-----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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 GHsgSqm9OAYnmZsK7Hfpiw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000018808-04-000073.txt : 20040517
<SEC-HEADER>0000018808-04-000073.hdr.sgml : 20040517
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040517120823
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000018808-04-000073
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040514
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040517

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COBB TIMOTHY S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001117342
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08222
		FILM NUMBER:		04810658

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

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		77 GROVE STREET
		STREET 2:		77 GROVE STREET
		CITY:			RUTLAND
		STATE:			VT
		ZIP:			05701

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001117342d20040517f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-05-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001117342</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>COBB TIMOTHY S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>215 NORTH HARBOUR DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SENECA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>SC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>29672</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock - $6 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1548</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>19.25</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-05-17</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>23</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>19.25</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1988-08-08</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-08-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock - $6 Par Value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>23</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>23</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Pursuant to election under the Company's Deferred Compensation Plan for Officers and Directors, Phantom Stock earned as a result of reinvested dividends.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Mary C. Marzec/By POA for Timothy S. Cobb</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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