<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> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      879,127
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     21,503
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         130,086
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        44,142
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 137,050
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,211,908
<COMMON>                                       186,195
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            179,102
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 365,297
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           22,000
<PREFERRED>                                     44,120
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           324,158
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               6,870
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   23,044
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      2,827
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   387
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 423,205
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,211,908
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      307,693
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             7,829
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     270,103
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     277,932
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         29,761
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               (409)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  29,352
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        14,831
<NET-INCOME>                                    14,521
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,601
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   12,920
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        16,466
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       10,527
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          76,512
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .96
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .96