<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