<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> 0000762129
<NAME> CILCORP INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      875,077
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     21,705
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         138,184
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        58,919
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 138,776
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,232,661
<COMMON>                                       189,606
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            183,262
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 372,868
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           22,000
<PREFERRED>                                     44,120
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           321,056
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               7,300
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                     500
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   23,039
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      2,725
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   395
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 438,658
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,232,661
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      446,255
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            15,388
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     380,747
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     396,135
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         50,120
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                (568)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  49,552
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        21,764
<NET-INCOME>                                    27,788
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      2,396
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   25,392
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        24,778
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       15,777
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          99,992
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.89
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.89