<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>                   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>                    4,716,792
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    235,434
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         415,069
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     1,402,460
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               6,769,755
<COMMON>                                     1,242,148
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       78,618
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          (286,065)
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,034,701
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          186,118
<PREFERRED>                                    238,325
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         2,441,297
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             114,399
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  115,160
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       14,714
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     64,968
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                49,266
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               2,510,807
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                6,769,755
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      431,627
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            19,203
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     332,419
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     351,622
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         80,005
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             (3,664)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  76,341
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        56,111
<NET-INCOME>                                    20,230
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      9,315
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   10,915
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        29,605
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      208,720
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         105,482
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0