<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
STATEMENT OF INCOME, STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS AND BALANCE SHEET AND IS QUALIFIED
IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000018651
<NAME> CENTRAL ILLINOIS LIGHT COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      854,517
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      5,082
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         134,606
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        21,490
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,015,695
<COMMON>                                       185,661
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       27,000
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            135,507
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 348,168
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           22,000
<PREFERRED>                                     44,120
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           237,945
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  29,900
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      1,046
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   532
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 331,984
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,015,695
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      156,470
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             8,582
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     127,969
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     136,551
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         19,919
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 333
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  20,252
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         5,409
<NET-INCOME>                                    14,843
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        840
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   14,003
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        4,531
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          51,699
<EPS-BASIC>                                          0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0