<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