-----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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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000018808-04-000053.txt : 20040506
<SEC-HEADER>0000018808-04-000053.hdr.sgml : 20040506
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040506143515
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000018808-04-000053
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040504
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040506

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:		04784613

	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>c0001023068d20040506f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-05-04</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 - Power Plng &amp; Reg Affairs</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock - $6 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2704</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option -   Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>20.15</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-05-04</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9350</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.15</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-05-04</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-05-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock - $6 Par Value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>9350</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9350</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Balance includes 18 shares acquired through reinvestment of dividends in Dividend Reinvestment Plan on February 13, 2004 at a price of $23.115 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Stock option granted under the 1997 Stock Option Plan for Key Employees.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Mary C. Marzec/By POA for William J. Deehan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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