<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>  UT
<CIK>  0000018734
<NAME>  CENTRAL POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY
<SUBSIDIARY>
<NUMBER> 003
<NAME> CENTRAL POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                                                 <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                       9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                  DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                                       SEP-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                          PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                            3,276,097
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                              7,231
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                 180,208
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                                 9,132
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                       1,269,684
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                       4,742,352
<COMMON>                                                               168,888
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                              405,000
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                    818,692
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                       1,392,580
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                        0
<PREFERRED>                                                            163,204
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                 1,320,325
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                     127,781
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                    0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                               0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                          100,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                    0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                                  0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                             0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                       1,638,462
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                        4,742,352
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                            1,092,506
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                   104,541
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                             734,666
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                             839,207
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                253,299
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                       2,514
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                         255,813
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                93,474
<NET-INCOME>                                                           162,339
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                              4,929
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                          157,410
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                               172,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                               70,397
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                 342,432
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                             0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                             0.00
        



</TABLE>