<ARTICLE>  UT
<LEGEND>

                                                                      Exhibit 27
                     CENTRAL ILLINOIS PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
                             10-Q SEPTEMBER 30, 2000
                           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)





                                                     
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                       DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                            SEP-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                               PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                   823,126
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                       0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                      293,320
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                    728,260
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                               13,968
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                            1,858,674
<COMMON>                                                    120,033
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                         0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                         434,899
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                              554,932
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                             0
<PREFERRED>                                                  80,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                        463,145
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                         0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                    0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                30,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                         0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                       0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                  0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                              730,597
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                             1,858,674
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                   669,694
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                         47,165
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                  533,616
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                  580,781
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                      88,913
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                           17,988
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                              106,901
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                     28,837
<NET-INCOME>                                                 78,064
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                   2,857
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                75,207
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                     54,171
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                         0  
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                      139,267
<EPS-BASIC>                                                    0.00  
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                  0.00  


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