<ARTICLE>   UT
<LEGEND>


                                                                     Exhibit 27

                     CENTRAL ILLINOIS PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
                             10-Q SEPTEMBER 30, 1999
                           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)

</LEGEND>




                                                   
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                  9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                        DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                             SEP-30-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                  1,480,740
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                        0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                       269,809
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                      29,526
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                41,553
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                             1,821,628
<COMMON>                                                     120,033
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                          0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                          477,525
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                               597,558
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                              0
<PREFERRED>                                                   80,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                         493,586
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                 0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                          0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                     0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                 35,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                          0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                        0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                   0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                               615,484
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                              1,821,628
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                    709,028
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                          43,380
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                   557,113
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                   600,493
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                      108,535
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                             1,606
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                               110,141
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                      31,863
<NET-INCOME>                                                  78,278
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                    2,842
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                 75,436
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                      53,297
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                          0  <F1>
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                       163,491
<EPS-BASIC>                                                     0.00  <F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                   0.00  <F2>

<FN>
<F1>  Required in fiscal year-end only.
<F2>  Information not normally disclosed in financial statements and notes.
</FN>