<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>  UT
<LEGEND>

                                                                      Exhibit 27
                     CENTRAL ILLINOIS PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
                               10-Q MARCH 31, 1999
                           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>                                                        3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                              DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                                   MAR-31-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                      PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                        1,466,357
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                              0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                             204,841
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                            30,976
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                      46,292
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                   1,748,466
<COMMON>                                                           120,033
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                                0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                451,798
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                     571,831
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                                         80,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                               523,502
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                  31,700
<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>                                     481,433
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                    1,748,466
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                          207,772
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                 5,979
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                         177,084
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                         183,063
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                             24,709
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                     350
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                      25,059
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                            10,744
<NET-INCOME>                                                        14,315
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                            968
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                       13,347
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                            17,155
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                                0  <F1>
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                              49,911
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                         0.00  <F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                         0.00  <F2>

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


</TABLE>