<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
 
<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from 
the Consolidated Balance Sheet and Statement of Consolidated Capitalization as 
of September 30, 1996 and the related Statements of Consolidated Income, 
Retained Earnings and Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 1996
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. 
</LEGEND>
<CIK>      0000022606
<NAME>     Commonwealth Edison Company
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                   17,304,027
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  1,518,545
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,452,381
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                             0<F1>
<OTHER-ASSETS>                               2,959,784
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              23,234,737
<COMMON>                                     2,677,717
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    2,207,388
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          1,144,307
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               6,029,412
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          221,473
<PREFERRED>                                    507,373
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         6,021,252<F2>
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               7,550
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0<F2>
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 156,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  574,574
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       30,688
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    441,855
<LEASES-CURRENT>                               189,163
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               9,055,397<F3>
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               23,234,737
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    5,298,096
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           387,307<F4>
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   3,881,393
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   4,268,856
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                      1,029,240
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             (3,724)<F4><F5>
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>               1,025,672
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       397,186
<NET-INCOME>                                   628,486
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     48,871
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  579,615
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       257,045
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0<F6>
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                       1,570,488
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.71
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<FN>

<F1> This item is not disclosed as a separate line item on the Consolidated
     Balance Sheet.

<F2> $716,500 thousand of notes and long-term note payable to bank is included
     in LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET.

<F3> Includes $200,000 thousand of company-obligated mandatorily redeemable
     preferred securities of subsidiary trust.

<F4> A tax benefit of $156 thousand related to nonoperating activities is 
     included in INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE.

<F5> Includes $12,720 thousand of provision for preferred securities dividends
     of subsidiary trust.

<F6> This item is not disclosed as a separate line item on the Statement of 
     Consolidated Income.
</FN>
        


</TABLE>