<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> (Replace this text with the legend) </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000934665 <NAME> ESI Tractebel Funding Corp. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. Dollars <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1.000 <CASH> 1 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 21,563 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 21,564 <PP&E> 0 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 490,288 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 21,563 <BONDS> 468,724 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 1 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 490,288 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 0 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 47,303 <INCOME-PRETAX> 0 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 0 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0