<ARTICLE>                      5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from ESI 
Tractebel Acquisition Corp.'s balance sheet as of March 31, 1999 and 
statement of operations for the period ended March 31, 1999 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-01-1999
<PERIOD-TYPE>                  3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>              DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                   MAR-31-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                1
<CASH>                                  $0
<SECURITIES>                            $0
<RECEIVABLES>                       $4,396
<ALLOWANCES>                            $0
<INVENTORY>                             $0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                    $4,396
<PP&E>                                  $0
<DEPRECIATION>                          $0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                    $224,548
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>               $4,401
<BONDS>                           $220,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                   $0
<PREFERRED>                             $0
<COMMON>                                $0
<OTHER-SE>                             $10
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>      $224,548
<SALES>                                 $0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                    $4,396
<CGS>                                   $0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                           $0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                        $0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                        $0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                  $4,393
<INCOME-PRETAX>                         $3
<INCOME-TAX>                            $1
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                     $2
<DISCONTINUED>                          $0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                         $0
<CHANGES>                               $0
<NET-INCOME>                            $2
<EPS-PRIMARY>                           $0
<EPS-DILUTED>                           $0