<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>                            3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                  DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                     JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                       MAR-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                          PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>            1,455,388
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>            115,830
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                 194,399
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>               134,380
<OTHER-ASSETS>                          29,743
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                       1,929,740
<COMMON>                               356,812
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                    302,592
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>         659,404
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                        0
<PREFERRED>                             80,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                   493,303
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                           0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                    0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>          41,025
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>           58,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                    0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                  0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                             0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>         598,008
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>        1,929,740
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>              225,343
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                     9,476
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>             191,394
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>             200,870<F1>
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                 24,473<F1>
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                         (71)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>          24,402
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                 7,938
<NET-INCOME>                            16,464<F2>
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                913
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>           15,551
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                17,716
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                    0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                 (14,104)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                              .46
<EPS-DILUTED>                              .46

<FN>
<F1> INCLUDES INCOME TAX EXPENSE.
<F2> NET INCOME BEFORE PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDEND OF SUBSIDIARY