<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK>0000018734
<NAME> CENTRAL POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 3,256,926
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 58,377
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 346,465
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 26,981
<OTHER-ASSETS> 1,272,317
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,961,066
<COMMON> 168,888
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 405,000
<RETAINED-EARNINGS> 807,378
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 1,381,266
0
5,967
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 1,603,056
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 198,322
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 0
0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0
<LEASES-CURRENT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 1,772,455
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 4,961,066
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 1,355,608
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 91,242
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 1,009,346
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 1,100,588
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 255,020
<OTHER-INCOME-NET> 3,180
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 258,200
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 92,534
<NET-INCOME> 165,666
181
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 165,485
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 117,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 55,003
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 328,353
<EPS-BASIC> 0.00<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED> 0.00<F1>
<FN>
<F1> ALL COMMON STOCK OWNED BY PARENT COMPANY; NO EPS REQUIRED
</FN>
</TABLE>