SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
           Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
                      Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )


Filed by the Registrant ( X )
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ( )


Check the appropriate line:

____ Preliminary Proxy Statement
____ Confidential, for use of the Commission only (as permitted by Rule 14a-
     6(e)(2))
_X__ Definitive Proxy Statement
____ Definitive Additional Materials
____ Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section
     240.14a-12


                         CENTRAL ILLINOIS LIGHT COMPANY
                (Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate line):

_X__ No fee required.

____ Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4)
     and 0-11.

1)   Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

2)   Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

3)   Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction  computed  pursuant
     to Exchange Act Rule 0-11:

4)   Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

5)   Total fee paid:

____ Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

____ Check line if any part of the fee is offset as  provided  by  Exchange  Act
     Rule  0-11(a)(2)  and identify the filing for which the  offsetting fee was
     paid  previously.  Identify the previous filing by  registration  statement
     number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

1)   Amount previously paid:

2)   Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

3)   Filing Party:

4)   Date Filed:






[GRAPHIC OMITTED][GRAPHIC OMITTED]
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF
SHAREHOLDERS AND PROXY STATEMENT OF
CENTRAL ILLINOIS LIGHT COMPANY


         Time and Date:

         9:00 a.m.
         Tuesday
         May 20, 2003

         Place:

         One Ameren Plaza
         1901 Chouteau Avenue
         St. Louis, Missouri


IMPORTANT

     Admission  to the meeting  will be by ticket  only.  If you plan to attend,
please advise the Company in your proxy vote by checking the  appropriate box on
the proxy card.  Persons  without  tickets  will be admitted to the meeting upon
verification of their stockholdings in the Company.


     Please vote by proxy via the enclosed proxy card even if you own only a few
shares. If you attend the meeting and want to change your proxy vote, you can do
so by voting in person at the meeting.






CENTRAL ILLINOIS LIGHT COMPANY

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS


To the Shareholders of

           CENTRAL ILLINOIS LIGHT COMPANY

     We will hold the Annual Meeting of Shareholders  of Central  Illinois Light
Company at One Ameren Plaza,  1901 Chouteau  Avenue,  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  on
Tuesday, May 20, 2003, at 9:00 a.m., for the purposes of

     (1)  electing directors of the Company for terms ending in April 2004; and

     (2)  acting on other proper business presented to the meeting.

     The Board of Directors of the Company  presently knows of no other business
to come before the meeting.

     If you owned shares of the Company's capital stock at the close of business
on  March  31,  2003,  you  are  entitled  to  vote  at the  meeting  and at any
adjournment  thereof. All shareowners are requested to be present at the meeting
in person or by proxy so that a quorum may be assured.

     You may vote by  signing  and  returning  the  enclosed  proxy  card in the
enclosed envelope. Your prompt vote by proxy will reduce expenses. If you attend
the meeting, you may revoke your proxy by voting in person.

By order of the President and the Board of Directors.

                                             STEVEN R. SULLIVAN
                                             Secretary
St. Louis, Missouri
April 23, 2003




PROXY STATEMENT OF
CENTRAL ILLINOIS LIGHT COMPANY


(First sent or given to shareholders April 23, 2003)

Principal Executive Offices:
300 Liberty Street, Peoria, IL  61602

     This  solicitation  of proxies is made by the Board of Directors of Central
Illinois Light Company,  d/b/a AmerenCILCO  ("CILCO" or the "Company") on behalf
of the Company,  for use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company to
be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2003, and at any adjournment thereof.

     CILCO is a direct first tier subsidiary of CILCORP Inc. ("CILCORP"), which,
prior to the consummation of the acquisition described below, was a direct first
tier subsidiary of The AES Corporation ("AES"). On April 29, 2002, AES announced
that it had entered into an agreement with Ameren Corporation ("Ameren") to sell
100% of the ownership  interests in CILCORP and its subsidiaries,  including the
Company, to Ameren. On January 31, 2003, Ameren consummated the acquisition from
AES of all the common  stock of CILCORP (the  "Acquisition").  As of the date of
this Proxy Statement,  CILCORP and  previously-owned  companies Central Illinois
Public Service Company, d/b/a AmerenCIPS ("CIPS"), Union Electric Company, d/b/a
AmerenUE  ("Union  Electric"),  Ameren  Services  Company  ("Ameren  Services"),
AmerenEnergy  Resources  Company  ("AER"),  and  AmerenEnergy,  Inc.  ("AE") are
principal  first tier  subsidiaries  of Ameren,  a holding  company.  AER is the
parent company of AmerenEnergy Generating Company ("AEG").

     The Annual Report to the Securities and Exchange  Commission (the "SEC") on
Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended  December 31,  2002,  is being sent,
along  with  the  Notice  of  Annual  Meeting,  this  Proxy  Statement  and  the
accompanying  proxy card, to all shareholders of record at the close of business
on  March  31,  2003,  which  is  the  record  date  for  the  determination  of
shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting.

                                     VOTING

Who Can Vote

     Only  shareholders  of record at the close of business on the record  date,
March 31, 2003,  are entitled to vote at the meeting.  The voting  securities of
the Company on the record date consisted of (1) 13,563,871

                                       1




shares of common stock,  without par value,  all of which were owned by CILCORP,
(2) 191,204 shares of preferred stock, $100 par value per share, and (3) 220,000
shares of Class A preferred  stock,  without par value.  In order to conduct the
meeting, holders of more than one-half of the outstanding shares must be present
in person or  represented  by proxy so that there is a quorum.  It is  important
that you vote promptly so that your shares are counted  toward the quorum.  Each
shareholder  is entitled to one vote for each share of stock of the Company held
(whether  common  or  preferred),  on  each  matter  submitted  to a vote at the
meeting, except that in the election of directors,  each shareholder is entitled
to vote  cumulatively  and  therefore  may give one  nominee  votes equal to the
number of  directors to be elected,  multiplied  by the number of shares held by
that  shareholder,  or those  votes  may be  distributed  among  any two or more
nominees.  The proxies seek discretionary  authority to cast cumulative votes in
the election of directors.

     Shares  registered  in the name of a broker or other nominee that are voted
on any matter will be included in determining whether a quorum is present at the
meeting. Withheld votes, abstentions and non-votes by banks and brokers will not
be included in tabulating the number of votes cast.

     The  Board of  Directors  has  adopted a  confidential  voting  policy  for
proxies.

How You Can Vote

     By Proxy.  Before the meeting,  you can give a proxy to vote your shares of
the Company's  capital stock by completing  and signing the enclosed  proxy card
and mailing it in time to be received before the meeting.

     If you mail us your properly  completed and signed proxy card,  your shares
of the Company's  capital stock will be voted  according to the choices that you
specify. If you sign and mail your proxy card without marking any choices,  your
proxy will be voted as  recommended by the Board of Directors - FOR the Board of
Director's  nominees  for  director  Item (1). On any other  matters,  the named
proxies will use their discretion.

     In  Person.  You may come to the  meeting  and cast your vote  there.  Only
shareholders  of record at the close of business on the record  date,  March 31,
2003, are entitled to vote at the meeting.

                                       2




How You Can Revoke Your Proxy

     You may  revoke  your  proxy at any time after you give it and before it is
voted by  delivering  either a written  revocation  or a signed proxy  bearing a
later  date to the  Secretary  of the  Company  or by  voting  in  person at the
meeting.

                             ITEMS TO BE CONSIDERED

Item (1):  Election of Directors

     Eleven directors are to be elected at the Annual Meeting to serve until the
next annual meeting of shareholders  and until their  successors are elected and
qualified. In January 2003, the Board of Directors amended the Company's by-laws
to permit an increase in the number of directors from between three and seven to
between three and twelve. Simultaneously with the Acquisition, all the directors
of the Company resigned, except Mr. S.A. Cisel, and new directors were appointed
in accordance  with the by-laws to serve as directors  until the Annual Meeting.
The  nominees  for  election  at  the  Annual  Meeting  designated  by  Ameren's
Nominating and Corporate  Governance Committee are listed below with information
about their principal occupations and backgrounds.  All of the nominees,  except
Mr. D.R.  Oberhelman,  have served as directors of the Company since January 31,
2003.  Mr.  Oberhelman  is also a nominee for  election to the boards of Ameren,
CIPS and Union Electric at their annual meetings on April 22, 2003.

PAUL A. AGATHEN

     Senior Vice President of the Company,  Union  Electric,  CIPS,  AEG, Ameren
Services and CILCORP.  Mr.  Agathen was employed by Union Electric in 1975 as an
attorney.  He was named  General  Attorney  of Union  Electric  in 1982 and Vice
President,  Environmental  and Safety in 1994.  He was  elected  to his  present
position at Ameren Services in 1997, at Union Electric, CIPS and AEG in 2001 and
at  CILCORP  and  CILCO in 2003.  Director  of the  Company  since  2003.  Other
directorships: CIPS (since 1997); Union Electric (since 1998); AEG (since 2000);
CILCORP (since 2003). Age: 55.

WARNER L. BAXTER

     Senior Vice President of the Company,  Ameren,  Union Electric,  CIPS, AEG,
Ameren Services and CILCORP. From 1983

                                       3




to 1995, Mr. Baxter was employed by Price Waterhouse (now PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP). Mr. Baxter joined Union Electric in 1995 as Assistant  Controller.  He was
promoted to Controller of Union  Electric in 1996 and was elected Vice President
and  Controller of Union  Electric,  Ameren and Ameren  Services in 1998. He was
elected Vice  President and  Controller of CIPS in 1999 and of AEG in 2000.  Mr.
Baxter was elected to his  present  position at Ameren,  Union  Electric,  CIPS,
Ameren  Services  and AEG in 2001 and at CILCORP and CILCO in 2003.  Director of
the Company since 2003. Other  directorships:  Union Electric (since 1999); CIPS
(since 1999); AEG (since 2001); CILCORP (since 2003). Age: 41.

SCOTT A. CISEL

     Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company. Mr. Cisel joined
the Company in 1975 and advanced through various  management  positions in sales
and customer service. He was appointed Manager,  Rates, Sales & Customer Service
in 1988 and  Director - Corporate  Sales in 1993.  Mr.  Cisel was  elected  Vice
President  of Sales  and  Marketing,  and  Federal  and State  Governmental  and
Regulatory  Activities  in 1995. He became leader of CILCO's Sales and Marketing
Business Unit in 1999 and was named Senior Vice  President and leader of CILCO's
Sales  and  Marketing  Business  Unit in 2001.  He was  elected  to his  present
position at the Company in 2003. Director of the Company since 1998. Age: 49.

RICHARD A. LIDDY

     Retired Chairman of GenAmerica Financial Corporation,  which provides life,
health, pension,  annuity and related insurance products and services. Mr. Liddy
joined  GenAmerica as President and Chief  Operating  Officer in 1988 and became
Chairman of GenAmerica  Financial  Corporation in 1995. Mr. Liddy is a member of
the  Auditing  Committee  of the  Company's  Board of  Directors  and the  Human
Resources  Committee  of Ameren's  board of  directors.  Director of the Company
since 2003.  Other  directorships:  Ameren (since 1997);  CILCORP  (since 2003);
Brown Shoe Company,  Inc.; Ralcorp Holdings Inc.; Energizer Holdings,  Inc. Age:
67.

RICHARD A. LUMPKIN

     Chairman of Consolidated Communications, Inc., a telecommunications holding
company.  Mr. Lumpkin  assumed his present  position as Chairman of Consolidated
Communications, Inc. on January

                                       4




1, 2003 upon that  company's  acquisition  of the former  Illinois  Consolidated
Telephone  Company from McLeodUSA  Incorporated.  Prior to the acquisition,  Mr.
Lumpkin had served as President of Illinois Consolidated Telephone Company since
1977 and Chairman and Chief  Executive  Officer of that company since 1990. As a
result of a  September  1997  merger,  he also had  served as Vice  Chairman  of
McLeodUSA   Incorporated   until   April   2002.   In   order  to   complete   a
recapitalization, McLeodUSA Incorporated filed, in January 2002, a prenegotiated
plan of  reorganization  through a Chapter 11 bankruptcy  petition  filed in the
United  States  Bankruptcy  Court for the District of  Delaware.  In April 2002,
McLeodUSA  Incorporated's plan of reorganization became effective and it emerged
from Chapter 11 protection. Mr. Lumpkin is a member of the Auditing Committee of
the  Company's  Board of Directors.  Director of the Company  since 2003.  Other
directorships:  Ameren (since 1997);  CILCORP (since 2003);  First  Mid-Illinois
Bancshares, Inc.; First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust. Age: 68.

PAUL L. MILLER, JR.

     President  and Chief  Executive  Officer of P. L.  Miller &  Associates,  a
management consultant firm which specializes in strategic and financial planning
for privately  held companies and  distressed  businesses  and in  international
business  development.  He is also a principal in a financial  advisory firm for
small to middle  market  companies.  Mr.  Miller has served as  president  of an
international  subsidiary of an investment  banking firm,  and for over 20 years
was president of consumer product  manufacturing and distribution firms. He is a
member of the Auditing  Committee of the Company's Board of Directors.  Director
of the Company since 2003.  Other  directorships:  Ameren (since 1997);  CILCORP
(since 2003). Age: 60.

CHARLES W. MUELLER

     Chairman  of the  Company and  CILCORP  and  Chairman  and Chief  Executive
Officer of Ameren,  Union  Electric and Ameren  Services.  Mr. Mueller began his
career with Union  Electric in 1961 as an  engineer.  He was named  Treasurer in
1978,  Vice  President-Finance  in 1983,  Senior  Vice  President-Administrative
Services in 1988,  President in 1993 and Chief  Executive  Officer in 1994.  Mr.
Mueller was elected Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ameren in
1997. He  relinquished  his position as President of Ameren,  Union Electric and
Ameren  Services in 2001. He was elected  Chairman of CILCORP and CILCO in 2003.
Director  of the  Company  since  2003.  Mr.  Mueller is Chairman of the Federal
Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Other directorships:

                                       5




Union Electric  (since 1993);  Ameren (since 1997);  CIPS (since 1999);  CILCORP
(since 2003); Angelica Corporation. Age: 64.

DOUGLAS R. OBERHELMAN

     Group  President  of  Caterpillar   Inc.,  the  world's  largest  maker  of
construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial
gas turbines.  Mr. Oberhelman joined  Caterpillar in 1975. He held financial and
marketing  positions  in North and  South  America  before  his  appointment  as
Managing  Director of Shin  Caterpillar  Mitsubishi Ltd. (Tokyo) in 1991. He was
elected  as a Vice  President  in 1995,  when he served as the  company's  Chief
Financial  Officer.  In 1998,  he accepted  leadership of  Caterpillar's  Engine
Products  Division.  Mr.  Oberhelman was elected a Group  President in 2001 with
responsibility for Caterpillar's  Asia-Pacific Division, global purchasing,  and
financial and legal services. Age: 50.

GARY L. RAINWATER

     President of the Company and CILCORP, President and Chief Executive Officer
of CIPS and President and Chief Operating Officer of Ameren,  Union Electric and
Ameren  Services.  Mr. Rainwater began his career with Union Electric in 1979 as
an engineer.  He was named General  Manager-Corporate  Planning in 1988 and Vice
President in 1993. Mr. Rainwater was elected Executive Vice President of CIPS in
January  1997 and was  named to his  present  position  as  President  and Chief
Executive  Officer of CIPS in December 1997. He was elected  President of AER in
1999 and of AEG in 2000. He was elected President and Chief Operating Officer of
Ameren, Union Electric and Ameren Services in 2001 at which time he relinquished
his position as President of AER and AEG. He was elected to his present position
at  CILCORP  and  CILCO in 2003.  Director  of the  Company  since  2003.  Other
directorships:  CIPS (since 1997);  Union Electric (since 1998);  CILCORP (since
2003). Age: 56.

HARVEY SALIGMAN

     Partner  of Cynwyd  Investments,  a family  real  estate  partnership.  Mr.
Saligman also served in various  executive  capacities in the consumer  products
industry for more than 35 years. He is a member of the Auditing Committee of the
Company's  Board  of  Directors.  Director  of the  Company  since  2003.  Other
directorships: Ameren (since 1997); CILCORP (since 2003). Age: 64.

                                       6




THOMAS R. VOSS

     Senior Vice President of the Company,  Union  Electric,  CIPS,  AEG, Ameren
Services and CILCORP.  Mr. Voss began his career with Union  Electric in 1969 as
an engineer. After four years of military service, he returned to Union Electric
and from 1975 to 1988, held various  positions  including  district  manager and
distribution  operating manager.  Mr. Voss was elected Vice President of CIPS in
1998. Mr. Voss was elected to his present  position at Union Electric,  CIPS and
Ameren  Services  in 1999,  at AEG in 2001  and at  CILCORP  and  CILCO in 2003.
Director of the Company since 2003. Other  directorships:  Union Electric (since
2001); CIPS (since 2001); CILCORP (since 2003). Age: 55.

     The  eleven  nominees  for  director  who  receive  the most  votes will be
elected.

     The Board of Directors  knows of no reason why any nominee will not be able
to serve as a director.  If, at the time of the Annual  Meeting,  any nominee is
unable or declines to serve,  the proxies may be voted for a substitute  nominee
approved by the Board of Directors.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

     Director nominees Messrs.  Agathen,  Baxter, Cisel, Mueller,  Rainwater and
Voss are each executive  officers of the Company or its affiliates and have been
determined  by the Board of Directors to have a material  relationship  with the
Company.  Director nominees Liddy, Lumpkin, Miller,  Oberhelman and Saligman are
not executive officers or employees of the Company or its affiliates.  The Board
of Directors has determined that none of the non-employee director nominees have
a material relationship with the Company.

     Mr.  Douglas R.  Oberhelman is an executive  officer of  Caterpillar  Inc.,
which has  commercial  relationships  with the Company with respect to providing
both regulated  public utility energy services and unregulated  energy services.
During  2002,   revenues   from   transactions   with   Caterpillar   aggregated
approximately $25 million excluding revenues from the supply of regulated public
utility  services and revenues  based on  competitive  bid  transactions.  These
transactions,  many of which are for multiple  year terms,  were entered into at
arms length and did not exceed 5% of the Company's  consolidated  gross revenues
for fiscal year 2002.  Applying this  percentage of revenues  test, the Board of
Directors  has  determined  that  Mr.   Oberhelman  does  not  have  a  material
relationship with the Company. In 2003, an existing contract between the

                                       7




Company  and  Caterpillar  for the supply of  regulated  public  utility  energy
services will expire and is expected to be replaced  with a multi-year  contract
with an unregulated  affiliate of the Company that will provide annual  revenues
of  approximately  $11  million.  This  transaction  will not cause  unregulated
revenues  from  Caterpillar  to exceed 5% of the  Company's  consolidated  gross
revenues for fiscal year 2003.

Board Meetings, Age Policy, Board Committees and Directors' Compensation

     Board  Meetings.  During  2002,  the  Board  of  Directors  met or acted by
unanimous written consent without a meeting 17 times. All directors  attended or
participated  in more than 75% of the total  number of the meetings of the Board
of Directors for which they were eligible.

     Age Policy.  In January 2003, the Board of Directors  amended the Company's
by-laws to change the age policy for  directors.  The new policy  provides  that
directors  who  attain age 72 prior to the date of an annual  meeting  cannot be
designated as a nominee for election at that annual  meeting.  In addition,  the
new policy provides that the  eligibility of former  employees is limited to the
date upon which they retire,  resign or otherwise  sever active  employment with
the Company.

     Board  Committees of the Company.  Prior to the  Acquisition,  the Board of
Directors did not have any standing committees.  Effective with the Acquisition,
the Board of  Directors  created an  Auditing  Committee  consisting  of Messrs.
Richard A. Liddy,  Richard A. Lumpkin,  Paul L. Miller, Jr., Harvey Saligman and
James W. Wogsland. Mr. Wogsland will not stand for election as a director.  Upon
their election,  at least three of the  non-employee  director  nominees will be
appointed  as the  Company's  Auditing  Committee.  In March 2003,  the Board of
Directors created an Executive Committee consisting of Messrs. Warner L. Baxter,
Charles W. Mueller and Gary L. Rainwater.

     CILCO is a "controlled company" of its ultimate parent,  Ameren, as defined
by the New York Stock Exchange listing standards.  As such, the board committees
of Ameren (including its Human Resources  Committee and Nominating and Corporate
Governance  Committee) will perform committee  functions for the Company's Board
of  Directors.  Each of the members of Ameren's  Human  Resources  Committee and
Nominating  and  Corporate  Governance  Committee and each of the members of the
Company's  Auditing  Committee is "independent" as defined by the New York Stock
Exchange listing standards.

                                       8




     In 2003, the Company's Board of Directors adopted a written charter for the
Auditing  Committee  that takes into account the adoption of the  Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002. A copy of the written charter is attached hereto as Appendix A.

     The general  functions of the Company's  Auditing  Committee  include:  (1)
reviewing with  management and the  independent  accountants the adequacy of the
Company's system of internal  accounting  controls;  (2) reviewing the scope and
results  of  the  annual   examination  and  other  services  performed  by  the
independent  accountants;  (3) reviewing  with  management  and the  independent
accountants the Company's annual audited  financial  statements and recommending
to the Board of Directors  the  inclusion of such  financial  statements  in the
Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K to be filed with the SEC;  (4)  reviewing
with  management  and  the  independent   accountants  the  Company's  quarterly
financial  statements;   (5)  reviewing  with  management  and  the  independent
accountants  any earnings  press  releases;  (6)  appointing,  compensating  and
overseeing of independent accountants and pre-approving audit and other services
they  perform;  and (7)  reviewing  the scope of audits and annual budget of the
internal auditors.

     The Company's Executive Committee has such duties as may be delegated to it
from time to time by the Board of  Directors  and has  authority  to act on most
matters  concerning  management of the business during  intervals  between Board
meetings.

     Ameren's  Human  Resources   Committee   considers  the  qualifications  of
executive personnel and recommends changes therein,  reviews the compensation of
the Chief Executive  Officers and other officers of Ameren and its  subsidiaries
and considers and acts on important policy matters affecting personnel. Ameren's
Human Resources Committee held three meetings in 2002.

     Ameren's Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (renamed in December
2002) reviews and makes recommendations to the Ameren board about the governance
processes of Ameren and its subsidiaries, and considers and recommends for board
approval  candidates for the boards of directors of Ameren and its subsidiaries,
as recommended by management, other members of the board, shareholders and other
interested  parties.  For a  description  of the  procedure  to be  followed  by
shareholders in submitting  recommendations for director nominees,  please refer
to  "Shareholder  Proposals"  on  page  30 of  this  Proxy  Statement.  Ameren's
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee held two meetings in 2002.

                                       9




     Directors' Compensation.  SEC rules require this Proxy Statement to include
information  about  directors'  compensation  for 2002 when it was controlled by
AES. Policies in place in 2002 will not necessarily continue for 2003.

     Prior to the  Acquisition,  directors  received no  compensation  for their
services as Company  directors.  Following  the  Acquisition,  directors who are
employees  or  directors  of  Ameren  or  any  of its  subsidiaries  receive  no
additional   compensation  for  their  services  as  Company   directors.   Each
non-employee director nominee of CILCO (Messrs. Liddy, Lumpkin, Miller, Saligman
and Oberhelman) is currently also a non-employee director or director nominee of
Ameren.

     Non-employee  directors  receive an annual  retainer  and meeting  fees for
their  services  as  directors  of  Ameren.  Under  Ameren's  optional  deferred
compensation  plan for  directors,  non-employee  directors  of  Ameren  and its
subsidiaries  may  choose  to defer  all or part of their  annual  retainer  and
meeting fees.  Deferred  amounts,  plus an interest factor,  are used to provide
payout  distributions  following  completion  of board service and certain death
benefits.  Costs of the deferred  compensation plan are expected to be recovered
through the purchase of life  insurance on the  participants,  with Ameren being
the owner and beneficiary of the insurance policies.

Item (2):  Other Matters

     The  Board  of  Directors  does  not know of any  matters,  other  than the
election of directors, which may be presented to the meeting.

                               SECURITY OWNERSHIP

Securities of the Company

     All of the  outstanding  shares of the Company's  common stock  (13,563,871
shares) are owned by CILCORP, 300 Liberty Street, Peoria, IL 61602. CILCORP is a
wholly-owned  subsidiary of Ameren as a result of the Acquisition  that resulted
in an indirect  change in control of the Company.  The Acquisition was valued at
approximately $1.4 billion. Ameren assumed approximately $900 million of CILCORP
debt and preferred stock and other  obligations and paid the balance in cash for
the stock of CILCORP, along with certain other assets.

     None of the Company's  191,204 shares of preferred  stock or 220,000 shares
of Class A  preferred  stock  currently  outstanding  were  owned by  directors,
nominees for director or executive officers of the

                                       10




Company as of February 1, 2003. Five shares of preferred stock,  which represent
less  than  0.003% of the  outstanding  shares  of that  class,  were held as of
February  1,  2003  by  Thomas  S.  Romanowski,  one of  the  five  most  highly
compensated  executive  officers  for the  Company's  2002 fiscal  year.  To the
knowledge of the Company, there are no beneficial owners of five percent or more
of the outstanding  shares of any preferred stock as of February 1, 2003, but no
independent  inquiry has been made to determine  whether any  shareholder is the
beneficial  owner of shares not  registered in the name of such  shareholder  or
whether any shareholder is a member of a shareholder group.

Securities of Ameren

     The  following  table sets forth certain  information  known to the Company
with respect to  beneficial  ownership of Ameren  common stock as of February 1,
2003 for (i) each  director and nominee for  director of the  Company,  (ii) the
Company's  President and chief  executive  officer and the four other  executive
officers of the  Company  expected  to be the most  highly  compensated  for the
Company's 2003 fiscal year (the "Ameren Named  Executive  Officers"),  and (iii)
all current executive officers,  directors and nominees for director as a group.
The table  below does not  include  information  regarding  the persons who were
president  and chief  executive  officer of the  Company and the four other most
highly  compensated  executive  officers for the Company's 2002 fiscal year (the
"AES Named Executive Officers"), which was prior to the Acquisition.




                                             Number of
                                              Shares of
                                            Common Stock             Percent
            Name                          Beneficially Owned<F1>     Owned<F2>
    ----------------------              ------------------------    ----------
                                                                
    Paul A. Agathen                             87,898                 *
    Warner L. Baxter                            35,945                 *
    Scott A. Cisel                                   -                 *
    Richard A. Liddy                             9,279                 *
    Richard A. Lumpkin                           5,291                 *
    Paul L. Miller, Jr.                          4,628                 *
    Charles W. Mueller                         258,126                 *
    Douglas R. Oberhelman                            -                 *
    Gary L. Rainwater                           79,697                 *
    Garry L. Randolph                           42,575                 *
    Harvey Saligman                              5,566                 *
    Thomas R. Voss                              40,199                 *
    James W. Wogsland<F3>                        3,589                 *

    All directors, nominees for                732,109                 *
    director and executive officers
    as a group (20 persons)

* Less than one percent

                                       11




       Footnotes to Securities of Ameren Table (Cont.)
<FN>
       <F1>    This column lists voting securities,  including  restricted stock
               held by executive  officers  over which the officers  have voting
               power but no  investment  power.  Also includes  shares  issuable
               within 60 days upon the exercise of stock options as follows: Mr.
               Agathen,  73,275; Mr. Baxter,  29,050; Mr. Mueller,  214,375; Mr.
               Rainwater,  56,575;  Mr. Randolph,  30,350; and Mr. Voss, 29,437.
               Reported  shares include those for which a director,  nominee for
               director  or  executive  officer has voting or  investment  power
               because  of joint  or  fiduciary  ownership  of the  shares  or a
               relationship with the record owner, most commonly a spouse,  even
               if that director,  nominee for director or executive officer does
               not claim beneficial ownership.

       <F2>    For each  individual and group included in the table,  percentage
               ownership  is   calculated  by  dividing  the  number  of  shares
               beneficially  owned by that person or group as described above by
               the  sum  of  the  159,716,534  shares  of  Ameren  common  stock
               outstanding  on  February  1,  2003 and the  number  of shares of
               common  stock that such  person or group had the right to acquire
               on or within 60 days of  February  1,  2003,  including,  but not
               limited to, upon the exercise of options.

       <F3>    Mr. Wogsland will not stand for election as a director.

</FN>


     The  address of all persons  listed  above is c/o  Central  Illinois  Light
Company, 300 Liberty Street, Peoria, IL 61602.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

     Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,  requires
the  Company's  directors  and  executive  officers  to file  reports  of  their
ownership of the Company's  preferred  stock and, in some cases, of its ultimate
parent's  common stock,  and of changes in that ownership to the SEC and the New
York Stock  Exchange.  SEC  regulations  also require the Company to identify in
this Proxy  Statement any person subject to this  requirement who failed to file
any such report on a timely basis. To the best of the Company's  knowledge,  all
required  reports were filed on time and all  transactions  by those persons who
were the Company's directors and executive officers during 2002 were reported on
time during  2002.  Any reports due during 2002  relating to common  stock would
have been with respect to AES common stock.

                             EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary set forth in any of the Company's
filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 that might  incorporate  other filings with the SEC,  including this
Proxy  Statement,  in whole or in  part,  the  following  reports  on  Executive
Compensation  shall not be deemed to be  incorporated by reference into any such
filings.

                                       12




     SEC regulations require that information  regarding the compensation during
2002 and prior  years for the AES Named  Executive  Officers be included in this
Proxy Statement.  Except for Mr. Cisel, none of the AES Named Executive Officers
remains  an  officer  of the  Company  as of the date of this  Proxy  Statement.
Furthermore,  compensation of the Company's executive officers was set according
to  policy  of  AES  prior  to  the  Acquisition.   Following  the  Acquisition,
compensation  policy  will be set by Ameren.  The  information  below  under the
subcaption "AES Executive  Compensation" is derived from information provided to
the Company by AES and is not part of the report of the Ameren  Human  Resources
Committee.

                           AES Executive Compensation

     The following  discussion applies to compensation  policy applied by AES to
its subsidiaries  during 2002, but is not indicative of compensation policy that
will apply to the Company during 2003.

     No  options  were  granted in fiscal  year 2002 to any AES Named  Executive
Officer. The AES Board of Directors approved a long-term  compensation award for
Mr.  Leonard M. Lee effective  February 12, 2003,  which  included  stock option
grants  subject to  shareholder  approval  as part of AES's newly  revised  2003
Long-Term  Compensation Plan (the "2003 LTC Plan"),  which will cover 2003-2005.
AES will reflect these stock option  grants in its 2004 Proxy  Statement as 2003
compensation.

AES Report on Executive Compensation

     Prior to the  Acquisition,  the Company's  executive  officer  compensation
program was modeled after the AES compensation program.  Responsibilities of the
Compensation  Committee  of the AES  Board of  Directors  included  establishing
policies governing the compensation of officers of the Company. The Compensation
Committee was composed of three non-employee directors.

     The   Compensation   Committee's   principal   objective  in   establishing
compensation  policies  was to develop and  administer a  comprehensive  program
designed to attract and retain outstanding managers.  The policies were designed
to  encourage  such  managers to make career  commitments  to the Company and to
accomplish the Company's short and long term business objectives.

     The  Compensation  Committee's  guidelines  for  compensation  of executive
officers were designed to provide fair and competitive levels of


                                       13



total compensation,  while integrating pay with performance.  Executive officers
were evaluated annually for performance according to individual responsibilities
and contributions, as well as broader measures related to corporate performance.

     There were three elements of the Company's  executive officer  compensation
(these  elements were the same for most employees in the Company):  Base Salary,
Annual Bonus and Long-Term Compensation.

     The Compensation  Committee's guidelines for each component of compensation
were to provide compensation that was generally consistent with the Compensation
Committee's  interpretation of competitive compensation averages for individuals
with similar  companies  with similar  financial and operating  characteristics.
Comparisons were made with published amounts, where available, and, from time to
time, AES also participated in various  industry-sponsored  compensation surveys
in addition to the 2002 consultant  review described below.  Because  individual
compensation  was  determined  in part by  experience  and  performance,  actual
compensation may vary from industry averages.

     Base Salary was adjusted annually by the Compensation  Committee to account
for general  economic and cost of living changes.  Also,  adjustments  were made
periodically  to recognize  significant  new or additional  responsibilities  of
individual  executive officers.  In 2002, the Compensation  Committee engaged an
independent  compensation  consultant  to review the level and mix of  executive
officer  compensation  and  to  assist  AES  in the  redesign  of its  Long-Term
Compensation  policy.  Based in part on this review, the Compensation  Committee
established  guidelines  for suggested  ranges of Base Salary,  Annual Bonus and
Long-Term  Compensation  for  eligible  participants  between  the  25th to 75th
percentiles of similar  companies.  Based on these guidelines,  the Compensation
Committee  adjusted  Base  Salaries  to  be  competitive  with  the  information
contained in the review performed (in 2002) by the independent consultant.

     Annual  Bonuses were  reevaluated in 2002 to emphasize  specific  corporate
performance  targets. In 2002, bonuses were based 50 percent on meeting business
or corporate cash flow targets, 25 percent on meeting  cost-cutting  targets and
25 percent on other goals such as  leadership,  values or an officer's  business
performance  with respect to his or her  functional  area.  Targeted  ranges for
Annual Bonus for different  officer job categories or functions were  determined
from benchmark industry data.

                                       14




     Some of the AES Named Executive  Officers also participated in AES's profit
sharing plan (or deferred  compensation plan for executive officers) on the same
terms as all other people at AES,  subject to any legal  limitations  on amounts
that may have been  contributed or benefits that may have been payable under the
plan. Matching  contributions and annual profit sharing  contributions were made
with the common  stock of AES to further  encourage  long-term  performance.  In
addition,  one of  the  AES  Named  Executive  Officers  participated  in  AES's
supplemental retirement plan, which provided supplemental retirement benefits to
"highly compensated employees" (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as  amended  (the  "Code"))  of an amount  which  would be  contributed  on such
individual's behalf under the profit sharing plan (or the deferred  compensation
plan  for  executive  officers)  but  was  not  so  contributed  because  of the
limitations contained in the Code.

     In most cases, the Compensation Committee had taken steps to qualify income
paid to any  executive  officer as a  deductible  business  expense  pursuant to
regulations  issued by the Internal  Revenue Service under Section 162(m) of the
Code with  respect to  qualifying  compensation  paid to  executive  officers in
excess of $1 million.

AES Compensation Tables

     The following tables set forth  compensation  information,  for the periods
indicated,  for the AES Named  Executive  Officers for services  rendered in all
capacities to the Company and its affiliates as required by SEC regulations.




                         AES SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE


                                                                                                  Long-Term
                                                         Annual Compensation                    Compensation
                                           --------------------------------------------         ------------
                                                                              Other              Securities
                                                                             Annual              Underlying          All Other
          Name and                                                         Compensation           Options          Compensation
     Principal Position        Year        Salary($)      Bonus($)             ($)                (#)<F1>            ($)<F2>
- -----------------------        ----        ---------      -------          ------------         ------------       ------------
                                                                                                  
Leonard M. Lee                 2002         210,000       300,000               -                      -             25,689
Chairman & CEO                 2001         210,000             -               -                238,951             22,150
                               2000               -             -               -                      -                  -

Robert J. Sprowls              2002         160,000             -               -                      -              4,714
President                      2001         160,000        45,300               -                 14,644              2,953
                               2000         157,200        75,000               -                  2,000              4,353

Thomas S. Romanowski           2002         158,700        39,700               -                      -              4,761
Chief Financial                2001         158,700        15,870               -                  5,125              4,029
Officer & Treasurer            2000         158,700        39,675               -                      -              4,500

Scott A. Cisel                 2002         145,000             -               -                      -              4,350
Senior Vice President          2001         145,000        10,000               -                 13,724              4,350
                               2000         139,885        32,000               -                  1,800              4,197

James L. Luckey, III           2002         120,000             -               -                      -             10,320
Vice President                 2001         114,000        32,500             486                 22,522             13,500
                               2000          98,000        50,000             240                  1,057             11,270


                                       15




        Footnotes to AES Summary Compensation Table (Cont.)
 <FN>
       <F1>    Of the executive  officers included in this Summary  Compensation
               Table,  only Mr. Lee will receive stock option  grants  effective
               February 12, 2003 under AES's 2001 Stock Option Plan and 2003 LTC
               Plan, pending the upcoming  shareholder  approval of the 2003 LTC
               Plan. Pursuant to AES's new compensation  program,  however, such
               stock  option  grants are  intended  as an  incentive  for future
               performance,  rather than as a reward for past  performance.  The
               long-term  compensation  awards cover the  2003-2005  performance
               period and are tied to AES's  performance as measured against AES
               business  targets.  AES will  reflect the February 12, 2003 stock
               option grants in its 2004 Proxy Statement as 2003 compensation.

       <F2>    For Messrs. Lee and Luckey, this column reports  contributions by
               AES to The AES  Corporation  Profit-Sharing  and Stock  Ownership
               Plan.  For  Mr.  Lee  it  also  includes   allocations  to  AES's
               Supplemental Retirement Plan. Specifically,  for Mr. Lee in 2002,
               the amount contributed to The AES Corporation  Profit-Sharing and
               Stock Ownership Plan was $24,939, and the amount allocated to the
               Supplemental Retirement Plan was $750. For Mr. Luckey, the amount
               contributed  to The  AES  Corporation  Profit-Sharing  and  Stock
               Ownership  Plan was  $10,320.  For  Messrs.  Cisel,  Sprowls  and
               Romanowski,  amounts  shown in this  column  for  2002  represent
               employer  contributions to the CILCO Employees' Savings Plan. For
               the CILCO  Employees'  Savings Plan,  the amounts  contributed in
               2002 were as follows:  Mr. Sprowls $4,714;  Mr. Cisel $4,350; and
               Mr. Romanowski $4,761.
</FN>


         AGGREGATED AES OPTION EXERCISES IN 2002 AND YEAR-END VALUES<F1>

     The following table provides information on option exercises in 2002 by the
AES Named Executive Officers and the value of such officers' unexercised options
at December 31, 2002.



                                                                                                     Value of
                               Shares                            Unexercised                       In-the-Money
                              Acquired       Value                 Options                            Options
                                 On        Realized            at Year End(#)                    at Year End($)<F2>
                                                        ------------------------------     ------------------------------
           Name               Exercise(#)     ($)       Exercisable      Unexercisable     Exercisable      Unexercisable
- --------------------          ----------   --------     -----------      -------------     -----------      -------------
                                                                                                
Leonard M. Lee                    -            -         402,024           17,572                 0                0
Robert J. Sprowls                 -            -          19,378            1,000                 0                0
Thomas S. Romanowski              -            -           5,125                0                 0                0
Scott A. Cisel                    -            -          17,260              900                 0                0
James L. Luckey, III              -            -          25,356              529                 0                0

<FN>
       <F1>    No options were granted in 2002.

       <F2>    The  amounts in this  column  have been  calculated  based on the
               difference  between the quoted market price of AES's common stock
               value on December  31, 2002 of $3.02 per share for each  security
               underlying such stock option and the per share exercise price.
</FN>


Certain Company Plans

     The plans described below pertained to the AES Named Executive  Officers in
2002, but these plans will not apply to the Ameren Named Executive Officers.

     Benefit  Replacement  Plan.  The  Board of  Directors  of the  Company  has
established a Benefit Replacement Plan. The Benefit Replacement

                                       16




Plan provides for payments to participants  from the Company's  general funds to
restore the retirement benefit under the Company's non-contributory Pension Plan
for Management,  Office and Technical  Employees when that benefit is restricted
by (1) the maximum defined benefit limitation of Section 415(b) of the Code, (2)
the indexed  compensation  limitation of Section 401(a)(17) of the Code, and (3)
participation  in certain of the  Company's  deferred  compensation  plans.  The
Benefit Replacement Plan generally covers all Pension Plan participants affected
by these  restrictions and provides for payments  consistent with the timing and
forms as provided by the Pension Plan.

     Pension  Plan.  Pension  benefits  for  employees  of the  Company  and its
subsidiaries  are provided through the Company's  non-contributory  Pension Plan
for Management,  Office and Technical Employees. Pension benefits are determined
using a formula  based on years of service and highest  average  rate of monthly
earnings for any sixty  consecutive  month  period.  The normal  retirement  age
specified in the Company's Pension Plan is age 65.  Retirement  between the ages
of 55 and 62 results in an appropriate reduction in pension benefits.

     The  following  table shows the  aggregate  annual  benefits  payable  upon
retirement at normal  retirement age under the Company's  Pension Plan and under
the Benefit Replacement Plan discussed above.



                               Pension Plan Table
                                Years of Service


     Remuneration          15 years           20 years           25 years            30 years           35 years
     ------------          --------           --------           --------            --------           --------
                                                                                        
       $200,000            $  42,750         $  57,000           $  71,250           $  85,500          $  99,750
        225,000               48,094            64,125              80,156              96,188            112,219
        250,000               53,438            71,250              89,063             106,875            124,688
        275,000               58,781            78,375              97,969             117,563            137,156
        300,000               64,125            85,500             106,875             128,250            149,625
        400,000               85,500           114,000             142,500             171,000            199,500
        500,000              106,875           142,500             178,125             213,750            249,375


     The sum of  annual  and  long-term  compensation  shown  for the AES  Named
Executive Officers is substantially  compensation as covered by the Pension Plan
and the Benefit Replacement Plan. At January 2003, the credited years of service
under the  Company's  Pension  Plan for such  individuals  are as follows:  R.J.
Sprowls - 19 years, S.A. Cisel - 28 years, T.S.  Romanowski - 31 years, and J.L.
Luckey - less than one year. Mr. Lee does not participate in the Pension Plan.

                                       17




     The  benefits are computed on a straight  life annuity  basis.  The amounts
shown are not subject to any  deduction  for Social  Security  benefits or other
offset amounts other than for an optional survivorship provision.

Arrangements with AES Named Executive Officers

     Retention  Agreements  Entered Into Prior to the Acquisition.  Prior to the
Acquisition, the Company entered into retention agreements with Messrs. Sprowls,
Cisel, Romanowski and Luckey.

     The agreements for Messrs. Sprowls and Cisel provide that in the event of a
termination  of  employment  prior to the  second  anniversary  of the date of a
change in control  (as  defined in the  agreement),  but in no event  later than
April 1, 2006, CILCORP, the Company or their respective successors are obligated
to pay termination benefits. Under the agreements,  termination benefits include
a base  salary  continuation  payment  equal to three  times base  salary if the
termination  date is within 12 months  following the date of a change in control
and two  times  base  salary  if the  termination  date  falls  after  the first
anniversary of the change in control but before the second anniversary  thereof.
In addition to salary payments, the retention agreements for Messrs. Sprowls and
Cisel provide, at the discretion of the employee, for the payment by the Company
of the cash value of previously granted AES stock options (as determined using a
Black-Scholes  option  pricing  model).  In order to qualify for the base salary
continuation  payment,  the  termination  must be involuntary or due to material
changes in the terms of  employment.  The retention  agreement for Mr. Luckey is
the same as those for  Messrs.  Sprowls  and  Cisel,  except  that Mr.  Luckey's
retention  agreement  does not  provide  for  payment by the Company of the cash
value of  previously  granted  AES stock  options.  Mr.  Romanowski's  retention
agreement provides,  among other things, that if he is terminated by the Company
without  good cause (as defined in the  agreement),  he would  receive an amount
equal to two times his base  salary.  In the same manner as the  agreements  for
Messrs. Cisel and Sprowls, Mr. Romanowski could, at his option,  obtain from the
Company the cash value of previously granted AES stock options.

     Any payment of base salary under the retention  agreements  will be reduced
by payments made under the Company's  Involuntary Severance Pay Plan (ISPP). The
ISPP was  approved  by the  Board of  Directors  on July 13,  2001.  The ISPP is
applicable to all full-time Company employees and provides,  among other things,
that if a person's employment is involuntarily terminated, he or she is eligible
to receive a lump sum

                                       18




severance payment in an amount between a minimum of nine months and a maximum of
18 months of base  salary,  depending  on an  employee's  years of  service.  In
addition to the payment of salary,  the ISPP provides employees medical benefits
of between nine and 18 months,  depending on the amount of severance  paid.  The
severance and medical benefits offerings extend for 24 months following a change
in control.

     The Acquisition constituted a change in control as defined in the retention
agreement.  Both  Messrs.  Sprowls  and  Romanowski  left the  Company  upon the
Acquisition.  They are  obtaining  benefits  under their  retention  agreements.
Messrs.  Cisel and Luckey remain in the employment of the Company.  If either of
them were to  terminate  employment  with the Company  prior to January 31, 2005
under the  circumstances  described in the  retention  agreements,  they will be
entitled to benefits calculated as provided in the retention agreements.

                          Ameren Executive Compensation

     The  information  below  regarding the Ameren Named  Executive  Officers is
included in this Proxy Statement for the convenience of  shareholders,  although
none of such persons served as officers of the Company in 2002.

     No options were  granted in fiscal year 2002 to any Ameren Named  Executive
Officer.

     The following  discussion applies to compensation  policy applied by Ameren
to its  subsidiaries  during 2002 and is indicative of compensation  policy that
will apply to the Company during 2003.

Ameren Corporation Human Resources Committee Report on Executive Compensation

     Ameren  Corporation  and its  subsidiaries'  (collectively  referred  to as
"Ameren") goal for executive  compensation  is to approximate  the median of the
range  of  compensation  paid  by  similar  companies.  Accordingly,  the  Human
Resources  Committee of the Board of Directors of Ameren  Corporation,  which is
comprised  entirely  of  non-employee  Directors,  makes  annual  reviews of the
compensation  paid  to  the  executive   officers  of  Ameren.  The  Committee's
compensation  decisions with respect to the five highest paid officers of Ameren
Corporation  and its  principal  subsidiaries  are  subject to  approval by such
company's Board of

                                       19




Directors.  Following the annual reviews, the Committee  authorizes  appropriate
changes  as  determined   by  the  three  basic   components  of  the  executive
compensation program, which are:

          o    Base salary,

          o    A performance-based short-term incentive plan, and

          o    Long-term stock-based awards.

     First,  in evaluating  and setting base  salaries for  executive  officers,
including  the  Chief   Executive   Officers  of  Ameren   Corporation  and  its
subsidiaries,  the Committee considers:  individual responsibilities,  including
changes which may have occurred since the prior review;  individual  performance
in  fulfilling   responsibilities,   including  the  degree  of  competence  and
initiative exhibited;  relative  contribution to the results of operations;  the
impact of  operating  conditions;  the  effect  of  economic  changes  on salary
structure;  and comparisons with  compensation paid by similar  companies.  Such
considerations are subjective,  and specific measures are not used in the review
process.

     The  second   component  of  the  executive   compensation   program  is  a
performance-based  Executive  Incentive  Compensation  Plan  established  by the
Ameren Corporation Board, which provides specific,  direct relationships between
corporate results and Plan compensation.  For 2002, Ameren consolidated year-end
earnings  per  share  (EPS)  target  levels  were  set  by the  Human  Resources
Committee.  There  were  three  EPS  performance  levels  established  for 2002.
Threshold is the minimum EPS  performance  level that incentives will be funded;
Target is the goal or  desired  level of EPS  performance;  and  Maximum  is the
highest level of funding based on exceptional EPS performance. If EPS reaches at
least the threshold target level, the Committee  authorizes  incentive  payments
with  respect to the EPS  performance  level within  prescribed  ranges based on
individual  performance and degree of responsibility.  If EPS fails to reach the
threshold  target  level,  no payments are made.  Under the Plan, it is expected
that  payments to the Chief  Executive  Officers of Ameren  Corporation  and its
subsidiaries  will range from 0-90% of base salary.  For 2002,  actual  payments
ranged from 40% to 48% of base salary.

     The third  component  of the 2002  executive  compensation  program  is the
Long-Term  Incentive Plan of 1998, which also ties  compensation to performance.
The Plan was  approved  by Ameren  Corporation  shareholders  at its 1998 Annual
Meeting and provides  for the grant of options,  restricted  stock,  performance
awards, stock appreciation rights

                                       20




and other awards. The Human Resources  Committee  determines who participates in
the Plan and the number and types of awards to be made.  It also sets the terms,
conditions,  performance  requirements and limitations  applicable to each award
under  the  Plan.  Since  2001,  awards  have  been  exclusively  in the form of
restricted  stock.  Awards  under  the  1998  Plan  have  been  at  levels  that
approximate the median of the range of awards granted by similar companies.

     In  determining  the  reported  2002  compensation  of the Chief  Executive
Officers,  as well as compensation for the other executive  officers,  the Human
Resources Committee considered and applied the factors discussed above. Further,
the  reported  compensation  reflects  a  level  of  achievement  exceeding  the
threshold  but short of the next  higher  target  level in 2002 EPS.  Authorized
compensation  for Ameren's  executive  officers  fell within the ranges of those
paid by similar companies.

                                        Human Resources Committee:

                                        John Peters MacCarthy, Chairman
                                        Thomas A. Hays
                                        Richard A. Liddy
                                        Gordon R. Lohman


                                       21






                        AMEREN SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

                                                                               Long-Term
                                            Annual Compensation           Compensation Awards
                                         -----------------------        ----------------------------
                                                                        Restricted      Securities
                                                                           Stock         Underlying       All Other
          Name and                                                         Awards         Options          Compen-
    Principal Position<F1>     Year        Salary($)     Bonus($)<F2>      ($)<F3>         (#)<F4>         sation($)<F5>
- ---------------------------    ----        ---------     ------------    ----------      ----------       --------------
                                                                                       
G. L. Rainwater                2002         500,000       200,000         375,020               -         22,237
President and                  2001         446,667       139,430         251,997               -         24,762
Chief Operating                2000         400,000       115,200               -          32,600          9,450
Officer, Ameren,
Union Electric and
Ameren Services;
President and Chief
Executive Officer,
CIPS

C. W. Mueller                  2002         730,000       350,400         620,500               -        137,075
Chairman and Chief             2001         700,000       277,200         594,991               -        146,651
Executive Officer,             2000         660,000       235,200               -         108,100         79,421
Ameren, Union
Electric and Ameren
Services

G. L. Randolph                 2002         309,000        93,936         185,385               -         17,496
Senior Vice                    2001         291,000        74,900         174,594               -         20,062
President, Union               2000         276,000        78,700               -          14,100         11,729
Electric, CIPS
and AEG

P. A. Agathen                  2002         296,000        89,984         177,608               -         44,840
Senior Vice                    2001         285,000        69,600         171,019               -         37,167
President, Union               2000         272,000        71,800               -          32,600         27,408
Electric, CIPS,
Ameren Services
and AEG

W. L. Baxter                   2002         293,333       128,000         168,003               -          3,408
Senior Vice                    2001         248,000        61,600          92,784               -          5,095
President (Chief               2000         220,000        47,000               -          14,100          4,634
Financial Officer),
Ameren, CIPS,
Union Electric,
Ameren Services
and AEG

                                       22





     Footnotes to Ameren Summary Compensation Table (Cont.)
<FN>
    <F1>  Includes  compensation  received  as an  officer  of  Ameren  and  its
          subsidiaries.  Each of these  individuals was elected as an officer of
          the Company upon the Acquisition.

    <F2>  Amounts for each fiscal year represent bonus  compensation  earned for
          that year payable in the subsequent year.

    <F3>  Restricted stock awards relate to Ameren common stock.  This column is
          based on the closing  market price of Ameren  common stock on the date
          the  restricted  stock was  awarded  (for  2002,  $42.50  per share on
          February 8, 2002 and for 2001,  $41.57 per share on February 9, 2001).
          The aggregate number of restricted  shares of Ameren common stock held
          at  December  31,  2002 and the value of such  holdings,  based on the
          number of  restricted  shares for which  restrictions  have not lapsed
          times the  closing  market  price at  December  31,  2002  ($41.57 per
          share),  was 16,213  shares and  $673,974  for Mr.  Rainwater;  31,663
          shares and $1,316,231 for Mr.  Mueller;  9,374 shares and $389,677 for
          Mr.  Randolph;  9,082 shares and $377,539 for Mr.  Agathen;  and 6,717
          shares and $279,226 for Mr.  Baxter.  Upon the  achievement of certain
          Ameren  performance  levels,  restricted  shares vest  equally  over a
          seven-year  period  from  the  date  of  grant  (one-seventh  on  each
          anniversary  date).  The vesting period is reduced from seven years to
          three  years  if  Ameren's   ongoing  earnings  per  share  achieve  a
          prescribed  growth rate over the three-year  period.  Restricted stock
          that would otherwise vest remain  restricted until prescribed  minimum
          stock  ownership  levels are  satisfied by the Ameren Named  Executive
          Officer.  Dividends  declared on restricted  shares are  reinvested in
          additional shares of Ameren common stock, which vest concurrently with
          the  restricted  shares.  The  Ameren  Named  Executive  Officers  are
          entitled to voting privileges associated with the restricted shares to
          the extent the restricted shares have not been forfeited.

     <F4> Options relate to Ameren common stock.

     <F5> Amount  includes  matching  contributions  to Ameren's 401(k) plan and
          above-market earnings on deferred compensation.  For fiscal year 2002,
          amount includes (a) matching contributions to Ameren's 401(k) plan and
          (b) above-market earnings on deferred compensation, as follows:

                                              (a)                    (b)
             G. L. Rainwater                  $8,312                 $6,798
             C. W. Mueller                     8,455                105,600
             G. L. Randolph                    8,519                  5,391
             P. A. Agathen                     8,481                 32,472
             W. L. Baxter                          -                  2,311

          For fiscal  year  2002,  amount  also  includes  the  dollar  value of
          insurance  premiums paid by Ameren with respect to term life insurance
          for the benefit of the Ameren Named Executive Officer, as follows:

             G. L. Rainwater                  $7,127
             C. W. Mueller                    23,020
             G. L. Randolph                    3,586
             P. A. Agathen                     3,887
             W. L. Baxter                      1,097

</FN>


                                       23






                   AGGREGATED ameren OPTION EXERCISES IN 2002
                             AND YEAR-END VALUES<F1>



                                                                                               Value of
                                                            Unexercised                     In-the-Money
                        Shares                               Options                           Options
                       Acquired        Value             at Year End(#)                    at Year End($)<F2>
                          On         Realized      -----------------------------      -----------------------------
       Name           Exercise(#)       ($)        Exercisable     Unexercisable      Exercisable     Unexercisable
- ----------------      ----------     ---------     -----------     -------------      -----------     -------------
                                                                                  
G. L. Rainwater           -              -           41,450          44,850            200,020         342,384
C. W. Mueller             -              -          168,525         134,675            739,802       1,173,236
G. L. Randolph            -              -           24,150          18,350            102,991         143,860
P. A. Agathen             -              -           58,150          44,850            235,926         342,384
W. L. Baxter              -              -           22,850          18,350             95,887         143,860

<FN>
        <F1>)  No options were granted in 2002.

        <F2>   These  columns  represent  the  excess  of the  closing  price of
               Ameren's  common  stock of $41.57 per share,  as of December  31,
               2002, above the exercise price of the options.  The amounts under
               the  Exercisable  column  report the "value" of options  that are
               vested and therefore could be exercised. The Unexercisable column
               reports the "value" of options that are not vested and  therefore
               could not be exercised as of December 31, 2002.
</FN>


Ameren Retirement Plan

     Most salaried  employees of Ameren and its subsidiaries earn benefits under
the Ameren  Retirement Plan  immediately  upon  employment.  Benefits  generally
become  vested  after five years of service.  On an annual  basis a  bookkeeping
account in a participant's name is credited with an amount equal to a percentage
of the participant's  pensionable  earnings for the year.  Pensionable  earnings
equals base pay,  overtime and annual  bonuses,  which are equivalent to amounts
shown as "Annual  Compensation"  in the Ameren Summary  Compensation  Table. The
applicable  percentage  is based on the  participant's  age as of December 31 of
that  year.  If the  participant  was an  employee  prior  to July 1,  1998,  an
additional transition credit percentage is credited to the participant's account
through  2007 (or an earlier date if the  participant  had less than 10 years of
service on December 31, 1998).




      Participant's Age             Regular Credit for            Transition Credit
        on December 31             Pensionable Earnings*        Pensionable Earnings             Total Credits
 --------------------------       -----------------------      ---------------------           ----------------
                                                                                            
      Less than 30                          3%                           1%                           4%
      30 to 34                              4%                           1%                           5%
      35 to 39                              4%                           2%                           6%
      40 to 44                              5%                           3%                           8%
      45 to 49                              6%                          4.5%                         10.5%
      50 to 54                              7%                           4%                           11%
      55 and over                           8%                           3%                           11%



          *    An additional  regular  credit of 3% is received for  pensionable
               earnings above the Social Security wage base.



                                       24



     These accounts also receive interest credits based on the average yield for
one-year U.S.  Treasury  Bills for the previous  October,  plus 1%. In addition,
certain annuity benefits earned by participants under prior plans as of December
31,  1997  were  converted  to  additional  credit  balances  under  the  Ameren
Retirement Plan as of January 1, 1998. When a participant terminates employment,
the amount credited to the  participant's  account is converted to an annuity or
paid to the  participant in a lump sum. The participant can also choose to defer
distribution, in which case the account balance is credited with interest at the
applicable rate until the future date of distribution.  Benefits are not subject
to any deduction for Social Security or other offset amounts.

     In certain cases pension benefits under the Ameren Retirement Plan are
reduced to comply with maximum limitations imposed by the Code. A Supplemental
Retirement Plan is maintained by Ameren to provide for a supplemental benefit
equal to the difference between the benefit that would have been paid if these
Code limitations were not in effect and the reduced benefit payable as a result
of these Code limitations. The plan is unfunded and is not a qualified plan
under the Code.

     The  following  table  shows  the  estimated  annual  retirement  benefits,
including  supplemental  benefits,  which would be payable to each Ameren  Named
Executive  Officer listed if he were to retire at age 65 at his 2002 base salary
and annual bonus, and payments were made in the form of a single life annuity.

            Name             Year of 65th Birthday      Estimated Annual Benefit
            ----             ---------------------      ------------------------
      G. L. Rainwater                2011                    $180,000
      C. W. Mueller                  2003                     349,000
      G. L. Randolph                 2013                     158,000
      P. A. Agathen                  2012                      86,000
      W. L. Baxter                   2026                     135,000


Arrangements with Ameren Named Executive Officers

     Ameren  Change of Control  Severance  Plan.  Under the  Ameren  Corporation
Change  of  Control  Severance  Plan,  designated  officers  of  Ameren  and its
subsidiaries,  including the Ameren Named  Executive  Officers,  are entitled to
receive  severance  benefits if their  employment  is  terminated  under certain
circumstances  within  three  years  after a "change of  control."  A "change of
control" occurs, in general, if (i) any individual, entity or group acquires 20%
or more of the outstanding

                                       25




common stock of Ameren or of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting
securities of Ameren;  (ii)  individuals  who, as of the  effective  date of the
plan,  constitute the board of directors of Ameren, or who have been approved by
a  majority  of the board of  directors,  cease for any reason to  constitute  a
majority of the board of directors; or (iii) Ameren enters into certain business
combinations, unless certain requirements are met regarding continuing ownership
of the  outstanding  common  stock  and  voting  securities  of  Ameren  and the
membership  of its board of  directors.  The  Acquisition  did not  constitute a
"change of  control"  as defined  in the  Ameren  Corporation  Change of Control
Severance Plan.

     Severance benefits are based upon a severance period of two or three years,
depending on the  officer's  position.  An officer  entitled to  severance  will
receive the  following:  (a) salary and unpaid  vacation pay through the date of
termination;  (b) a pro rata bonus for the year of  termination  and base salary
and bonus for the severance period;  (c) continued employee welfare benefits for
the severance  period;  (d) a cash payment  equal to the actuarial  value of the
additional benefits the officer would have received under Ameren's qualified and
supplemental  retirement plans if employed for the severance  period;  (e) up to
$30,000 for the cost of outplacement  services;  and (f)  reimbursement  for any
excise tax imposed on such benefits as excess payments under the Code.

     Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary set forth in any of the Company's
filings under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934
that  might  incorporate  other  filings  with the  SEC,  including  this  Proxy
Statement,  in whole or in part, the following  Auditing  Committee Report shall
not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any such filings.

                                       26




                            AUDITING COMMITTEE REPORT

     The Auditing  Committee  reviews Central  Illinois Light Company's  (CILCO)
financial  reporting  process  on  behalf  of  CILCO's  Board of  Directors.  In
fulfilling  its  responsibilities,  the Committee has reviewed and discussed the
audited  financial  statements  to be  included  in the 2002  Annual  Report  on
Securities and Exchange  Commission (SEC) Form 10-K with CILCO's  management and
the  independent  accountants.  Management  is  responsible  for  the  financial
statements and the reporting process, including the system of internal controls.
The  independent  accountants  are  responsible for expressing an opinion on the
conformity of those audited  financial  statements  with  accounting  principles
generally accepted in the United States.

     The Auditing Committee has discussed with the independent accountants,  the
matters  required to be discussed by  Statement  on Auditing  Standards  No. 61,
Communication  with Audit  Committees,  as amended.  In  addition,  the Auditing
Committee has  discussed  with the  independent  accountants,  the  accountants'
independence from CILCO and its management  including the matters in the written
disclosures and the letter required by Independence Standards Board Standard No.
1, Independence Discussions with Audit Committees, received from the independent
accountants.  The Auditing  Committee  has  considered  whether the  independent
accountants'  provision of the services covered under the captions  "Independent
Accountants" - "Financial  Information Systems Design and Implementation  Fees",
"Tax  Fees" and "All  Other  Fees" in the Proxy  Statement  is  compatible  with
maintaining   the   accountants'   independence   and  has  concluded  that  the
accountants'  independence  has not been impaired by their engagement to perform
these services.

     In reliance on the reviews and discussions  referred to above, the Auditing
Committee  recommended  to the Board of  Directors  that the  audited  financial
statements  be included in CILCO's  Annual  Report on SEC Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2002, for filing with the SEC.

                                         Auditing Committee:

                                         Harvey Saligman, Chairman
                                         Richard A. Liddy
                                         Richard A. Lumpkin
                                         Paul L. Miller, Jr.
                                         James W. Wogsland


                                       27



                             INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

Fiscal Year 2002

     Deloitte  & Touche,  LLP  served  as the  independent  accountants  for the
Company in 2002.  Representatives  of  Deloitte & Touche are not  expected to be
present at the Annual Meeting, will not be making any statements and will not be
available to respond to any questions.

     Principal  Accounting  Firm Fees.  Aggregate fees billed to the Company for
the fiscal year ending  December 31, 2002 by the  Company's  principal  auditing
firm, Deloitte & Touche, were as follows:



                                                       
         Audit Fees                                        $  398,540
         Financial Information Systems Design
           and Implementation Fees                         $        0
         Tax Fees                                          $   46,525<F1>
         All Other Fees                                    $   57,201<F2>
<FN>
    <F1>  Tax Fees  includes  tax  consulting  services  for the Company and its
          affiliates, and off-the-shelf tax software programs.

    <F2>  All Other Fees includes  costs for an audit of the  Company's  benefit
          plans,  matters  related to the Company  restructuring  initiative and
          other general matters.
</FN>


Fiscal Year 2003

     The Auditing  Committee of the Company's  Board of  Directors,  the present
members of which are identified in the Auditing Committee Report, at its meeting
on March 14, 2003,  selected  PricewaterhouseCoopers  LLP to replace  Deloitte &
Touche  as  independent  accountants  for the  Company  for 2003.  The  Auditing
Committee made this  replacement  because  PricewaterhouseCoopers  is serving as
independent  accountants  for  Ameren  and  its  other  subsidiaries  for  2003.
Representatives of PricewaterhouseCoopers  are not expected to be present at the
Annual  Meeting,  will not be making any statements and will not be available to
respond to any questions.

Changes in and  Disagreements  With  Accountants  on  Accounting  and  Financial
Disclosure

     The Auditing Committee of the Company's Board of Directors,  at its meeting
on March 14, 2003,  approved the  dismissal of Deloitte & Touche as  independent
accountants  for the Company,  subject to completion of its services  related to
the audit of the fiscal year 2002.  PricewaterhouseCoopers will replace Deloitte
& Touche as the Company's independent accountants.

                                       28




     Deloitte  &  Touche's  reports  on  the  Company's  consolidated  financial
statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001 did not contain
an adverse  opinion or a  disclaimer  of  opinion,  nor were they  qualified  or
modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.

     During  the term of  Deloitte  & Touche's  relationship  with the  Company,
including the Company's two most recent fiscal years and the subsequent  interim
period  through  March 14, 2003,  there were no  disagreements  with  Deloitte &
Touche on any matters of accounting principles or practices, financial statement
disclosure or auditing scope or procedure,  which, if not resolved to Deloitte &
Touche's  satisfaction,  would have caused it to make  reference  to the subject
matter in connection  with its reports on the Company's  consolidated  financial
statements  for such  years,  and no other  events  that would be required to be
disclosed in this Proxy Statement occurred.

     During  the term of  Deloitte  & Touche's  relationship  with the  Company,
including the Company's two most recent fiscal years and the subsequent  interim
period    through    March   14,    2003,    the   Company   did   not   consult
PricewaterhouseCoopers  regarding the application of accounting  principles to a
specified  transaction,  either  contemplated or proposed,  or the type of audit
opinion  that  might  be  rendered  on  the  Company's   consolidated  financial
statements, or any other matter or reportable event that would be required to be
reported in this Proxy Statement.

     On March 20, 2003,  the Company filed with the SEC a Current Report on Form
8-K  regarding  the  change  in  its  independent  accountants.   In  connection
therewith,  the Company  provided to Deloitte & Touche a copy of the  disclosure
relating  thereto.  Please  refer  to that  Current  Report  on Form 8-K and any
amendments  thereto  for a copy of Deloitte & Touche's  letter,  dated March 20,
2003,   indicating  its  agreement  with  those  statements  and  certain  other
information.  For a copy of the  Current  Report on Form 8-K and any  amendments
thereto,    please    visit    Ameren's    home   page   on   the   internet   -
http://www.ameren.com.

                                       29




                              SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

     Any shareholder  proposal  intended for inclusion in the proxy material for
the  Company's  2004  Annual  Meeting of  Shareholders  must be  received by the
Secretary of the Company on or before December 26, 2003. We expect that the 2004
Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held on or around April 27, 2004.

     In addition, under the Company's by-laws, shareholders who intend to submit
a proposal in person at an annual meeting,  or who intend to nominate a director
at a meeting,  must provide advance  written notice along with other  prescribed
information.  In general,  the notice must be received by the  Secretary  of the
Company at the principal  executive  offices of the Company not later than 60 or
earlier  than 90 days prior to the  anniversary  of the previous  year's  annual
meeting.  A copy of the  by-laws  can be  obtained  by  written  request  to the
Secretary of the Company.

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

     In addition to the use of the mails,  proxies may be  solicited by personal
interview or by telephone or other means, and banks, brokers, nominees and other
custodians and fiduciaries will be reimbursed for their reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses in forwarding  soliciting material to their principals,  the beneficial
owners of stock of the Company. Proxies may be solicited by directors,  officers
and key employees of the Company on a voluntary basis without compensation.  The
Company will bear the cost of soliciting proxies on its behalf.

                            ------------------------

A COPY OF THE COMPANY'S MOST RECENT ANNUAL REPORT TO THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION ON FORM 10-K IS BEING FURNISHED WITH THIS PROXY STATEMENT.

FOR UP-TO-DATE  INFORMATION  ABOUT THE COMPANY,  INCLUDING THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL,
QUARTERLY AND CURRENT REPORTS ON FORMS 10-K, 10-Q AND 8-K, RESPECTIVELY,  PLEASE
VISIT AMEREN'S HOME PAGE ON THE INTERNET - http://www.ameren.com

                                       30






CENTRAL ILLINOIS LIGHT COMPANY                                       APPENDIX A
AUDITING COMMITTEE CHARTER

PURPOSE

     The  Auditing  Committee  of the Board of  Directors  assists  the Board in
fulfilling its  responsibility for oversight of the quality and integrity of the
accounting,  auditing  and  reporting  practices  of the  Company and such other
duties as directed by the Board. The Auditing  Committee is expected to maintain
free and open  communication  (including  private  executive  sessions  at least
annually) with the independent accountants and the management of the Company. In
discharging  this  oversight  role,  the  Auditing  Committee  is  empowered  to
investigate  any  matter  brought  to its  attention,  with full power to retain
external auditors, outside counsel or other experts for this purpose.

AUDITING COMMITTEE COMPOSITION AND MEETINGS:

     The Auditing  Committee  shall be  comprised of three or more  directors as
determined  by  the  Board,   each  of  whom  shall  satisfy  the   independence
requirements  of the New York Stock  Exchange and Section 10A of the  Securities
Exchange  Act of 1934,  as amended by the  Sarbanes-Oxley  Act of 2002,  and the
rules promulgated  thereunder.  The Chair and members of the Auditing  Committee
will meet the applicable  requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission
and  the  New  York  Stock  Exchange.   Auditing  Committee  members  shall  not
simultaneously  serve on the audit  committees of more than two additional audit
committees of other public  companies,  unless the Board determines that service
by any  member  of the  Auditing  Committee  on more than two  additional  audit
committees of other public companies (other than controlled  companies of Ameren
Corporation) would not impair the ability of such member to effectively serve on
Central Illinois Light Company's Auditing Committee.  Directors' fees (including
fees for  attendance  at  meetings  of  committees  of the  Board)  are the only
compensation that an Auditing Committee member may receive from the Company.

     The Board  shall  appoint  the Chair  and the  other  members  of the Audit
Committee annually, considering the recommendation of the Nominating & Corporate
Governance  Committee.  If an  Auditing  Committee  Chair is not  designated  or
present, the members of the Auditing Committee may, subject to the provisions of
the  preceding  paragraph,  designate a Chair by majority  vote of the  Auditing
Committee membership.

     The Chair shall be responsible  for  leadership of the Auditing  Committee,
including overseeing the agenda, presiding over the

                                      A-1





meetings and  reporting to the Board.  If the Chair is not present at a meeting,
the  members of the  Auditing  Committee  may  designate a Chair.  The  Auditing
Committee  shall  meet at least  four  times  each year (or more  frequently  if
circumstances  require) and hold such other meetings from time to time as may be
called by its  Chair,  the Chief  Executive  Officer  or any two  members of the
Committee.  Meetings may also be held  telephonically or actions may be taken by
unanimous written consent.  A majority of the members of the Auditing  Committee
shall  constitute  a quorum  of the  Committee.  The vote of a  majority  of the
members of the full Auditing Committee shall be the act of the Committee. Except
as  expressly  provided  in this  Charter or the  By-laws  of the  Company or as
required by law,  regulations or NYSE listing standards,  the Auditing Committee
shall fix its own rules of procedure.

AUDITING COMMITTEE AUTHORITY, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

     1. The Auditing  Committee  is directly  responsible  for the  appointment,
compensation and oversight of the work of the independent  accountants  employed
by the Company (including resolution of disagreements between management and the
accountants  regarding  financial  reporting)  for the purpose of  preparing  or
issuing an audit  report or related  work.  The  independent  accountants  shall
report directly to the Auditing Committee.

     2. The  Auditing  Committee  shall  have the sole  authority  to appoint or
replace the independent  accountants that audit the financial  statements of the
Company.   The  Auditing   Committee  shall  have  the  ultimate  authority  and
responsibility  to evaluate the performance of the independent  accountants and,
where  appropriate,  replace the independent  accountants.  In the process,  the
Auditing   Committee  will  discuss  and  consider  the   accountants'   written
affirmation  that the  accountants  are in fact  independent,  will  discuss the
nature and rigor of the audit  process,  receive and review all reports and will
provide to the  independent  accountants  full access to the Auditing  Committee
(and the Board) to report on any and all appropriate matters.

     3. The Auditing  Committee  shall ensure that the  independent  accountants
submit on a quarterly  basis to the Auditing  Committee a statement  delineating
all  relationships  between  the  independent  accountants  and the  Company and
actively engage in a dialogue with the independent  accountants  with respect to
any  disclosed  relationships  or  services  that may  impact  the  accountants'
objectivity  and  independence;  and,  if  deemed  appropriate  by the  Auditing
Committee,  recommend  that the Board of Directors  take  appropriate  action to
ensure the independence of the accountants.


                                      A-2




     4. The Auditing Committee shall review with the independent accountants and
with the internal  auditors the  proposed  scope of the annual audit  (including
planning, staffing, budget, locations and reliance upon management),  past audit
experience,  the Company's  internal audit program,  recently completed internal
audits  and other  matters  bearing  upon the scope of the audit.  The  Auditing
Committee  shall  approve  all  audit   engagement  fees  and  terms  and  other
significant  compensation to be paid to the  independent  accountants as well as
approve all non-audit engagements with the independent accountants. The Auditing
Committee   shall  consult  with   management   but  shall  not  delegate  these
responsibilities,  except  that  pre-approvals  of  non-audit  services  may  be
delegated to a single member of the Auditing Committee.

     5. The Auditing  Committee shall review and discuss with management and the
independent  accountants the annual audited financial  statements to be included
in the Company's Form 10-K filing,  including matters  regarding  accounting and
auditing  principles as well as internal  controls that could have a significant
effect on the Company's  financial  statements and any other matters required to
be  discussed  by the  Statement  on Auditing  Standards  No. 61, as modified or
supplemented,  relating to the conduct of the audit,  prior to the filing of the
Company's  Form 10-K. The Auditing  Committee  shall also recommend to the Board
that the  Company's  annual  financial  statements,  together with the report of
their  independent  accountants  as to their  examination,  be  included  in the
Company's Form 10-K.

     6. The Auditing  Committee shall review and discuss with management and the
independent  accountants the Company's  quarterly  financial  statements and the
matters required to be discussed pursuant to Statement on Auditing Standards No.
61, as modified or supplemented, prior to the filing of the Company's Form 10-Q,
including the results of the independent  accountants'  reviews of the quarterly
financial statements to the extent applicable.

     7. The Auditing  Committee shall review and discuss with management and the
independent  accountants,  as applicable,  (a) major issues regarding accounting
principles  and financial  statement  presentations,  including any  significant
changes in the Company's selection or application of accounting principles,  and
major  issues as to the  adequacy of the  Company's  internal  controls  and any
special  audit steps  adopted in light of  material  control  deficiencies;  (b)
analyses  prepared by management or the  independent  accountants  setting forth
significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the
preparation of the financial  statements,  including  analyses of the effects of
alternative GAAP methods on the financial statements; (c) any


                                      A-3




management  letter provided by the independent  accountants and the management's
response  to  that  letter;  (d)  any  problems,   difficulties  or  differences
encountered in the course of the audit work,  including any  disagreements  with
management  or  restrictions  on  the  scope  of  the  independent  accountants'
activities  or on access to  requested  information  and  management's  response
thereto;  (e) the effect of regulatory  and accounting  initiatives,  as well as
off-balance  sheet  structures  derivatives  and  liquidity  exposures,  on  the
financial  statements  of the  Company;  (f)  earnings  press  releases  (paying
particular  attention  to any  use  of  "pro  forma,"  or  "adjusted"  non-GAAP,
information),  as well as financial information and earnings guidance (generally
or on a case-by-case  basis) provided to analysts and rating  agencies;  and (g)
suggestions or  recommendations  of the independent  accountants or the internal
auditors regarding any of the foregoing items.

     8. The  Auditing  Committee  shall  obtain  and  review  a report  from the
independent   accountants  at  least  annually  regarding  (a)  the  independent
accountants' internal quality-control procedures, (b) any material issues raised
by the most recent  quality-control  review,  or peer review, of the firm, or by
any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional  authorities within
the preceding five years respecting one or more  independent  audits carried out
by the firm,  (c) any  steps  taken to deal  with any such  issues,  and (d) all
relationships between the independent  accountants and the Company. The Auditing
Committee shall evaluate the qualifications, performance and independence of the
independent  accountants,  including a review and evaluation of the lead partner
of the independent accountant and taking into account the opinions of management
and the Company's internal auditors.

     9. The Auditing  Committee shall,  commencing in 2004, ensure that the lead
audit partner of the independent  accountants  and the concurring  audit partner
responsible  for  reviewing  the audit are  rotated at least every five years as
required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and further consider rotation of the
independent accountant firm itself.

     10. The Auditing  Committee  shall  recommend to the Board policies for the
Company's hiring of employees or former employees of the independent accountants
who were engaged on the Company's account  (recognizing that the  Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002 does not permit the CEO, controller, CFO or chief accounting officer
to have  participated  in the Company's  audit as an employee of the independent
accountants during the preceding one-year period).

     11. The Auditing  Committee shall discuss with the independent  accountants
any communications between the audit team and the audit


                                      A-4




firm's national office respecting auditing or accounting issues presented by the
engagement.

     12. The Auditing  Committee shall obtain and review disclosures made by the
Company's  principal executive officer and principal financial officer regarding
compliance   with  their   certification   obligations  as  required  under  the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules promulgated  thereunder,  including the
Company's disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls for financial
reporting and evaluations thereof.

     13.  The  Auditing   Committee  shall  meet  on  a  regular  basis  with  a
representative  or  representatives  of the internal auditors of the Company and
review the reports of the internal auditors.

     14.  The  Auditing  Committee  shall  review the  independent  accountants'
assessment of the Company's internal controls and internal auditing function.

     15. The  Auditing  Committee  shall  review the  appointment,  replacement,
reassignment or dismissal of the internal audit manager or approve the retention
of, and  engagement  terms for,  any third  party  provider  of  internal  audit
services.

     16. The Auditing  Committee shall maintain and review  annually  procedures
for (a) the  receipt,  retention  and  treatment of  complaints  received by the
Company regarding  accounting,  internal accounting controls or auditing matters
and (b) the  confidential,  anonymous  submission by employees of the Company of
concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.

     17.  In  conjunction  with  management,  the  internal  auditors,  and  the
independent  accountants,   the  Auditing  Committee  shall  review  significant
financial risks to the Company and the steps taken to manage such risks.

     18. The Auditing  Committee shall review policies and procedures related to
officers' expense accounts and perquisites, including use of corporate assets.

     19. The Auditing  Committee shall review legal and regulatory  matters that
may have a material effect on financial  statements,  related Company compliance
policies, and reports to regulators.

     20. The Auditing  Committee shall meet  separately with internal  auditors,
independent accountants and management at least quarterly.


                                      A-5






     21.  The  Auditing   Committee  shall  regularly   report  its  significant
activities and actions to the Board of Directors.

     22. The  Auditing  Committee  shall  prepare a report for  inclusion in the
Company's  annual  proxy  statement as required by rules of the  Securities  and
Exchange Commission and submit it to the Board for approval.

     23. The Auditing  Committee  shall annually  review the  performance of the
Auditing Committee.

     24. The Auditing  Committee  shall review and reassess the adequacy of this
Charter on an annual basis and submit any  recommended  changes to the Board for
approval.

     25. The  Auditing  Committee  shall  review any reports of the  independent
accountants  mandated by Section 10A of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended,  and obtain  from the  independent  accountants  any  information  with
respect to illegal acts in accordance with Section 10A.

     While the Auditing Committee has the authority, duties and responsibilities
set  forth  in  this  Charter,  the  Auditing  Committee's  function  is  one of
oversight.  The Company's  management is responsible for preparing the Company's
financial  statements and, along with the internal auditors,  for developing and
maintaining  systems of internal  accounting and financial  controls,  while the
independent  accountants  will assist the  Auditing  Committee  and the Board in
fulfilling their responsibilities for their review of these financial statements
and  internal   controls.   The  Auditing   Committee  expects  the  independent
accountants  to call to  their  attention  any  accounting,  auditing,  internal
accounting  control,  regulatory  or other  related  matters  that they  believe
warrant  consideration  or action.  The Auditing  Committee  recognizes that the
financial  management  and  the  internal  and  outside  accountants  have  more
knowledge and information about the Company than do Auditing  Committee members.
Consequently,  in carrying  out its  oversight  responsibilities,  the  Auditing
Committee  does not provide any expert or special  assurance as to the Company's
financial  statements or internal controls or any professional  certification as
to the independent accountants' work.


                                      A-6







                                   PROXY CARD

                                      Back
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PROXY.  PLEASE DATE AND SIGN  EXACTLY AS NAME  APPEARS  BELOW.  EACH JOINT OWNER
        SHOULD SIGN.  ATTORNEY,  EXECUTOR,  ADMINISTRATOR,  TRUSTEE, OR OTHERS
        SIGNING IN A REPRESENTATIVE CAPACITY SHOULD GIVE THEIR FULL TITLES.

                                                                            
DATE: _________________________________, 2003          1. Election of Directors (Please mark appropriate box with an "X")

                                                             FOR all nominees listed           WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
____________________________________________           [   ] below (except as marked    [    ] to vote for all nominees
SIGNATURE/S                                                  to the contrary below)            listed below

____________________________________________           Paul A. Agathen, Warner L. Baxter, Scott A. Cisel, Richard A. Liddy,
                                                       Richard A. Lumpkin, Paul L. Miller, Jr., Charles W. Mueller, Douglas R.
     [     ] ATTENDANCE CARD                           Oberhelman, Gary L. Rainwater, Harvey Saligman and Thomas R. Voss
             REQUESTED
                                                       Instructions: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee,
                                                       write that nominee's name in the space provided below.

                                                       _______________________________________________________________________

NO POSTAGE REQUIRED IF RETURNED IN THE ENCLOSED
ENVELOPE AND MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.
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                       [GRAPHIC OMITTED][GRAPHIC OMITTED]

           THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

     The undersigned  hereby appoints Gary L. Rainwater,  Steven R. Sullivan and Craig W.
Stensland  attorneys and proxies with power of  substitution  to each, with  authority  to vote all shares
which the  undersigned  would be entitled to vote if personally present at the 2003 annual meeting of
shareholders of Central Illinois  Light Company,  or at any  adjournment  thereof,  upon the election of
directors as set forth in the notice of meeting and proxy  statement dated April 23,  2003,  and, in their
discretion,  upon any other matter which may properly come before the meeting. The shares
represented hereby will be voted as directed on the reverse of this card.

IF NOT OTHERWISE DIRECTED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
                 (CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON THE OTHER SIDE)
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