<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS FOUND ON PAGES 3 AND 4 OF THE PARTNERSHIP'S FORM 10-Q FOR THE YEAR-TO-DATE, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000899281 <NAME> SITHE/INDEPENDENCE FUNDING CORP. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1996 <CASH> 186 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 49,178 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 5,997 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 102,606 <PP&E> 758,530 <DEPRECIATION> 23,623 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 849,904 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 51,610 <BONDS> 698,403 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 92,559 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 849,904 <SALES> 113,410 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 113,410 <CGS> 68,255 <TOTAL-COSTS> 68,255 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 15,802 <INCOME-PRETAX> 29,817 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 29,817 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 29,817 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0