<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the related
Form 10-K financial statements for The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
Income tax expense includes $11,932,000 related to other income.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000020947
<NAME> THE CLEVELAND ELECTRIC ILLUMINATING COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    3,074,043
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    689,270
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         388,268
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     2,166,602
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               6,318,183
<COMMON>                                       931,962
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             76,276
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,008,238
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          149,710
<PREFERRED>                                    238,325
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         2,888,202
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              80,618
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  144,530
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       33,464
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                30,056
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,745,040
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                6,318,183
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,782,376
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           110,612
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,314,794
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,413,474
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        368,902
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              25,393
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 394,295
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       229,404
<NET-INCOME>                                   164,891
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     24,794
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  140,097
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        85,958
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      216,550
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         349,056
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0