<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>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      865,057
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      3,567
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         117,901
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        17,442
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,003,967
<COMMON>                                       185,661
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            132,349
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 318,010
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           22,000
<PREFERRED>                                     44,120
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           237,909
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  39,300
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   30,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      1,449
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   499
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 310,680
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,003,967
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      271,372
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             9,359
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     233,461
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     242,820
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         28,552
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               (890)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  27,662
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        11,472
<NET-INCOME>                                    16,190
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,570
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   14,620
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        16,741
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        9,617
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          49,745
<EPS-BASIC>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0