<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-03-24</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001023075</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>YOUNG ROBERT 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>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock - $6 Par Value</value>
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            <deemedExecutionDate>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2010-03-24</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
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                    <value>300</value>
                </transactionShares>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <value>Common Stock - $6 Par Value</value>
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                    <value>D</value>
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    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Mary C. Marzec/By POA for Robert H. Young</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-03-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
