Exhibit 32.6


                           SECTION 1350 CERTIFICATION
                        OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER OF
                     CENTRAL ILLINOIS PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
                         (required by Section 906 of the
                           Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)


In connection  with the report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly  period ended June
30, 2004 of Central  Illinois  Public Service  Company (the  "Company") as filed
with the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  on the date  hereof  (the "Form
10-Q"), I, Warner L. Baxter,  chief financial  officer of the Company,  certify,
pursuant  to  18  U.S.C.   ss.1350,   as  adopted  pursuant  to  ss.906  of  the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)  The Form 10-Q fully  complies  with the  requirements  of Section  13(a) or
     15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)); and

(2)  The information contained in the Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all material
     respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.


Dated: August 9, 2004



                                       /s/ Warner L. Baxter
                                       ----------------------------------
                                       Warner L. Baxter
                                       Executive Vice President and
                                       Chief Financial Officer
                                       (Principal Financial Officer)