<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>                            9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                  DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                     JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                       SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                          PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>            1,480,197
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>            116,008
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                 188,443
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>               127,837
<OTHER-ASSETS>                          28,295
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                       1,940,780
<COMMON>                               356,812
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                    313,025
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>         669,837
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                        0
<PREFERRED>                             80,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                   570,433
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                           0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                    0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>          36,358
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                    0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                  0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                             0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>         584,152
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>        1,940,780
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>              649,435
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                    34,898
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>             522,023
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>             556,921<F1>
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                 92,514<F1>
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                        (488)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>          92,026
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                27,596
<NET-INCOME>                            64,430<F2>
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>              2,782
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>           61,648
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                53,830
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                    0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                  64,662
<EPS-PRIMARY>                             1.81
<EPS-DILUTED>                             1.81

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