<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
 THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 EXTRACTED FROM THE STATEMENT OF INCOME, STATEMENT OF
 CASH FLOWS, BALANCE SHEET AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
 ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                           
<CIK>                          0000018654
<NAME>                         CIPS
<MULTIPLIER>                        1,000
<PERIOD-TYPE>                  YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>              DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                 JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                   DEC-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                      PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>        1,458,124
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>              0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>             202,952
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>            64,754
<OTHER-ASSETS>                      27,488
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                   1,753,318
<COMMON>                           121,282
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                459,942
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>     581,224
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                    0
<PREFERRED>                         80,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>               421,228
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                       0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>      57,768
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>       58,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>              0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                         0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>     555,098
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>    1,753,318
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>          886,186
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                47,693
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>         721,962
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>         769,655<F2>
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>            116,531
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                  (1,867)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>     114,664
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>            37,271
<NET-INCOME>                        73,672
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>          3,721
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>       77,393
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>            62,950
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>           33,118
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>             164,524
<EPS-PRIMARY>                            0<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                            0<F1>

<FN>
<F1> INFORMATION NOT NORMALLY DISCLOSED IN FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND NOTES.
<F2> INCLUDES INCOME TAX EXPENSE.