<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
related Form 10-Q financial statements for The Cleveland Electric
Illuminating Company and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
financial statements. (Amounts in 1,000's). Income tax expense includes
$4,087,000 related to other income.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000020947
<NAME> THE CLEVELAND ELECTRIC ILLUMINATING COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-2000
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    3,025,189
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    699,817
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         340,702
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     2,099,165
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               6,164,873
<COMMON>                                       931,962
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             55,574
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 987,536
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          116,246
<PREFERRED>                                    238,325
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         2,694,621
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             111,464
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  175,030
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       33,464
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                26,863
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,781,324
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                6,164,873
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      423,657
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            25,417
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     315,544
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     336,874
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         86,783
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               3,428
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  90,211
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        51,501
<NET-INCOME>                                    38,710
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      7,790
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   30,920
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        10,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      204,011
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          57,320
<EPS-BASIC>                                          0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0