<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>  UT
<CIK>  0000018540
<NAME>  CENTRAL AND SOUTH WEST CORPORTION
<SUBSIDIARY>
<NUMBER> 001
<NAME> CENTRAL AND SOUTH WEST CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000
       
<S>                               <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                     9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                  DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                                       SEP-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                          PER-BOOK
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<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                           2,957
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                          14,105
<COMMON>                                                                   744
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                                1,046
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                      1,889
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                           3,679
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                        0
<PREFERRED>                                                                176
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                     3,993
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                           0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                   40
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<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                              142
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                    0
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<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                             2
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<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                           14,105
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<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                       218
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                               3,243
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                               3,461
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                    721
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                          35
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                             756
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                   357
<NET-INCOME>                                                               399
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                  6
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                              399
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                   277
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                                  141
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                     624
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                             1.88
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                             1.88
        

</TABLE>