<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
$7,560,000 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-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    3,018,084
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    688,161
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         426,742
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     2,134,781
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               6,267,768
<COMMON>                                       931,962
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             59,688
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 991,650
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          135,996
<PREFERRED>                                    238,325
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         2,869,859
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              55,890
<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>                                31,867
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,766,187
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                6,267,768
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      900,794
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            56,878
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     663,322
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     712,640
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        188,154
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               5,217
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 193,371
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       105,836
<NET-INCOME>                                    87,535
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     17,082
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   70,453
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        82,974
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      216,278
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         108,208
<EPS-BASIC>                                          0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0