<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>                           0000860520
<NAME>                         CIPSCO Inc.
<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>        113,310
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>             206,973
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>            64,754<F1>
<OTHER-ASSETS>                      28,495
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                   1,871,656
<COMMON>                           356,812
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                304,782
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>     661,594
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                    0
<PREFERRED>                         80,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>               421,227
<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>     593,067
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>    1,871,656
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>          896,715
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                49,557
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>         723,706
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>         773,263<F2>
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>            123,452<F2>
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                  (2,784)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>     120,668
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>            36,890
<NET-INCOME>                        83,778<F3>
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>          3,721
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>       80,057
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>            70,524
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>           33,118
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>             173,025
<EPS-PRIMARY>                         2.35
<EPS-DILUTED>                         2.35

<FN>
<F1> INFORMATION NOT NORMALLY DISCLOSED IN FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND NOTES.
<F2> INCLUDES INCOME TAX EXPENSE.
<F3> NET INCOME BEFORE PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS OF SUBSIDIARY