EXHIBIT 23(a)






               CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS




We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the
Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 33-22068), the
Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 33-60278), the
Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 33-66124),  the
Prospectus constituting part of the Registration Statement on
Form S-3 (No. 33-25699), the Prospectus constituting part of the
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 33-17847), and the
Prospectus constituting part of the Registration Statement on
Form S-3 (No. 33-03011)of our report dated February 7, 1997,
appearing on page A-10 of the Annual Report to Shareholders in
the appendix to the Illinova Corporation Proxy Statement which is
incorporated in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.







PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP

March 25, 1997




[TYPE]                                        EX-27
[DESCRIPTION]                                 FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE UT 
                                              FOR 1996 10K
[TEXT]
[ARTICLE]                                     UT
[LEGEND]       THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
               EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE SHEET, INCOME STATEMENT,
               AND CASH FLOW STATEMENT OF ILLINOIS POWER COMPANY
               AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO 
               THE BALANCE SHEET, INCOME STATEMENT AND CASH FLOW
               STATEMENT OF ILLINOIS POWER COMPANY.
[RESTATED]                                    0
[SUBSIDIARY]                                  0
[NUMBER]                                      0
[MULTIPLIER]                                  1,000,000
[CURRENCY]                                    DEFAULT
[PERIOD-START]                                JAN-01-1996
[PERIOD-END]                                  DEC-31-1996
[PERIOD-TYPE]                                 YEAR
[EXCHANGE-RATE]                               0
[BOOK-VALUE]                                  PER BOOK
[TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT]                     4664
[OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST]                   15
[TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS]                        444
[TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES]                      446
[OTHER-ASSETS]                                0
[TOTAL-ASSETS]                                5569
[COMMON]                                      1330
[CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN]                     0
[RETAINED-EARNINGS]                           246
[TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ]            1576
[PREFERRED-MANDATORY]                         197  
[PREFERRED]                                   96   
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET)                          1577
[SHORT-TERM-NOTES]                            75
[LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE]                     0
[COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS]                235
[LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT]                 11
[PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT]                     0
[CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS]                   59
[LEASES-CURRENT]                              37
[OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB]                1706
[TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB]                 5569
[GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE]                     1689
[INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE]                          141
[OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES]                    1186
[TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES]                    1327
[OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS]                       361
[OTHER-INCOME-NET]                            (6)
[INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN]                355
[TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE]                      126
[NET-INCOME]                                  229
[PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS]                   22
[EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM]                 206
[COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS]                      87
[TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS]                     118
[CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS]                        443
[EPS-PRIMARY]                                 0
[EPS-DILUTED]                                 0