<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>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    6,628,861
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  1,312,702
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         662,873
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     2,334,993
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              10,939,429
<COMMON>                                     2,320,651
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          (392,481)
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,928,170
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          174,094
<PREFERRED>                                    448,325
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         4,132,863
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             155,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  187,960
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       16,379
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    104,733
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                79,696
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               3,712,209
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               10,939,429
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,224,183
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            53,428
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     944,811
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     998,239
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        225,944
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                            (11,269)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 214,675
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       157,524
<NET-INCOME>                                    30,336
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                        0
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        88,816
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      332,343      
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         250,443
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                       .2
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0