<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-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                       862522
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                       3642
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          145044
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                         24913
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1036121
<COMMON>                                        185661
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             122838
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                  308499
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            22000
<PREFERRED>                                      44120
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                            237921
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                   57600
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    30000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                       1317
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   510
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                  334154
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  1036121
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       422917
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                              9261
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      379041
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      388302
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          34615
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              (1434)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   33181
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         17330
<NET-INCOME>                                     15851
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       2372
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    13479
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         25112
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        14425
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                           54303
<EPS-BASIC>                                          0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0