1
                                                               EXHIBIT 23b (CEI)





                               CONSENT OF COUNSEL
                               ------------------
                                       FOR
                                       ---
                   THE CLEVELAND ELECTRIC ILLUMINATING COMPANY
                   -------------------------------------------




The statements as to matters of law and legal conclusions under the headings
"General Regulation", "Environmental Regulation" and "Electric Rates" in Item 1.
and "Title to Property" in Item 2. and "Legal Proceedings" in Item 3. of the The
Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 1996 have been prepared under my supervision and in my
opinion such respective statements as to such matters are correct.

I hereby consent to the use of my name in connection with the statements
prepared under my supervision as stated in the preceding paragraph and to the
incorporation by reference of those statements into the Prospectus now and
hereafter constituting a part of the Registration Statement previously filed by
The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company under File No. 33-55513 and to the
reference to me under the heading "Experts" in such Prospectus.




                                            TERRENCE G. LINNERT
                                            -----------------------------
                                            Terrence G. Linnert
                                            Senior Vice President,
                                            Chief Financial Officer
                                            and General Counsel








March 26, 1997