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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 IOpKBXCrI4a+EiEjg6WYEw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000018808-04-000009.txt : 20040114
<SEC-HEADER>0000018808-04-000009.hdr.sgml : 20040114
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040114170558
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000018808-04-000009
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040112
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040114

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:			DEEHAN WILLIAM J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001023068

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08222
		FILM NUMBER:		04525502

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CENTRAL VERMONT PUBLIC SERVICE CORP
		STREET 2:		77 GROVE ST
		CITY:			RUTLAND
		STATE:			VT
		ZIP:			05701
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8027475205

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CENTRAL VERMONT PUBLIC SERVICE CORP
		STREET 2:		77 GROVE ST
		CITY:			RUTLAND
		STATE:			VT
		ZIP:			05701
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001023068d20040114f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-12</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000018808</issuerCik><issuerName>CENTRAL VERMONT PUBLIC SERVICE CORP</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>CV</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001023068</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>DEEHAN WILLIAM J</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>77 GROVE STREET</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>RUTLAND</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>VT</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>05701-</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>VP Trans/Gen Plng &amp; Reg Affair</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationsh
ip></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock - $6 Par Value</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2686</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>23.9</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-12</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2004-01-12</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3711</value></transactionShares><transact
ionPricePerShare><value>23.9</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock - $6 Par Value</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3711</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3711</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Deferred pursuant to election under the Company's Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors and Officers for the year 2004.</footno
te></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Mary C. Marzec/By POA for William J. Deehan</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-14</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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