<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>                           MAR-31-1999
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<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            0
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<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                     1,375,798
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                         192,638
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<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                        11,105
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                 224,553
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<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                     46,620
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             948
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<NET-INCOME>                                17,548
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<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>               15,736
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