<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This  schedule  contains  summary  financial   information  extracted  from  the
Registrant's  unaudited interim  financial  statements for the nine month period
ended  September 30, 2000 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to those
financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000924386
<NAME> RIDGEWOOD  ELECTRIC POWER TRUST I

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-2000
<CASH>                                       1,415,329
<SECURITIES>                                 6,906,986<F1>
<RECEIVABLES>                                        0
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             1,455,921
<PP&E>                                               0
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               8,362,907
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          146,054
<BONDS>                                              0
<COMMON>                                             0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                   8,216,853<F2>
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 8,362,907
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,817,550
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               136,459
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              1,681,091
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          1,681,091
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 1,681,091
<EPS-BASIC>                                     15,934
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   15,934

<FN>
<F1>Investments in power project partnerships.
<F2>Represents Investor Shares of beneficial interest
in Trust with capital accounts of $8,224,843 less
managing shareholder's accumulated deficit of $7,990.
</FN>