<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
$7,033,000 related to other income.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000020947
<NAME> THE CLEVELAND ELECTRIC ILLUMINATING COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-2000
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    2,706,363
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    702,995
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         335,792
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     2,393,456
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               6,138,606
<COMMON>                                       931,962
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             68,213
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,000,175
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          104,356
<PREFERRED>                                    238,325
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         2,669,003
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              13,812
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<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     720,567
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        173,725
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               6,285
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 180,010
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<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   63,559
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        30,000
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<EPS-BASIC>                                          0
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