<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE
SHEET, STATEMENT OF INCOME, STATEMENT OF RETAINED EARNINGS AND STATEMENT OF CASH
FLOWS CONTAINED IN FORM 10-K OF COMMONWEALTH ELECTRIC COMPANY FOR THE FISCAL
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      391,003
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                        418
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          67,144
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       120,884
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 348,196
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 927,645
<COMMON>                                        51,099
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      331,466
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             17,928
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 400,493
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           142,609
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              27,055
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    1,053
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 356,435
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  927,645
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      426,011
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             3,552
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     398,427
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     401,979
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         24,032
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               2,255
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  26,287
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        20,509
<NET-INCOME>                                     5,778
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    5,778
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        24,834
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       12,883
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          60,353
<EPS-BASIC>                                          0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0