<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the related
Form 10-Q financial statements for The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000020947
<NAME> THE CLEVELAND ELECTRIC ILLUMINATING COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1995
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    4,906,904
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    268,924
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         492,941
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     1,386,999
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               7,055,768
<COMMON>                                     1,241,087
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       78,624
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          (228,045)
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,091,666
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          231,124
<PREFERRED>                                    240,871
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         2,542,310
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              33,300
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  246,194
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       39,514
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    123,134
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                55,080
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               2,452,575
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                7,055,768
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      410,383
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            15,075
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     310,007
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     325,082
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         85,301
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               8,533
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  93,834
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        60,206
<NET-INCOME>                                    33,628
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     10,957
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   22,671
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      230,123
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          41,246
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0