<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK>0000018734
<NAME> CENTRAL POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 3,246,175
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 42,765
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 201,913
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 26,985
<OTHER-ASSETS> 1,275,001
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,792,839
<COMMON> 168,888
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 405,000
<RETAINED-EARNINGS> 756,465
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 1,330,353
0
5,967
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 1,254,554
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 253,779
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 350,000
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 0
0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0
<LEASES-CURRENT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 1,598,186
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 4,792,839
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 754,239
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 42,441
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 577,431
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 619,872
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 134,367
<OTHER-INCOME-NET> 2,362
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 136,729
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 61,037
<NET-INCOME> 75,692
121
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 75,571
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 78,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 37,354
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 184,887
<EPS-BASIC> 0.00<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED> 0.00<F1>
<FN>
<F1> ALL COMMON STOCK OWNED BY PARENT COMPANY; NO EPS REQUIRED
</FN>
</TABLE>
