<ARTICLE> OPUR1
<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> 0000762129
<NAME> CILCORP INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      880,528
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     21,669
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         148,013
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        41,796
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 136,413
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,228,419
<COMMON>                                       182,967
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            184,835
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 367,802
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           22,000
<PREFERRED>                                     44,120
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           323,910
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              19,070
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   23,048
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      2,927
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   379
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 425,163
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,228,419
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      177,986
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             6,590
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     152,506
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     159,096
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         18,890
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               (926)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  17,964
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         6,755
<NET-INCOME>                                    11,209
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        815
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   10,394
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         8,207
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          48,251
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .78
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .78