<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>                            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>                  0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                 187,168
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>               127,837
<OTHER-ASSETS>                          27,167
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                       1,822,369
<COMMON>                               121,283
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                    473,237
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>         594,520
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                        0
<PREFERRED>                             80,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                   570,433
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                           0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                    0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>          33,558
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                    0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                  0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                             0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>         543,858
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>        1,822,369
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>              640,609
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                    32,804
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>             520,641
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>             553,445<F1>
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                 87,164
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                        (251)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>          86,913
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                27,961
<NET-INCOME>                            58,952
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>              2,782
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>           56,170
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                43,300
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                    0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                  59,791
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                0<F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                0<F2>

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