<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>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      864,925
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     20,631
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         156,610
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        43,545
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 156,274
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,241,985
<COMMON>                                       190,760
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            178,791
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 369,551
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           22,000
<PREFERRED>                                     44,120
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           320,669
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              24,500
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    3,041
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      2,514
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   412
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 455,178
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,241,985
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      192,236
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             4,195
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     170,131
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     174,326
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         17,910
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               (330)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  17,580
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         7,075
<NET-INCOME>                                    10,505
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        786
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    9,719
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         8,373
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        5,144
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          52,013
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .71
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .71