<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>                   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>                      3,250
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         112,350
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        26,693
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,009,973
<COMMON>                                       185,661
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            139,882
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 325,543
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           22,000
<PREFERRED>                                     44,120
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           267,872
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<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>                 310,243
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,009,973
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      402,200
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            23,872
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     320,596
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     344,468
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         57,732
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               (467)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  57,265
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        16,956
<NET-INCOME>                                    40,309
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      2,396
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   37,913
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        45,112
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       14,690
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          90,900
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0