<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-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      867,680
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    179,232
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         187,733
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        41,984
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,276,629
<COMMON>                                       192,567
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            164,589
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 357,156
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           22,000
<PREFERRED>                                     44,120
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           298,567
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              45,207
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  37,900
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      1,827
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   468
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 469,384
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,276,629
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      934,831
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            14,956
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     864,279
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     879,235
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         55,596
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 745
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  54,851
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        22,780
<NET-INCOME>                                    32,071
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      2,396
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   29,675
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        25,112
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       17,237
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          59,691
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.18
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.17