-----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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 lOnK/BYcU/JjRhEFGQuBpw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000018808-04-000094.txt : 20041006
<SEC-HEADER>0000018808-04-000094.hdr.sgml : 20041006
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041006124049
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000018808-04-000094
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041005
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041006
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041006

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TATE HERBERT H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001141159

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08222
		FILM NUMBER:		041067712

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		77 GROVE STREER
		CITY:			RUTLAND
		STATE:			VT
		ZIP:			05701
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8027475426

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		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>c0001141159d20041006f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-10-05</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001141159</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TATE HERBERT H</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>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText>Exiting Director</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock - $6 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-10-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-10-05</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.245</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4747</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock - $6 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-10-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-10-05</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.57</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2247</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option -   Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>20.245</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-10-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-10-05</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.245</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-05-05</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-05-05</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock - $6 Par Value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Mary C. Marzec/By POA for Herbert H. Tate</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-10-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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