<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.
INCOME TAX EXPENSE INCLUDES $4,072,000 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-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    3,146,872
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    669,684
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         378,492
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     2,253,698
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               6,448,746
<COMMON>                                       931,614
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             58,915
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 990,529
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          183,174
<PREFERRED>                                    238,325
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         3,196,328
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              75,600
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   66,830
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       14,714
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                40,697
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,642,549
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                6,448,746
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      415,027
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            28,494
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     299,909
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     324,331
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         90,696
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               7,593
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  98,289
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        58,664
<NET-INCOME>                                    39,625
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,068
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   38,557
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      238,782
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          45,960
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0