<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>  THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM 
THE BALANCE SHEET, INCOME STATEMENT AND CASH FLOW STATEMENT OF ILLINOIS POWER
COMPANY AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO THE BALANCE 
SHEET, INCOME STATEMENT AND CASH FLOW STATEMENT OF ILLINOIS POWER COMPANY.
       
                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                         4658
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                         17
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                             374
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                           457
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                    5508
<COMMON>                                          1330
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                173
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                    1508
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                              197
<PREFERRED>                                        104
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                              1605
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                 106
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                     190
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                       62
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                         60
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                    34
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                    1648
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                     5506
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                          812
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                65
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                         584
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                         649
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                            163
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 (1)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                     162
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                            64
<NET-INCOME>                                        98
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         12
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                       86
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                            39
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                           61
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                             217
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0