<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE RELATED
FORM 10-Q FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE CLEVELAND ELECTRIC ILLUMINATING COMPANY
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000020947
<NAME> THE CLEVELAND ELECTRIC ILLUMINATING COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. 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>                    4,867,983
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    243,633
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         528,204
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     1,446,331
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               7,086,151
<COMMON>                                     1,241,249
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       78,624
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          (166,232)
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,153,641
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          215,420
<PREFERRED>                                    240,871
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         2,709,897
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  124,060
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       39,514
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     96,547
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                52,354
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               2,453,847
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                7,086,151
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,360,578
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            81,592
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     957,688
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,039,280
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        321,298
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              25,110
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 346,408
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       185,218
<NET-INCOME>                                   161,190
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     32,127
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  129,063
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        44,606
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      233,385
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         312,426
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0