-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 HVcdkBWePbvegFvFENvvBw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000018808-03-000096.txt : 20030516
<SEC-HEADER>0000018808-03-000096.hdr.sgml : 20030516
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030516162654
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000018808-03-000096
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030515
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030516

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CENTRAL VERMONT PUBLIC SERVICE CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000018808
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911]
		IRS NUMBER:				030111290
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			VT
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		77 GROVE ST
		CITY:			RUTLAND
		STATE:			VT
		ZIP:			05701
		BUSINESS PHONE:		802-773-2711

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		77 GROVE STREET
		CITY:			RUTLAND
		STATE:			VT
		ZIP:			05701

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HOLTMAN JOHN J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001120296
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			VT
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08222
		FILM NUMBER:		03708811

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		77 GROVE STREET
		CITY:			RUTLAND
		STATE:			VT
		ZIP:			05701-3400
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8027475205

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		77 GROVE STREET
		CITY:			RUTLAND
		STATE:			VT
		ZIP:			05701-3400
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-05-15</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000018808</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CENTRAL VERMONT PUBLIC SERVICE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>cv</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001120296</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HOLTMAN JOHN J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Exiting Executive Officer</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock - $6 Par Value</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-15</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <deemedExecutionDate>
            <value>2003-05-15</value>
        </deemedExecutionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>1950</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>18.2</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>144</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock - $6 Par Value</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-16</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <deemedExecutionDate>
            <value>2003-05-16</value>
        </deemedExecutionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>1950</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>16.105</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>2094</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Stock Option - Right to Buy</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>16.105</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-16</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <deemedExecutionDate>
            <value>2003-05-16</value>
        </deemedExecutionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>1950</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>16.105</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2001-05-01</value>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2011-05-01</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock - $6 Par Value</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>1950</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>0</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Mary C. Marzec, Attorney in Fact for John J. Holtman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-05-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----