<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 1000's.) Income tax expense includes
$3,279,000 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-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    3,052,498
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    667,745
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         410,680
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     2,153,024
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               6,283,947
<COMMON>                                       931,962
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             91,882
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,023,844
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          149,710
<PREFERRED>                                    238,325
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         2,880,207
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              68,773
<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>                                30,133
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,714,961
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                6,283,947
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      418,839
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            23,434
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     317,163
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     337,318
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         81,521
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               6,457
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  87,978
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        53,058
<NET-INCOME>                                    34,920
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      8,541
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   26,379
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         7,163
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      215,631
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          34,209
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0