<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> 0000018651
<NAME> CENTRAL ILLINOIS LIGHT COMPANY
<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>                      4,275
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         105,317
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        18,355
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 990,765
<COMMON>                                       185,661
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            145,225
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 330,886
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           22,000
<PREFERRED>                                     44,120
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           267,848
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                   1,200
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   10,650
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      2,066
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   449
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 311,546
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  990,765
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      149,080
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             7,777
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     122,979
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     130,756
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         18,324
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               (287)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  18,037
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         5,721
<NET-INCOME>                                    12,316
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        802
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   11,514
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        13,371
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        4,960
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          46,724
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0