<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE RELATED FORM
10-Q FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR CENTERIOR ENERGY CORPORATION AND IS QUALIFIED IN
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000774197
<NAME> CENTERIOR ENERGY CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> US DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    6,709,912
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    430,513
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         748,297
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     2,416,146
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              10,304,868
<COMMON>                                     2,320,625
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          (355,823)
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,964,802
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          189,267
<PREFERRED>                                    448,325
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         3,612,166
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  180,044
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       31,379
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    142,464
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                84,239
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               3,652,182
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               10,304,868
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,941,340
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            93,739
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,449,635
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,543,374
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        397,966
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             (4,780)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 393,186
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       252,082
<NET-INCOME>                                    99,012
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                        0
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       118,422
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      293,659
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         582,706
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .67
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0