William T. Esrey	(Director)
/s/    ANN M. GRAY         Ann M. Gray	(Director)
/s/    GEORGE DEAN JOHNSON, JR.         George Dean Johnson, Jr.	(Director)
/s/    MAX LENNON         Max Lennon	(Director)

/s/    LEO E. LINBECK, JR.         Leo E. Linbeck, Jr.	(Director)
/s/    JAMES G. MARTIN         James G. Martin	(Director)
/s/    MICHAEL E. J. PHELPS         Michael E. J. Phelps	(Director)
/s/    JAMES T. Rhodes         James T. Rhodes	(Director)