<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>  UT
<LEGEND>

                                                                      Exhibit 27

                     CENTRAL ILLINOIS PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
                             10-Q SEPTEMBER 30, 1998
                           FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE UT
          PUBLIC UTILITY COMPANIES AND PUBLIC UTILITY HOLDING COMPANIES
                  APPENDIX E TO ITEM 601 (C) OF REGULATION S-K
                             (Thousands of Dollars)

</LEGEND>

       

                           
<S>                                                    <C>  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                  9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                        DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                             SEP-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                  1,469,243
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                        0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                       243,343
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                      30,185
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                46,544
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                             1,789,315
<COMMON>                                                     120,033
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                          0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                          466,284
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                               586,317
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                              0
<PREFERRED>                                                   80,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                         507,635
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                            53,800
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                          0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                     0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                 60,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                          0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                        0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                   0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                               501,563
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                              1,789,315
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                    661,019
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                          40,113
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                   520,122
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                   560,235
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                      100,784
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                              (500)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                               100,284
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                      29,145
<NET-INCOME>                                                  71,139
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                    2,801
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                 68,338
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                      53,297
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                          0  <F1>
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                       120,071
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                   0.00  <F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                   0.00  <F2>

<FN>
<F1>  Required on fiscal year-end only.
<F2>  Information not normally disclosed in financial statements and notes.
</FN>

        



</TABLE>