<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> 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>                    4,768,934
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    250,421
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         442,525
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     1,413,450
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               6,875,330
<COMMON>                                     1,242,124
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       78,617
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          (218,613)
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,102,128
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          185,912
<PREFERRED>                                    238,325
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         2,599,076
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               6,281
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  111,160
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       29,714
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     85,465
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                49,468
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               2,467,801
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                6,875,330
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,368,042
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            66,804
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,018,826
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,085,630
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        282,412
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               (677)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 281,735
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       181,015
<NET-INCOME>                                   100,720
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     29,408
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   71,312
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       105,816
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      222,442      
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         405,896
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0