<ARTICLE>                      5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from ESI 
Tractebel Funding Corp.'s balance sheet as of September 30, 1998 and 
statement of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 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>                  9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                   SEP-30-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                1
<CASH>                               $1
<SECURITIES>                         $0
<RECEIVABLES>                   $33,755
<ALLOWANCES>                         $0
<INVENTORY>                          $0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                $33,756
<PP&E>                               $0
<DEPRECIATION>                       $0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                 $490,724
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>           $33,755
<BONDS>                        $456,968
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                $0
<PREFERRED>                          $0
<COMMON>                             $1
<OTHER-SE>                           $0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>   $490,724
<SALES>                         $34,109
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                $34,109
<CGS>                                $0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                        $0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                     $0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                     $0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>              $34,109
<INCOME-PRETAX>                      $0
<INCOME-TAX>                         $0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                  $0
<DISCONTINUED>                       $0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                      $0
<CHANGES>                            $0
<NET-INCOME>                         $0
<EPS-PRIMARY>                        $0
<EPS-DILUTED>                        $0