<ARTICLE>                      5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from ESI 
Tractebel Acquisition Corp.'s balance sheet as of December 31, 1998 and 
statement of operations for the period January 12, 1998 (Date of Formation)
to December 31, 1998 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such 
financial statements.

<CIK>                          0001059027
<NAME>                         ESI Tractebel Acquisition Corp.
<MULTIPLIER>                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                     U.S. DOLLARS
<PERIOD-START>                 JAN-12-1998
<PERIOD-TYPE>                  OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>              JAN-12-1998
<PERIOD-END>                   DEC-31-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                1
<CASH>                                  $0
<SECURITIES>                            $0
<RECEIVABLES>                           $0
<ALLOWANCES>                            $0
<INVENTORY>                             $0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                        $0
<PP&E>                                  $0
<DEPRECIATION>                          $0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                    $220,152
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                   $4
<BONDS>                           $220,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                   $0
<PREFERRED>                             $0
<COMMON>                                $0
<OTHER-SE>                              $8
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>      $220,152
<SALES>                                 $0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                   $15,182
<CGS>                                   $0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                           $0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                        $0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                        $0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                 $15,170
<INCOME-PRETAX>                        $12
<INCOME-TAX>                            $4
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                     $8
<DISCONTINUED>                          $0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                         $0
<CHANGES>                               $0
<NET-INCOME>                            $8
<EPS-PRIMARY>                           $0
<EPS-DILUTED>                           $0