<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                                                         UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule  contains  summary  financial  information  extracted from CMP
Group, Inc. Consolidated  Statement of Earnings,  Consolidated Balance
Sheet and Consolidated  Statement of Cash Flows and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                         1
<CURRENCY>                                           U.S. Dollars

<S>                                                  <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                        12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                    DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                       JAN-1-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                         SEP-30-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                           2
<BOOK-VALUE>                                         Per-Book
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                          $821,703
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                         $55,257
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                             $379,161
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                           $860,190
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                      $29,869
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                   $2,146,180
<COMMON>                                                           $161,185
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                          $286,056
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                 $95,552
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                     $542,793
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                $9,910
<PREFERRED>                                                         $35,528
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                $91,950
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                       $0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                $0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                           $0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                       $69,450
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                           $18,000
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                         $31,472
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                     $1,696
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                   $1,345,381
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                    $2,146,180
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                          $750,991
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                $37,711
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                         $639,365
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                         $639,365
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                            $111,626
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                  $17,747
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                      $91,662
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                            $42,905
<NET-INCOME>                                                        $48,757
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                          $2,756
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                       $46,001
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                            $21,899
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                            $3,079
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                             $115,505
<EPS-BASIC>                                                          1.42
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                          1.41



</TABLE>