<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from ESI Tractebel Funding Corp.'s balance sheet as of March 31, 1998 and statements of income for the three months ended March 31, 1998 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. <CIK> 0000934665 <NAME> ESI Tractebel Funding Corp. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-START> JAN-1-1998 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> $1 <SECURITIES> $0 <RECEIVABLES> $21,563 <ALLOWANCES> $0 <INVENTORY> $0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> $33,009 <PP&E> $0 <DEPRECIATION> $0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> $501,733 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> $33,008 <BONDS> $468,724 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> $0 <PREFERRED> $0 <COMMON> $0 <OTHER-SE> $1 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> $501,733 <SALES> $0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> $0 <CGS> $0 <TOTAL-COSTS> $0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> $0 <LOSS-PROVISION> $0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> $11,445 <INCOME-PRETAX> $0 <INCOME-TAX> $0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> $0 <DISCONTINUED> $0 <EXTRAORDINARY> $0 <CHANGES> $0 <NET-INCOME> $0 <EPS-PRIMARY> $0 <EPS-DILUTED> $0