<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
 THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 EXTRACTED FROM THE STATEMENT OF INCOME, STATEMENT OF
 CASH FLOWS, BALANCE SHEET AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
 ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                                        
<CIK>                               0000018654
<NAME>                                    CIPS
<MULTIPLIER>                             1,000
<PERIOD-TYPE>                            3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                  DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                     JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                       MAR-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                          PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>            1,481,360
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                 184,162
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                31,798
<OTHER-ASSETS>                          51,949
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                       1,749,269
<COMMON>                               120,033
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                    445,315
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>         565,348
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                        0
<PREFERRED>                             80,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                   562,528
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                      49,500
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                    0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>               0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>            5,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                    0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                  0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                             0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>         486,893
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>        1,749,269
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>              199,515
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                     4,348
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>             173,435
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>             177,783<F1>
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                 21,732
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                         400
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>          22,132
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                10,014
<NET-INCOME>                            12,118
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                984
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>           11,134
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                17,155
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                    0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                  52,717
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                0<F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                0<F2>

<FN>
<F1> INCLUDES INCOME TAX EXPENSE.
<F2> INFORMATION NOT NORMALLY DISCLOSED IN FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND NOTES.