<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>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    6,631,339
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    434,380
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         664,924
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     2,344,154
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              10,074,797
<COMMON>                                     2,320,651
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          (377,115)
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,943,536
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          189,473
<PREFERRED>                                    448,325
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         3,444,352
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  156,860
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       16,379
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    106,860
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                84,371
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               3,684,641
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               10,074,797
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      611,608
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            27,366
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     471,851
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     499,217
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        112,391
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             (5,199)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 107,192
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        77,588
<NET-INCOME>                                    16,097
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                        0
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        59,210
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      278,849
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         137,012
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .11
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0