<ARTICLE>  UT
<CIK>  0000018540
<NAME>  CENTRAL AND SOUTH WEST CORPORTION
<SUBSIDIARY>
<NUMBER> 001
<NAME> CENTRAL AND SOUTH WEST CORPORATION
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<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                  DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                                       SEP-30-1998
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<EPS-DILUTED>                                                             1.88