<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 $6,389,000 related to other income.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000020947
<NAME> THE CLEVELAND ELECTRIC ILLUMINATING COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    3,093,111
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    675,649
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         444,957
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     2,213,129
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               6,426,846
<COMMON>                                       931,312
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            101,251
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,032,563
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          168,460
<PREFERRED>                                    238,325
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         2,956,689
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              60,838
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  132,530
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       14,714
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                34,232
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,788,495
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                6,426,846
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,392,868
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           102,141
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     995,801
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,091,553
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        301,315
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              21,616
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 322,931
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       173,442
<NET-INCOME>                                   149,489
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     17,053
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  132,436
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        54,122
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      224,406
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         210,130
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0