<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from ESI Tractebel Acquisition Corp.'s balance sheet as of September 30, 1999 and statement of operations for the period ended September 30, 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> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1999 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> $0 <SECURITIES> $0 <RECEIVABLES> $4,394 <ALLOWANCES> $0 <INVENTORY> $0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> $4,394 <PP&E> $0 <DEPRECIATION> $0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> $224,546 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> $4,402 <BONDS> $220,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> $0 <PREFERRED> $0 <COMMON> $0 <OTHER-SE> $15 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> $224,546 <SALES> $0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> $13,184 <CGS> $0 <TOTAL-COSTS> $0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> $0 <LOSS-PROVISION> $0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> $13,173 <INCOME-PRETAX> $11 <INCOME-TAX> $4 <INCOME-CONTINUING> $7 <DISCONTINUED> $0 <EXTRAORDINARY> $0 <CHANGES> $0 <NET-INCOME> $7 <EPS-BASIC> $0 <EPS-DILUTED> $0