<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-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      862,818
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    191,268
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         220,659
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        27,648
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,302,393
<COMMON>                                       192,567
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            159,349
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 351,916
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           22,000
<PREFERRED>                                     44,120
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           298,543
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              47,250
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                   1,200
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   22,170
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      2,066
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   449
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 512,679
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,302,393
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      376,145
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             3,895
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     355,921
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     359,816
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         16,329
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 222
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  16,107
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         7,611
<NET-INCOME>                                     8,496
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        802
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    7,694
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         8,371
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        5,872
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          36,225
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .57
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .56