<ARTICLE>  UT
<CIK> 0000018734
<NAME>  CENTRAL POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY
<SUBSIDIARY>
<NUMBER> 003
<NAME> CENTRAL POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                                     
<PERIOD-TYPE>                           12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                     DEC-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                        PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                          3,247,969
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                            2,552
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<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     4,847,850
<COMMON>                                             168,888
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            405,000
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                  764,225
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                     1,338,113
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                      0
<PREFERRED>                                            5,967
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                               1,454,541
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   322,158
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                  0
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<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                      4,847,850
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                          1,482,475
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                 103,895
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                         1,083,908
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                         1,187,803
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                              294,672
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                     8,113
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                       302,785
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<NET-INCOME>                                         182,888
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                            6,931
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                        173,194
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             148,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                             87,413
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                               303,184
<EPS-BASIC>                                                0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                              0