<ARTICLE>                      5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from ESI
Tractebel Funding Corp.'s balance sheet as of December 31, 1998 and statement
of operations for the year ended December 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>                  12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>              DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                   DEC-31-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                1
<CASH>                               $1
<SECURITIES>                         $0
<RECEIVABLES>                   $23,511
<ALLOWANCES>                         $0
<INVENTORY>                          $0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                $23,512
<PP&E>                               $0
<DEPRECIATION>                       $0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                 $468,725
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>           $23,511
<BONDS>                        $445,213
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                $0
<PREFERRED>                          $0
<COMMON>                             $1
<OTHER-SE>                           $0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>   $468,725
<SALES>                              $0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                $45,327
<CGS>                                $0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                        $0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                     $0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                     $0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>              $45,327
<INCOME-PRETAX>                      $0
<INCOME-TAX>                         $0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                  $0
<DISCONTINUED>                       $0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                      $0
<CHANGES>                            $0
<NET-INCOME>                         $0
<EPS-PRIMARY>                        $0
<EPS-DILUTED>                        $0