<ARTICLE>  UT
<LEGEND>

                                                                     Exhibit 27


 
                              AMEREN CORPORATION
                             10-Q SEPTEMBER 30, 1998
                           FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE UT
          PUBLIC UTILITY COMPANIES AND PUBLIC UTILITY HOLDING COMPANIES
                  APPENDIX E TO ITEM 601 (C) OF REGULATION S-K
                 (Thousands of Dollars Except Per Share Amounts)

</LEGEND>

       

                                                      
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                  9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                        DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                             SEP-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                  6,924,409
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                  226,884
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     1,075,461
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                      71,797
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                               823,592
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                             9,122,143
<COMMON>                                                       1,372
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                  1,582,720
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                        1,533,244
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                             3,117,336
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                              0
<PREFERRED>                                                  235,197
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                       2,331,296
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                            72,403
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                          0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                     0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                234,444
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                          0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                   60,323
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                              14,102
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                             3,057,042
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                              9,122,143
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                  2,639,705
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                         242,290
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                 1,895,173
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                 2,137,463
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                      502,242
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                            (1,862)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                               500,380
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                     130,750
<NET-INCOME>                                                 360,216
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                    9,414
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                360,216
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                     261,395
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                          0  <F1>
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                       609,054
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                   2.63
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                   2.63

<FN>
<F1>  Required on fiscal year-end only
</FN>