<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>                   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>                    4,719,915
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    768,355
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         442,998
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     1,406,188
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               7,337,456
<COMMON>                                     1,242,148
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       78,618
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          (310,900)
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,009,866
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          172,404
<PREFERRED>                                    238,325
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         3,011,080
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             140,651
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  120,160
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       14,714
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     63,429
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                46,329
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               2,520,498
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                7,337,456
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      859,873
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            35,556
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     666,874
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     702,430
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        157,443
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             (8,885)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 148,558
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       114,358
<NET-INCOME>                                    34,200
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     18,411
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   15,789
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        59,210
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      251,507      
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         162,448
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0