<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 $6,606,000 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-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    3,122,045
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    675,349
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         523,982
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     2,225,598
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               6,546,974
<COMMON>                                       931,614
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             63,446
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 995,060
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          169,460
<PREFERRED>                                    238,325
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         3,046,213
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              30,310
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  212,030
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       14,714
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                38,355
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,802,507
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                6,546,974
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      880,252
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            54,281
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     654,426
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     702,101
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        178,151
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              13,450
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 191,601
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       117,129
<NET-INCOME>                                    74,472
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      8,506
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   65,966
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        25,469
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      238,628
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          86,754
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0