<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
STATEMENT OF INCOME, STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS AND BALANCE SHEET AND IS QUALIFIED
IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

<CIK> 0000018651
<NAME> CENTRAL ILLINOIS LIGHT COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      855,056
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      3,789
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         167,451
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        22,687
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,048,983
<COMMON>                                       185,661
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       27,000
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            139,364
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 352,025
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           22,000
<PREFERRED>                                     19,120
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           245,969
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  75,200
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                        763
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   555
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 333,351
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,048,983
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      438,821
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            22,399
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     361,248
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     383,647
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         55,174
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             (2,197)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  52,977
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        16,681
<NET-INCOME>                                    36,296
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      2,437
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   33,859
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        16,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       13,188
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          89,504
<EPS-BASIC>                                          0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0