<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS 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-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      864,618
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     20,467
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         183,189
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        48,901
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 164,701
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,281,876
<COMMON>                                       190,760
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            180,927
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 371,687
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           22,000
<PREFERRED>                                     44,120
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           298,531
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              57,931
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   22,181
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      2,295
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   430
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 462,701
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,281,876
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      597,221
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            14,575
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     529,972
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     544,547
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         52,674
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               (824)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  51,850
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        20,825
<NET-INCOME>                                    31,025
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      2,415
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   28,610
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        25,112
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       15,064
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          67,385
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.10
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.10