<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE RELATED
FORM 10-Q FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR CENTERIOR ENERGY CORPORATION AND IS QUALIFIED
IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000774197
<NAME> CENTERIOR ENERGY CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> US DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1995
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    6,852,923
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    417,884
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         854,204
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     2,441,719
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              10,566,730
<COMMON>                                     2,319,688
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          (365,256)
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,954,432
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          220,440
<PREFERRED>                                    450,871
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         3,791,754
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  181,486
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       41,179
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    156,917
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                91,642
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               3,678,009
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               10,566,730
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,934,105
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           114,769
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,348,247
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,463,016
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        471,089
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              35,398
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 506,487
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       269,294
<NET-INCOME>                                   191,080
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                        0
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       118,425
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      305,163
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         470,865
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.29
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0