UNION ELECTRIC CO
10-Q, 1998-11-13
ELECTRIC SERVICES
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<PAGE>


                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549


                                    FORM 10-Q

              [X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
                  OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                  For Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 1998

             [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
                 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                 For The Transition Period From       to



                         Commission file number 1-2967.


                             UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


           Missouri                                              43-0559760
(State or other jurisdiction of                               (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                               Identification No.)


                 1901 Chouteau Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63103
              (Address of principal executive offices and Zip Code)



                         Registrant's telephone number,
                       including area code: (314) 621-3222



         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934  during  the  preceding  12 months  (or for such  shorter  period  that the
registrant was required to file such reports),  and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.




                     Yes    X   .   No        .
                         -------       -------


Shares outstanding of each of registrant's classes of common stock as of October
   31, 1998:
       Common Stock,  $5 par value,  held by Ameren  Corporation  (parent
          company of Registrant) - 102,123,834


<PAGE>


                             Union Electric Company

                                      Index

                                                                        Page No.

Part I         Financial Information (Unaudited)

               Management's Discussion and Analysis                        2

               Balance Sheet
               - September 30, 1998 and December 31, 1997                  8

               Statement of Income
               - Three months, nine months and 12 months ended
                  September 30, 1998 and 1997                              9

               Statement of Cash Flows
               - Nine months ended September 30, 1998 and 1997            10

               Notes to Financial Statements                              11


Part II        Other Information                                          12


<PAGE>

                    PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS

OVERVIEW

Union Electric  Company  (AmerenUE or the  Registrant) is a subsidiary of Ameren
Corporation  (Ameren),  a holding  company which is registered  under the Public
Utility  Holding  Company Act of 1935 (PUHCA).  In December  1997,  AmerenUE and
CIPSCO Incorporated (CIPSCO) combined to form Ameren, with AmerenUE and CIPSCO's
subsidiaries,  Central  Illinois Public Service Company  (AmerenCIPS) and CIPSCO
Investment  Company (CIC),  becoming  wholly-owned  subsidiaries  of Ameren (the
Merger).

The following  discussion and analysis  should be read in  conjunction  with the
Notes  to  Financial  Statements  beginning  on page  10,  and the  Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A),
the Audited Financial Statements and the Notes to Financial Statements appearing
in the Registrant's 1997 Form 10-K.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Earnings
Third  quarter 1998 earnings of $204 million  increased $23 million  compared to
1997 third quarter  earnings.  Earnings for the nine months ended  September 30,
1998  increased $18 million from the year-ago  period to $296 million.  Earnings
for the twelve months ended September 30, 1998, were $311 million, a $20 million
increase from the preceding 12-month period.  Excluding the extraordinary charge
recorded  in the  fourth  quarter  of 1997 to write  off the  generation-related
regulatory  assets and liabilities of the Registrant's  Illinois retail electric
business,  earnings for the 12-month  period ended September 30, 1998, were $338
million.

Earnings  fluctuated  due to many  conditions,  the primary ones being:  weather
variations,  credits to electric customers,  sales growth, fluctuating operating
costs,  the  write-off  of  certain  generation-related  regulatory  assets  and
liabilities,  merger-related  costs, and targeted  separation plan expense.  The
significant items affecting revenues, costs and earnings during the three-month,
nine-month and 12-month  periods ended September 30, 1998, and 1997 are detailed
below.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Electric Operations
Electric Operating Revenues                     Variations for periods ended September 30, 1998
                                                      from comparable prior-year periods
- --------------------------------------------- ---------------- --------------- ------------------
(Millions of Dollars)                           Three Months     Nine Months      Twelve Months
- --------------------------------------------- ---------------- --------------- ------------------
<S>                                                <C>            <C>                <C>   
Credit to customers                                 $    -         $  (24)            $ (22)
Effect of abnormal weather                              42             64                66
Growth and other                                        (6)            41                50
Interchange sales                                       35             23                 9
- --------------------------------------------- ------------------- ------------ ------------------
                                                   $    71          $ 104             $ 103
- --------------------------------------------- ------------------- ------------ ------------------
</TABLE>

The $71 million  increase in third  quarter  electric  revenues  compared to the
year-ago  quarter was  primarily  due to warmer  summer  weather  and  increased
interchange sales.  Weather-sensitive residential and commercial sales increased
15 percent  and 7 percent,  respectively,  while  industrial  sales  increased 3
percent, due to the strong regional economy.

Electric  revenues for the first nine months of 1998 increased $104 million over
the same period in 1997  primarily due to warmer summer  weather,  growth in the
service  territory  and  increased  interchange  revenues,  partially  offset by
increased  credits to customers (see Note 5 under Notes to Financial  Statements
for  further  information).   Residential,   commercial,  and  industrial  sales
increased 10 percent, 5 percent, and 2 percent, respectively.

The $103 million increase in electric revenues for the 12 months ended September
30, 1998,  compared to the prior 12-month  period was primarily due to favorable
weather  and  growth  in the  service  territory,  partially  offset by a higher
estimated  Missouri customer credit recorded during the period (see Note 5 under
Notes to Financial Statements for further information).  Residential, commercial
and  industrial   sales  increased  9  percent,   4  percent,   and  2  percent,
respectively.

                                      -2-

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fuel and Purchased Power                       Variations for periods ended September 30, 1998
                                                      from comparable prior-year periods
- --------------------------------------------- ---------------- --------------- -----------------
(Millions of Dollars)                           Three Months     Nine Months     Twelve Months
- --------------------------------------------- ---------------- --------------- -----------------
<S>                                                <C>            <C>               <C>
Fuel:
    Variation in generation                         $  15          $   7             $   6
     Price                                             (6)             1                (5)
     Generation efficiencies and other                  -              3                 2
Purchased power variation                              14             29                29
- --------------------------------------------- ---------------- --------------- ----------------
                                                    $  23          $  40             $  32
- --------------------------------------------- ---------------- --------------- ----------------
</TABLE>

The increase in fuel and purchased  power costs for the three,  nine, and twelve
months ended  September 30, 1998,  versus the comparable  prior year periods was
primarily due to increased sales volumes and higher purchased power prices.

While  unprecedented  prices for power  purchases  occurred  in the  marketplace
during the last week of June 1998, the Registrant was able to effectively manage
its power costs in the face of soaring wholesale  electricity  prices.  Overall,
the abnormally  high prices for power purchases in June had little impact on the
Registrant's financial results for the periods presented.

Gas Operations
Gas  revenues  were  relatively  flat  compared to prior year due to lower sales
resulting  from milder winter  weather,  which were offset in part by the annual
$11.5 million Missouri gas rate increase  effective February 1998. Gas costs for
the nine and twelve months ended  September  30, 1998,  decreased $9 million and
$12 million,  respectively,  compared to the same year-ago periods primarily due
to lower gas prices and a decline in sales.

Other Operating Expenses
Other operating expense variations  reflected  recurring factors such as growth,
inflation, labor and benefit increases, in addition to a one-time charge for the
targeted separation plan, as discussed below.

In March 1998,  Ameren  announced plans to reduce its other operating  expenses,
including plans to eliminate  approximately  400 employee  positions by mid-1999
through a hiring freeze and a targeted  separation plan (the TSP). In July 1998,
Ameren  offered  separation  packages to employees  whose  positions  were to be
eliminated  through  the TSP.  In the  third  quarter  of 1998,  the  Registrant
recorded a one-time  charge of $18 million (which reduced  earnings $11 million)
representing  its share of costs  incurred to implement the TSP. The  Registrant
expects  that the hiring freeze and TSP  will reduce its operating  expenses  by
approximately  $7 - $11  million  in  1998  and   $14 - $18   million   annually
thereafter.

Other  operations  expenses  for the three  months  ended  September  30,  1998,
increased  $20 million  compared to the three months ended  September  30, 1997,
primarily due to the $18 million charge for the TSP.

Other  operations  expenses for the nine and twelve  months ended  September 30,
1998, increased $46 million and $53 million, respectively,  compared to the same
year-ago  periods  primarily  due to the $18  million  charge  for the  targeted
separation  plan and  increases  in injuries  and damages  expense,  information
system-related costs and professional services expenses.

Maintenance  expenses for the three and 12-month  periods  ended  September  30,
1998,  decreased  $3  million  and $4  million,  respectively,  compared  to the
year-ago  periods due to decreased  scheduled  fossil  power plant  maintenance.
Maintenance  expenses  for  the  nine  months  ended  September  30,  1998  were
comparable  to the same  year-ago  period  as costs  incurred  to  complete  the
refueling of the Callaway  Nuclear Plant in 1998 were offset by higher scheduled
fossil power plant maintenance in 1997.

Depreciation  and  amortization  expense for the three,  nine, and  twelve-month
periods ended  September  30, 1998,  increased $3 million,  $9 million,  and $11
million,  respectively,  versus the  comparable  1997 periods,  primarily due to
increased  depreciable  property and  amortization  of the  Missouri  portion of
merger-related costs which were recorded as a regulatory asset upon Merger close
under the  conditions of the Missouri  Public Service  Commission  (MoPSC) order
approving the Merger.

Taxes
Income taxes  charged to  operating  expenses  for the three,  nine,  and twelve
months ended  September  30, 1998  increased $14 million,  $15 million,  and $13
million,  respectively,  compared  to the same  year-ago  periods  due to higher
pretax income.
                                      -3-
<PAGE>

Other Income and Deductions
Miscellaneous,  net for the three  months and nine months  ended  September  30,
1998, increased $6 million and $10 million, respectively,  versus the comparable
1997 periods, primarily due to reduced merger-related costs. Miscellaneous,  net
increased $27 million for the 12-month period ended September 30, 1998, compared
to the year-ago period  primarily due to the reversal of the Missouri portion of
merger-related costs which were recorded as a regulatory asset upon Merger close
under conditions of the MoPSC order approving the Merger.

Balance Sheet
The $97 million increase in trade accounts  receivable and unbilled revenues was
due  primarily  to higher  revenues  in August and  September  1998  compared to
November and December 1997.

Changes in accounts and wages payable,  other taxes  accrued,  and other current
assets  result  from the timing of various  payments to taxing  authorities  and
suppliers.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Cash provided by operating  activities  totaled $477 million for the nine months
ended September 30, 1998, compared to $538 million during the same 1997 period.

Cash flows used in  investing  activities  totaled $155 million and $209 million
for  the  nine  months  ended   September  30,  1998  and  1997,   respectively.
Construction  expenditures  for the nine  months  ended  September  30, 1998 for
constructing new or improving existing facilities,  and complying with the Clean
Air Act were $156 million.  In addition,  the Registrant expended $8 million for
the acquisition of nuclear fuel. Capital  requirements for the remainder of 1998
are expected to be principally for construction expenditures and the acquisition
of nuclear fuel.

Cash flows used in  financing  activities  were $298 million for the nine months
ended September 30, 1998,  compared to $307 million during the same 1997 period.
The  Registrant's  principal  financing  activities  for the nine  months  ended
September 30, 1998,  included the  redemption of debt and the nuclear fuel lease
of $56 million and $54 million, respectively, and the payment of dividends.

On September 4, 1998, the  Registrant  issued $160 million in long-term debt due
2033.  The  initial  interest  rates on the debt were  determined  by an auction
procedure.  The method for  determining the interest rate may be changed from an
auction rate to a daily rate, weekly rate,  commercial paper rate or a long-term
interest  rate.  The  Registrant  plans to use the  proceeds to redeem  existing
long-term debt in December 1998.

The Registrant  plans to continue  utilizing  short-term  debt to support normal
operations and other temporary requirements. The Registrant is authorized by the
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  under PUHCA to have up to $1.1 billion of
short-term  unsecured debt instruments  outstanding at any one time.  Short-term
borrowings  consist of bank loans  (maturities  generally on an overnight basis)
and commercial paper  (maturities  generally within 10 to 45 days). At September
30, 1998, the Registrant  had committed  bank lines of credit  aggregating  $154
million  (all of which were  unused at such date) which make  available  interim
financing at various rates of interest based on LIBOR,  the bank  certificate of
deposit rate or other  options.  The lines of credit are  renewable  annually at
various dates  throughout the year. At September 30, 1998, the Registrant had no
outstanding short-term borrowings.

The  Registrant  also has a bank  credit  agreement  due 2000 which  permits the
borrowing  of up to $300 million on a long-term  basis,  all of which was unused
and available at September 30, 1998.

Additionally,  the  Registrant  has a  lease  agreement  that  provides  for the
financing of nuclear fuel. At September 30, 1998,  the maximum amount that could
be financed  under the agreement was $120 million.  Cash provided from financing
for the first  nine  months  of 1998  included  redemptions  under the lease for
nuclear  fuel of $54  million,  offset in part by $10 million of  issuances.  At
September 30, 1998, $74 million was financed under the lease.

RATE MATTERS

As a result of the Electric  Service Customer Choice and Rate Relief Law of 1997
(the Law) providing for electric  utility  restructuring  in Illinois,  AmerenUE
filed a proposal with the Illinois Commerce Commission to eliminate the electric
fuel

                                      -4-

<PAGE>
adjustment  clause for  Illinois  retail  customers,  thereby  including a
historical level of fuel costs in base rates. The ICC approved AmerenUE's filing
on April 28, 1998.

In June 1998, the Registrant  filed a residential rate reduction tariff with the
ICC to comply with the  requirements of the Law. Under  provisions of the Law, a
rate decrease of 5 percent became  effective for Illinois  residential  electric
customers beginning August 1, 1998.

See Note 5 under Notes to Financial  Statements  for further  discussion of Rate
Matters.

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

In July 1997,  the United States  Environmental  Protection  Agency (EPA) issued
final regulations  revising the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone
and particulate  matter. At that time,  specific  emission control  requirements
were still  being  developed.  In  September  1998,  the EPA issued a final rule
pertaining  to  nitrogen  oxide  emissions,   which  will  require   significant
additional reductions in emissions from coal-fired boilers.  Missouri (where all
of the  Registrant's  coal-fired power plant boilers are located) is included in
the area targeted for nitrogen oxide  emissions  reductions as part of the EPA's
regional  control  program.  Reduction  requirements in nitrogen oxide emissions
from the Registrant's coal-fired boilers will exceed 75 percent from 1990 levels
by the year 2003. Because of the magnitude of these additional  reductions,  the
Registrant will be required to incur significantly  higher capital costs to meet
future  compliance  obligations for its coal-fired  boilers or to purchase power
from other sources,  either of which could have  significantly  higher operating
expenses  associated with compliance.  The significant  nitrogen oxide emissions
reductions  already  achieved on several of the  Registrant's  coal-fired  power
plants will help to reduce the costs of compliance with this regulation.

It is not yet possible to determine  the exact  magnitude of the nitrogen  oxide
emission reductions required on the Registrant's power plants because each State
has up to one year to  develop  a plan to  comply  with the EPA  rule.  However,
preliminary  analysis  of the  regulations  indicate  that  selective  catalytic
reduction  technology  will be required for some of the  Registrant's  units, as
well as other additional controls.

The full  details  of these  requirements  are  under  study by the  Registrant.
Currently,  the Registrant estimates that its additional capital expenditures to
comply with these regulations could range from $125-$175 million over the period
from 1999 to 2002.  Associated  operations and  maintenance  expenditures  could
increase $5-$8 million annually,  beginning in 2003. The Registrant will explore
alternatives to comply with these new  regulations in order to minimize,  to the
extent  possible,  its capital costs and operating  expenses.  At this time, the
Registrant is unable to predict the ultimate impact of these revised air quality
standards on its future financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

YEAR 2000 ISSUE

The Year  2000  Issue  relates  to how  dates are  stored  and used in  computer
systems,  applications, and embedded systems. As the century date change occurs,
certain date-sensitive systems need to be able to recognize the year as 2000 and
not as 1900.  This inability to recognize or properly treat the year as 2000 may
cause these systems to process  critical  financial and operational  information
incorrectly.   The  Registrant's  primary  concern  is  the  potential  for  any
interruption in providing electric and gas service to customers,  as well as the
potential to be unable to process critical financial and operational information
on a timely basis, including billing its customers, if appropriate steps are not
taken to address this issue.

Management has developed a  Year 2000  plan (Plan)  covering  Ameren,  including
AmerenUE, and Ameren's  Board of Directors has been briefed  about the Year 2000
Issue and how it may affect the Registrant.

Ameren's Plan to resolve the Year 2000 Issue involves three phases:  assessment,
planning,  and  implementation/testing.  Implementation  of the Plan is directly
supervised  by each  area's  responsible  Vice  President.  A Year 2000  Project
Director  coordinates the  implementation of the Plan among functional teams who
are  addressing  issues  specific  to a  particular  area,  such as nuclear  and
non-nuclear  generation  facilities,  energy management systems, etc. Ameren has
also  engaged  certain  outside  consultants,  technicians  and  other  external
resources to aid in formulating and implementing the Plan.

Ameren is  approximately 95 percent  complete with its assessment  phase,  which
included analyzing date-sensitive electronic hardware, software applications and
embedded systems and has developed a compliance plan to address issues that were
identified.  Many  of  the  major  corporate  computer  systems  at  Ameren  are
relatively  new and  therefore  are either Year 2000  compliant  or only require
minor  modifications.  Also,  several of the  operating  hardware  and  embedded
systems (i.e. microprocessor chips) use analog technology instead of digital and
thus are unaffected by the two-digit date  issue. In
                                      -5-
<PAGE>

addition,  Ameren has  contacted  hundreds  of vendors and  suppliers to  verify
compliance. The assessment phase is expected to  be completed  by the end of the
first quarter 1999.

Ameren is also  approximately 95 percent complete with its planning phase. Items
which have been identified for  remediation  have been  prioritized  into groups
based on their significance to company  operations.  The  implementation/testing
phase for all components/applications is approximately 40 percent complete as of
September 30, 1998.  Ameren expects to complete  remediation of its  significant
components/applications by the end of the third quarter 1999.

With  respect  to  third  parties,   for  areas  that  interface  directly  with
significant  vendors,  Ameren has inventoried vendors and major suppliers and is
currently  assessing  their Year 2000 readiness  through  surveys,  websites and
personal contact. Ameren plans to follow up with major suppliers and verify Year
2000 compliance where  appropriate.  Ameren has queried its important  suppliers
and health  insurance  providers.  To date,  Ameren is not aware of any problems
that would  materially  impact  financial  condition,  results of  operations or
liquidity. Neither Ameren or the Registrant has the means of ensuring that these
parties will be Year 2000 compliant.  The inability of those parties to complete
their  Year 2000  resolution  process  could  materially  impact  Ameren and the
Registrant.

Ameren is also  addressing  the impact of electric  power grid problems that may
occur outside of its own electric system.  Ameren has started year 2000 electric
power grid impact planning through the system's various electric interconnection
affiliations, and is working with the Mid-American Interchange Network (MAIN) to
begin planning year 2000 operational  preparedness and restoration scenarios. In
addition,  Ameren provides monthly status reports to the North American Electric
Reliability  Council  (NERC) to assist them in assessing  year 2000 readiness of
the regional  electric  grid.  Through the  Electric  Power  Research  Institute
(EPRI),  an  industry-wide  effort has been  established  to deal with year 2000
problems  affecting  digital systems and equipment used by the nation's electric
power companies. Under this effort, participating utilities are working together
to assess specific  vendors' system problems and test plans. The assessment will
be shared by the industry as a whole to facilitate year 2000 problem solving.

In addressing  the Year 2000 Issue,  Ameren will incur  internal  labor costs as
well as  external  consulting  and  other  expenses  related  to  infrastructure
enhancements necessary to prepare for the new century. Ameren estimates that its
external costs  (consulting fees and related costs) for addressing the Year 2000
Issue will range from $10 million to $15  million.  As of  September  30,  1998,
Ameren has expended  approximately  $2 million.  Ameren's plans to complete Year
2000  modifications are based on management's best estimates,  which are derived
utilizing  numerous   assumptions  of  future  events  including  the  continued
availability of certain resources,  and other factors.  However, there can be no
guarantee that these  estimates will be achieved and actual results could differ
materially  from those plans.  Specific  factors that might cause such  material
differences  include,  but are not  limited  to,  the  availability  and cost of
personnel  trained in this area,  the ability to locate and correct all relevant
computer codes, and similar uncertainties.

Ameren  believes  that,  with  appropriate  modifications  to existing  computer
systems/components,  updates by vendors and trading partners,  and conversion to
new  software and  hardware in the  ordinary  course of business,  the Year 2000
Issue  will  not  pose  significant  operational  problems  for the  Registrant.
However,  if such conversions are not completed in a proper and timely manner by
all  affected  parties,  the Year 2000 Issue could  result in  material  adverse
operational and financial  consequences  to the Registrant,  and there can be no
assurance  that  Ameren's  efforts,  or those of vendors and  trading  partners,
interconnection affiliates, NERC or EPRI, to address the Year 2000 Issue will be
successful.  Ameren is in the process of developing contingency plans to address
potential risks, including risks of vendor/trading  partners  noncompliance,  as
well as noncompliance of any of the Registrant's material operations.  The first
operational  contingency  plan is expected to be completed by year-end.  At this
time, the  Registrant is unable to predict the ultimate  impact of the Year 2000
Issue  on  the  Registrant's  financial  condition,  results  of  operations  or
liquidity; however, the impact could be material.

ACCOUNTING MATTERS

In June 1998,  the  Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board issued  Statement of
Financial  Accounting  Standards  (SFAS) No.  133,  "Accounting  for  Derivative
Instruments  and  Hedging  Activities."  SFAS  133  establishes  accounting  and
reporting  standards for derivative  instruments and for hedging  activities and
requires  recognition  of all  derivatives on the balance sheet measured at fair
value.  SFAS 133 is effective  for fiscal years  beginning  after June 15, 1999.
Earlier application is encouraged, but permitted only as of the beginning of any
fiscal  quarter that begins after  issuance of the standard.  At this time,  the
Registrant  is  unable to  determine  the  impact  of SFAS 133 on its  financial
position or results of operations upon adoption.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

In February 1998, the Financial  Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 132,
"Employers' Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement  Benefits." SFAS
132  revises  employers'  disclosures  about  pension  and other  postretirement
benefit plans.  SFAS 132 is effective for fiscal years  beginning after December
15, 1998, although earlier  application is encouraged.  SFAS 132 is not expected
to have a material impact on the Registrant's  financial  position or results of
operations upon adoption.

In March 1998,  the  Accounting  Standards  Executive  Committee of the American
Institute of Certified  Public  Accountants  issued  Statement of Position (SOP)
98-1,  "Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software  Developed or Obtained for
Internal  Use."  SOP 98-1  provides  guidance  on  accounting  for the  costs of
computer  software  developed  or obtained  for  internal  use.  Under SOP 98-1,
certain  costs,  which  are  currently  expensed  by  the  Registrant,   may  be
capitalized  and amortized  over some future  period.  SOP 98-1 is effective for
fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1998,  although earlier application is
encouraged.  SOP  98-1  is  not  expected  to  have  a  material  impact  on the
Registrant's financial position or results of operations upon adoption.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

Statements made in this Form 10-Q which are not based on historical  facts,  are
forward-looking  and,  accordingly,  involve risks and uncertainties  that could
cause actual results to differ  materially from those  discussed.  Although such
forward-looking  statements  have  been  made in good  faith  and are  based  on
reasonable assumptions,  there is no assurance that the expected results will be
achieved.  These statements include (without limitation) statements as to future
expectations,   beliefs,  plans,  strategies,  objectives,  events,  conditions,
financial  performance,  and "Year 2000" issues.  In  connection  with the "Safe
Harbor" provisions of the Private Securities  Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the
Registrant is providing this cautionary  statement to identify important factors
that could cause actual  results to differ  materially  from those  anticipated.
Factors  include,  but are not limited to, the  effects of  regulatory  actions;
changes  in laws and other  governmental  actions;  competition;  future  market
prices for electricity;  average rates for electricity in the Midwest;  business
and  economic  conditions;  weather  conditions;  fuel prices and  availability;
generation  plant  performance;  monetary  and  fiscal  policies;  and legal and
administrative proceedings.

                                      -7-

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                             UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY
                                  BALANCE SHEET
                                    UNAUDITED
                      (Thousands of Dollars, Except Shares)



                                                               September 30,  December 31,
ASSETS                                                             1998         1997
- ------                                                             ----         ----       
<S>                                                             <C>          <C>
Property and plant, at original cost:
   Electric                                                      $8,952,272   $8,832,039
   Gas                                                              206,217      197,959
   Other                                                             36,023       36,023
                                                                  9,194,512    9,066,021
   Less accumulated depreciation and amortization                 4,052,035    3,866,925
                                                                 ----------   ----------
                                                                  5,142,477    5,199,096
Construction work in progress:
   Nuclear fuel in process                                           95,330      134,804
   Other                                                            100,915       68,074
                                                                 ----------   ----------
         Total property and plant, net                            5,338,722    5,401,974
                                                                 ----------   ----------
Investments and other assets:
   Nuclear decommissioning trust fund                               141,084      122,438
   Other                                                             43,216       33,315
                                                                 ----------   ----------
         Total investments and other assets                         184,300      155,753
                                                                 ----------   ----------
Current assets:
   Cash and cash equivalents                                         26,949        3,232
   Accounts receivable - trade (less allowance for doubtful
         accounts of $6,641 and $3,645, respectively)               273,465      179,708
   Unbilled revenue                                                  74,193       71,156
   Other accounts and notes receivable                               62,631       41,028
   Materials and supplies, at average cost -
      Fossil fuel                                                    53,325       49,574
      Other                                                          96,168       97,375
   Environmental bond redemption fund                               160,000           --
   Other                                                             72,204       11,040
                                                                 ----------   ----------
         Total current assets                                       818,935      453,113
                                                                 ----------   ----------
Regulatory assets:
   Deferred income taxes                                            609,201      611,740
   Other                                                            167,467      179,705
                                                                 ----------   ----------
         Total regulatory assets                                    776,668      791,445
                                                                 ----------   ----------
Total Assets                                                     $7,118,625   $6,802,285
                                                                 ==========   ==========

CAPITAL AND LIABILITIES
- -----------------------
Capitalization:
   Common stock, $5 par value, authorized 150,000,000 shares -
      Outstanding  102,123,834 shares                            $  510,619   $  510,619
   Other paid-in capital, principally premium on
     common stock                                                   701,896      716,879
   Retained earnings                                              1,265,067    1,159,956
                                                                 ----------   ----------
         Total common stockholders' equity                        2,477,582    2,387,454
   Preferred stock not subject to mandatory redemption              155,197      155,197
   Long-term debt                                                 1,782,873    1,846,482
                                                                 ----------   ----------
         Total capitalization                                     4,415,652    4,389,133
                                                                 ----------   ----------
Current liabilities:
   Current maturity of long-term debt                               174,102       28,797
   Short-term debt                                                     --         21,300
   Accounts and wages payable                                       176,529      188,014
   Accumulated deferred income taxes                                 44,288       35,809
   Taxes accrued                                                    245,240       94,167
   Other                                                            155,858      142,859
                                                                 ----------   ----------
         Total current liabilities                                  796,017      510,946
                                                                 ----------   ----------
Accumulated deferred income taxes                                 1,259,980    1,264,800
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits                         145,605      149,891
Regulatory liability                                                162,715      175,638
Other deferred credits and liabilities                              338,656      311,877
                                                                 ----------   ----------
Total Capital and Liabilities                                    $7,118,625   $6,802,285
                                                                 ==========   ==========
</TABLE>

   
                                   -8-

<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                             UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY
                               STATEMENT OF INCOME
                                    UNAUDITED
                             (Thousands of Dollars)




                                                   Three Months Ended          Nine Months Ended           Twelve Months Ended
                                                     September 30,               September 30,                 September 30,       
                                            --------------------------    --------------------------   ---------------------------
                                                  1998          1997           1998          1997           1998           1997
                                                  ----          ----           ----          ----           ----           ----

<S>                                        <C>            <C>            <C>           <C>             <C>            <C>
 OPERATING REVENUES:
    Electric                                $   836,898    $   766,027    $ 1,848,177    $ 1,744,488    $ 2,292,260    $ 2,189,241
    Gas                                           9,464          8,256         65,179         66,725         96,713         97,512
    Other                                            75             71            342            353            492            498 
                                            -----------    -----------    -----------    -----------    -----------    -----------
       Total operating revenues                 846,437        774,354      1,913,698      1,811,566      2,389,465      2,287,251

 OPERATING EXPENSES:
    Operations
       Fuel and purchased power                 174,610        151,752        422,234        382,272        539,957        508,066
       Gas                                        6,476          7,006         34,911         43,968         54,396         66,061
       Other                                    125,321        104,835        345,618        299,278        451,296        398,670
                                            -----------    -----------    -----------    -----------    -----------     ----------
                                                306,407        263,593        802,763        725,518      1,045,649        972,797
    Maintenance                                  44,685         47,957        159,560        158,877        218,109        222,521
    Depreciation and amortization                65,338         62,487        194,113        185,151        256,923        246,348
    Income taxes                                131,454        117,395        201,717        187,023        207,460        194,846
    Other taxes                                  64,815         64,276        166,860        166,680        212,129        213,483
                                            -----------    -----------    -----------    -----------    -----------     ---------- 
       Total operating expenses                 612,699        555,708      1,525,013      1,423,249      1,940,270      1,849,995

 OPERATING INCOME                               233,738        218,646        388,685        388,317        449,195        437,256

 OTHER INCOME AND DEDUCTIONS:
    Allowance for equity funds used
       during construction                        1,152          1,184          3,370          3,014          4,817          4,546
    Miscellaneous, net                            3,152         (3,109)         4,042         (5,950)        17,326         (9,882)
                                            -----------    -----------    -----------    -----------    -----------    -----------
       Total other income and deductions          4,304         (1,925)         7,412         (2,936)        22,143         (5,336)

 INCOME BEFORE
    INTEREST CHARGES                            238,042        216,721        396,097        385,381        471,338        431,920

 INTEREST CHARGES:
    Interest                                     32,739         34,656         97,559        105,289        130,946        137,345
    Allowance for borrowed funds
       used during construction                  (1,248)        (1,714)        (4,566)        (4,959)        (6,283)        (6,298)
                                            -----------    -----------    -----------    -----------    -----------    -----------
    Net interest charges                         31,491         32,942         92,993        100,330        124,663        131,047

 INCOME BEFORE
    EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE                        206,551        183,779        303,104        285,051        346,675        300,873
                                            -----------    -----------    -----------    -----------    -----------    -----------

 EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE
    (NET OF INCOME TAXES)                          --             --             --             --          (26,967)          --
                                            -----------    -----------    -----------    -----------    -----------    -----------

 NET INCOME                                     206,551        183,779        303,104        285,051        319,708        300,873
                                            -----------    -----------    -----------    -----------    -----------    -----------
 PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS                        2,204          2,204          6,613          6,613          8,817          9,925
                                            -----------    -----------    -----------    -----------    -----------    -----------

NET INCOME AFTER PREFERRED
    STOCK DIVIDENDS                         $   204,347    $   181,575    $   296,491    $   278,438    $   310,891    $   290,948
                                            ===========    ===========    ===========    ===========    ===========    ===========

</TABLE>

                                      -9-


<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                             UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY
                             STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
                                    UNAUDITED
                             (Thousands of Dollars)




                                                           Nine Months Ended
                                                             September 30,  
                                                          -------------------     
                                                          1998         1997
                                                          ----         ----
<S>                                                   <C>          <C>
Cash Flows From Operating:
   Net income                                          $ 303,104    $ 285,051
   Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
      provided by operating activities:
        Depreciation and amortization                    186,984      178,315
        Amortization of nuclear fuel                      26,837       28,737
        Allowance for funds used during construction      (7,936)      (7,973)
        Deferred income taxes, net                        (6,804)      (6,336)
        Deferred investment tax credits, net              (4,286)      (4,627)
        Changes in assets and liabilities:
           Receivables, net                             (118,397)     (36,180)
           Materials and supplies                         (2,544)       8,081
           Accounts and wages payable                    (11,485)     (98,149)
           Taxes accrued                                 151,073      175,664
Other, net                                               (39,670)      15,793
                                                       ---------    ---------
Net cash provided by operating activities                476,876      538,376

Cash Flows From Investing:
   Construction expenditures                            (155,526)    (204,028)
   Allowance for funds used during construction            7,936        7,973
   Nuclear fuel expenditures                              (7,523)     (12,594)
                                                       ---------    ---------
Net cash used in investing activities                   (155,113)    (208,649)

Cash Flows From Financing:
   Dividends on common stock                            (191,380)    (194,546)
   Dividends on preferred stock                           (6,613)      (6,613)
   Environmental bond redemption fund                   (160,000)        --
   Redemptions -
      Nuclear fuel lease                                 (53,670)     (21,011)
      Short-term debt                                    (21,300)      (4,300)
      Long-term debt                                     (35,000)     (45,000)
      Preferred stock                                       --        (63,924)
   Issuances -
      Nuclear fuel lease                                   9,917       28,427
      Long-term debt                                     160,000         --   
                                                       ---------    ---------
Net cash used in financing activities                   (298,046)    (306,967)

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents                 23,717       22,760
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year             3,232        4,897
                                                       ---------    ---------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period             $  26,949    $  27,657
                                                       =========    =========

Cash paid during the periods:
   Interest (net of amount capitalized)                $  83,606    $  79,047
   Income taxes, net                                   $ 122,738    $  91,115

</TABLE>

                                      -10-

<PAGE>


UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
SEPTEMBER 30, 1998

Note 1 - Effective  December  31,  1997,  following  the receipt of all required
state and federal regulatory approvals,  Union Electric Company (AmerenUE or the
Registrant) and CIPSCO Incorporated (CIPSCO) combined to form Ameren Corporation
(Ameren)(the Merger).

Note 2 - Financial  statement note  disclosures,  normally included in financial
statements prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles,
have been omitted in this Form 10-Q pursuant to the Rules and Regulations of the
Securities and Exchange  Commission.  However, in the opinion of the Registrant,
the disclosures contained in this Form 10-Q are adequate to make the information
presented not misleading. See Notes to Financial Statements included in the 1997
Form 10-K for information relevant to the financial statements contained in this
Form 10-Q,  including  information as to the significant  accounting policies of
the Registrant.

Note 3 - In the opinion of the Registrant the interim financial statements filed
as part of this Form 10-Q  reflect all  adjustments,  consisting  only of normal
recurring  adjustments,  necessary  for a fair  statement of the results for the
periods presented. Registrant's financial statements were prepared to permit the
information  required in the Financial  Data Schedule  (FDS),  Exhibit 27, to be
directly  extracted from the filed statements.  The FDS amounts correspond to or
are calculable  from the amounts  reported in the financial  statements or notes
thereto.

Note 4 - Due to the  effect of  weather  on sales and  other  factors  which are
characteristic of public utility  operations,  financial results for the periods
ended September 30, 1998 and 1997, are not necessarily  indicative of trends for
any three-month, nine-month, or twelve-month period.

Note 5 - On July 21,  1995,  the  Missouri  Public  Service  Commission  (MoPSC)
approved an agreement  involving the Registrant's  Missouri  electric rates. The
Agreement included a three-year  experimental  alternative  regulation plan that
provides that earnings in excess of a 12.61 percent  regulatory return on equity
(ROE) be shared equally  between  customers and shareholders  and earnings above
14 percent ROE be credited to  customers.  The formula for  computing the credit
uses  twelve-month  results ending June 30, rather than calendar year  earnings.
During the nine months ended  September  30,  1998,  the Registrant recorded  an
estimated  $43  million  credit  for the  final  year of this plan compared to a
$20 million credit recorded for 1997.  This credit, which the Registrant expects
to pay to Missouri  customers later this year, was reflected  as a reduction  in
electric revenues.

A new three-year  experimental  alternative  regulation plan was included in the
joint  agreement  approved by the MoPSC in its February 1997 order approving the
Merger. Like the original plan, the new plan requires that earnings over a 12.61
percent ROE up to a 14 percent ROE will be shared equally between  customers and
stockholders.  The new three-year  plan will also return to customers 90 percent
of all earnings above a 14 percent ROE up to a 16 percent ROE. Earnings above 16
percent ROE will be credited  entirely to customers.  The joint  agreement  also
provides for a Missouri  electric rate  decrease,  effective  September 1, 1998,
based on the  weather-adjusted  average  annual  credits to customers  under the
original experimental  alternative regulation plan. The final rate reduction has
not been  determined at this time pending the outcome of regulatory proceedings.

Note 6 - In July 1998,  Ameren  offered  separation  plan  packages to employees
whose positions were eliminated  through a targeted  separation plan. During the
third  quarter of 1998, a one-time,  pretax  charge of $18 million was recorded,
which reduced earnings $11 million, representing the Registrant's share of costs
incurred to implement the targeted separation plan.

Note 7 - Statement of Financial  Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 130, "Reporting
Comprehensive  Income"  became  effective on January 1, 1998.  SFAS 130 requires
that all items that are required to be recognized under accounting  standards as
components of comprehensive  income be reported in the financial statements with
the same prominence as other financial  statement  components.  Adoption of SFAS
130 did not  have a  material  effect  on the  financial  position,  results  of
operations,   liquidity  or  presentation   of  financial   information  of  the
Registrant.

                                      -11-


<PAGE>


                           PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 6.  EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

         (a)   Exhibits.

               Exhibit 3(ii)-By-Laws of Union Electric Company, as amended as of
               June 11, 1998.

               Exhibit 4.28 - Series 1998A Loan Agreement  dated as of September
               1, 1998 between The State  Environmental  Improvement  and Energy
               Resources Authority of the State of Missouri and the Registrant.

               Exhibit 4.29 - Series 1998B Loan Agreement  dated as of September
               1, 1998 between The State  Environmental  Improvement  and Energy
               Resources Authority of the State of Missouri and the Registrant.

               Exhibit 4.30 - Series 1998C Loan Agreement  dated as of September
               1, 1998 between The State  Environmental  Improvement  and Energy
               Resources Authority of the State of Missouri and the Registrant.

               Exhibit 12 -  Computation  of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed  Charges
               and  Preferred  Stock  Dividend  Requirements,  12  Months  Ended
               September 30, 1998.

               Exhibit 27 - Financial Data Schedule.

         (b)  Reports  on Form 8-K.  The  Registrant  filed a report on Form 8-K
dated September 24, 1998 reporting on the impact of Ameren Corporation's (parent
company of the  Registrant)  employee  separation  plan and on the effect of the
final  rule  issued  in  September  1998  by  the  United  States  Environmental
Protection Agency pertaining to nitrogen oxide emissions.


                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  Registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                                UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY
                                                    (Registrant)


                                             By     /s/ Donald E. Brandt
                                                 ----------------------------- 
                                                        Donald E. Brandt
                                                     Senior Vice President
                                                Finance and Corporate Services


Date: November 13, 1998






                                     - 12 -





                             UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY





                                  B Y - L A W S

                           As Amended to June 11, 1998




                                   ARTICLE I.

                                  Stockholders

                Section 1. The annual meeting of the stockholders of the Company
shall be held on the third  Thursday  of April in each year (or if said day be a
legal  holiday,  then on the next  succeeding day not a legal  holiday),  at the
registered office of the Company in the City of St. Louis, State of Missouri, or
at such other place  within or without the State of Missouri as may be stated in
the notice of meeting,  for the purpose of electing directors and of transacting
such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.

                Section 2. Special meetings of the stockholders may be called by
the  Chief  Executive  Officer  or by  the  Board  of  Directors  pursuant  to a
resolution  adopted by a majority  of the total  number of  directors  which the
Company would have if there were no vacancies.

                Section  3.  Written  or  printed  notice  of  each  meeting  of
stockholders  stating the place,  day and hour of the meeting  and, in case of a
special meeting,  the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall
be  delivered  or given not less than ten nor more than  seventy days before the
date of the meeting, either personally or by mail, to each stockholder of record
entitled  to vote  thereat,  at his  address as it  appears,  if at all,  on the
records of the Company. Such further notice shall be given by mail,  publication
or otherwise as may be required by law.  Meetings may be held without  notice if
all the stockholders  entitled to vote thereat are present or represented at the
meeting, or if notice is waived by those not present or represented.



<PAGE>


                Section 4. The  holders of record of a majority of the shares of
the  capital  stock of the  Company  issued and  outstanding,  entitled  to vote
thereat,  present in person or represented by proxy,  shall, except as otherwise
provided by law, constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders.  If at
any meeting there be no such quorum, such holders of a majority of the shares so
present or represented may successively  adjourn the meeting to a specified date
not longer than ninety days after such  adjournment,  without  notice other than
announcement  at the meeting,  until such quorum shall have been obtained,  when
any business may be transacted  which might have been  transacted at the meeting
as originally  notified.  The chairman of the meeting or a majority of shares so
represented  may adjourn the meeting from time to time,  whether or not there is
such a quorum.

                Section 5. Meetings of the  stockholders  shall be presided over
by the Chief Executive Officer or, if he is not present,  by the Chairman of the
Board of  Directors  or by the  President  or, if neither the  Chairman  nor the
President is present,  by such other officer of the Company as shall be selected
for such purpose by the Board of Directors.  The Secretary of the Company or, if
he is not  present,  an  Assistant  Secretary  of the Company or, if neither the
Secretary  nor an  Assistant  Secretary  is present,  a secretary  pro tem to be
designated by the presiding officer shall act as secretary of the meeting.

                Section 6. At all meetings of the  stockholders  every holder of
record of the  shares of the  capital  stock of the  Company,  entitled  to vote
thereat, may vote either in person or by proxy.

                Section 7. At all elections for directors the voting shall be by
written ballot.  If the object of any meeting be to elect directors or to take a
vote of the  stockholders  on any  proposition  of which  notice shall have been
given in the notice of the meeting,  the person  presiding at such meeting shall
appoint not less than two persons, who are not directors,  inspectors to receive
and canvass  the votes given at such  meeting.  Any  inspector,  before he shall
enter on the duties of his  office,  shall take and  subscribe  an oath,  in the
manner  provided by law,  that he will  execute the duties of  inspector at such
meeting with strict  impartiality and according to the best of his ability.  The
inspectors  shall take charge of the polls and after the balloting  shall make a
certificate of the result of the vote taken.

                Section 8: (a) (1)  Nominations  of persons for  election to the
Board of Directors of the Company and the proposal of business to be  considered
by the  stockholders  may be made  at an  annual  meeting  of  stockholders  (a)
pursuant to the Company's  notice of meeting,  (b) by or at the direction of the
Board  of  Directors  or  (c) by  any  stockholder  of  the  Company  who  was a
stockholder  of record at the time of  giving  of  notice  provided  for in this
By-Law,  who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the notice
procedures set forth in this By-Law.

                (2) For  nominations  or other  business to be properly  brought
before an annual  meeting by a  stockholder  pursuant to clause (c) of paragraph
(a) (1) of this By-Law, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in
writing to the Secretary of the Company and such other  business must  otherwise
be a proper matter for stockholder action.

<PAGE>

To be timely, a stockholder's notice shall be delivered to the  Secretary at the
principal  executive offices of the Company not later than the close of business
on the 60th day nor earlier than the close of  business on the 90th day prior to
the first anniversary of the preceding year's annual meeting; provided, however,
that  in the event  that the  date of the  annual meeting  is more  than 30 days
before  or  more  than  60  days  after  such anniversary  date,  notice by  the
stockholder  to be  timely must  be so delivered  not earlier  than the close of
business  on the  90th day  prior to such  annual meeting and not later than the
close of business on the later of the 60th day prior to such  annual  meeting or
the 10th day following  the day on which public announcement of the date of such
meeting is first made by the Company. In no event shall the public  announcement
of an adjournment of an annual meeting commence a new time period for the giving
of a stockholder's notice as described above.  Such stockholder's  notice  shall
set forth (a)  as to each  person whom the  stockholder proposes to nominate for
election or re-election as a director,  all information  relating to such person
that is  required  to be  disclosed  in solicitations of proxies for election of
directors  in  an  election  contest, or  is  otherwise  required, in  each case
pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Exchange Act") and Rule 14a-11 thereunder (including such person's written
consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee  and to  serving as a
director if elected); (b) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes
to bring before the  meeting,  a brief description  of the  business  desired to
be brought before the  meeting,  the reasons for conducting such business at the
meeting and any material interest in such business of such  stockholder  and the
beneficial  owner,  if any, on whose  behalf the proposal is made; and (c) as to
the  stockholder giving  the notice and the  beneficial owner, if any, on  whose
behalf  the  nomination  or  proposal  is  made (i) the name and address of such
stockholder, as they appear on the Company's books, and of such beneficial owner
and  (ii)  the  class  and  number  of  shares  of  the  Company which are owned
beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner.

                (3) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of paragraph
(a) (2) of this  By-Law  to the  contrary,  in the  event  that  the  number  of
directors  to be elected to the Board of  Directors  of the Company is increased
and there is no public  announcement  by the Company  naming all of the nominees
for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors at least
70 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year's annual meeting, a
stockholder's  notice  required by this By-Law shall also be considered  timely,
but  only  with  respect  to  nominees  for any new  positions  created  by such
increase,  if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal  executive
offices  of the  Company  not later than the close of  business  on the 10th day
following  the day on  which  such  public  announcement  is  first  made by the
Company.

                (b) Only such business  shall be conducted at a special  meeting
of  stockholders  as shall have been brought before the meeting  pursuant to the
Company's notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of
Directors may be made at a special  meeting of  stockholders  at which directors
are to be elected  pursuant to the Company's  notice of meeting (1) by or at the
direction of the Board of Directors or (2) provided  that the Board of Directors
has  determined  that  directors  shall  be  elected  at  such  meeting,  by any
stockholder  of the Company who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving
of notice  provided  for in this  By-Law,  who shall be  entitled to vote at the
meeting and who complies with the notice

<PAGE>


procedures set forth in this By-Law. In  the event the Company calls  a  special
meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the
Board of Directors,  any such  stockholder may nominate a  person or persons (as
the  case  may be),  for  election  to such position(s)   as  specified  in  the
Company's notice of meeting, if the stockholder's  notice required by  paragraph
(a) (2) of this  By-Law  shall be  delivered to the  Secretary at  the principal
executive offices of the Company not earlier than the close of  business on  the
90th day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of  business
on the later of the 60th day prior to  such  special  meeting  or the  10th  day
following  the  day on  which  public announcement  is  first  made of the  date
of the  special  meeting  and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors
to be elected at such meeting. In no event  shall the public  announcement of an
adjournment of a special  meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a
stockholder's notice as described above.

                (c) (1) Only such persons who are nominated in  accordance  with
the  procedures set forth in this By-Law shall be eligible to serve as directors
and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of  stockholders as shall
have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth
in  this  By-Law.   Except  as  otherwise  provided  by  law,  the  Articles  of
Incorporation or these By-Laws, the chairman of the meeting shall have the power
and duty to  determine  whether a  nomination  or any  business  proposed  to be
brought  before  the  meeting  was made or  proposed,  as the  case  may be,  in
accordance  with the  procedures  set forth in this By-Law and, if any  proposed
nomination  or business is not in compliance  with this By-Law,  to declare that
such defective proposal or nomination shall be disregarded.

                (2) For purposes of this  By-Law,  "public  announcement"  shall
mean  disclosure  in a press  release  reported  by the Dow Jones News  Service,
Associated Press or comparable  national news service or in a document  publicly
filed by the Company with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  pursuant to
Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

                (3) Notwithstanding  the foregoing  provisions of this By-Law, a
stockholder  shall also comply with all applicable  requirements of the Exchange
Act and the rules and  regulations  thereunder  with  respect to the matters set
forth in this  By-Law.  Nothing  in this  By-Law  shall be deemed to affect  any
rights (a) of  stockholders  to request  inclusion of proposals in the Company's
proxy  statement  pursuant  to Rule 14a-8 under the  Exchange  Act or (b) of the
holders of any series of  Preferred  Stock to elect  directors  under  specified
circumstances.


                                   ARTICLE II.

                                    Directors

                Section 1. The  property  and  business of the Company  shall be
controlled  and managed by its Board of  Directors.  The number of  directors to
constitute the Board of Directors shall be eleven; provided,  however, that such
number may be fixed by the Board of

<PAGE>

Directors, from time to time,  at not less than a minimum of three nor more than
a maximum  of  fourteen  (subject  to the rights  of the  holders  of  Preferred
Stock as set forth in the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended).
Any  such change  shall be reported  to the Secretary  of State of  the State of
Missouri  within thirty (30)  calendar days of such change.  The members of  the
Board of Directors  shall be stockholders  in the  Company, not less than one of
whom shall be a bona fide citizen of the State of Missouri.  Except as otherwise
provided  in  the  Articles of  Incorporation of  the Company,  as amended,  the
directors  shall  hold  office  until  the next  annual election and until their
successors  shall be elected and qualified.  A  majority of the  members  of the
Board of  Directors shall  constitute  a quorum for the transaction of business,
but if at any meeting of the Board there shall be less than a quorum present,  a
majority of the directors  present  may adjourn the meeting  from  time to time,
without notice other than announcement  at the meeting,  until such quorum shall
have been  obtained,  when any business may be  transacted which might have been
transacted at the original meeting had a quorum been present.

                Section  2.  Vacancies  in the  Board  of  Directors,  including
vacancies created by newly created directorships,  shall be filled in the manner
provided in the  Articles of  Incorporation  of the  Company,  as amended,  and,
except as otherwise provided therein, the directors so elected shall hold office
until their successors shall be elected and qualified.

                Section 3.  Meetings of the Board of Directors  shall be held at
such time and place  within or without the State of Missouri as may from time to
time be fixed by resolution  of the Board,  or as may be stated in the notice of
any  meeting.  Regular  meetings  of the Board shall be held at such time as may
from  time to time be fixed by  resolution  of the  Board,  and  notice  of such
meetings  need not be given.  Special  meetings  of the Board may be held at any
time upon call of the Chief  Executive  Officer or the Executive  Committee,  by
oral,  telegraphic  or  written  notice,  duly  given or sent or  mailed to each
director not less than two (2) days before any such  meeting.  The notice of any
meeting of the Board need not  specify  the  purposes  thereof  except as may be
otherwise  required by law.  Meetings may be held at any time without  notice if
all of the  directors  are present or if those not present  waive  notice of the
meeting, in writing.

                Section 4. The Board of Directors,  by the affirmative vote of a
majority of the whole Board may appoint an  Executive  Committee,  to consist of
two or more directors,  one of whom shall be a bona fide citizen of the State of
Missouri, as the Board may from time to time determine.  The Executive Committee
shall have and may exercise to the extent  permitted  by law,  when the Board is
not in session,  all of the powers vested in the Board, except the power to fill
vacancies  in the  Board,  the  power  to fill  vacancies  in or to  change  the
membership  of said  Committee,  and the power to make or amend  By-Laws  of the
Company.  The Board  shall have the power at any time to fill  vacancies  in, to
change the membership of, or to dissolve, the Executive Committee. The Executive
Committee  may make rules for the conduct of its  business  and may appoint such
committees  and  assistants  as it shall  from  time to time deem  necessary.  A
majority of the members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum.

<PAGE>

                Section 5. The Board of  Directors  may also appoint one or more
other  committees  to consist of such number of the  directors  and to have such
powers as the Board may from time to time  determine.  The Board  shall have the
power at any time to fill  vacancies  in, to  change  the  membership  of, or to
dissolve, any such committee. A majority of any such committee may determine its
action and fix the time and place of its meetings, unless the Board of Directors
shall otherwise provide.

                                  ARTICLE III.

                                    Officers

                Section  1. As soon as is  practicable  after  the  election  of
directors at the annual meeting of  stockholders,  the Board of Directors  shall
elect one of its members President of the Company,  and shall elect a Secretary.
The Board may also elect from its members a Chairman  of the Board of  Directors
(which office may be held by the President) and one or more Vice Chairman of the
Board of Directors.  The Board shall designate  either the Chairman,  if any, or
the President as the Chief Executive  Officer of the Company.  In addition,  the
Board  may elect  one or more  Vice  Presidents  (any one or more of whom may be
designated as Senior or Executive Vice  Presidents),  and a Treasurer,  and from
time to time may appoint such Assistant  Secretaries,  Assistant  Treasurers and
other  officers,  agents,  and  employees as it may deem proper.  The offices of
Secretary and Treasurer may be held by the same person,  and a Vice President of
the Company may also be either the Secretary or the Treasurer.

                Section 2. Between  annual  elections of officers,  the Board of
Directors  may effect such changes in Company  offices as it deems  necessary or
proper.

                Section 3. Subject to such limitations as the Board of Directors
may from time to time  prescribe,  the  officers of the Company  shall each have
such powers and duties as generally pertain to their respective offices, as well
as such powers and duties as from time to time may be  conferred by the Board of
Directors or the Executive Committee. The Treasurer and the Assistant Treasurers
may be required to give bond for the faithful discharge of their duties, in such
sum and of such  character  as the  Board of  Directors  may  from  time to time
prescribe.


                                   ARTICLE IV.

                                 Indemnification

                Each person who now is or  hereafter  becomes a director  (which
term  as  used  in this  Article  shall  include  an  advisor  to the  Board  of
Directors),  officer,  employee  or  agent  of the  Company,  or  who  now is or
hereafter becomes a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation,
partnership,  joint  venture,  trust or other  enterprise  at the request of the

<PAGE>

Company,  shall be entitled to indemnification as provided by law. Such right of
indemnification shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

                Section 1. (a) The Company may  indemnify  any person who was or
is a party or is  threatened  to be made a party to any  threatened,  pending or
completed action, suit, or proceeding,  whether civil, criminal,  administrative
or  investigative,  other than an action by or in the right of the  Company,  by
reason of the fact that he is or was a director,  officer,  employee or agent of
the  Company,  or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation,  partnership,  joint venture,
trust  or  other  enterprise,   against  expenses,  including  attorneys'  fees,
judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred
by him in  connection  with such action,  suit or proceeding if he acted in good
faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests  of  the  Company,  and,  with  respect  to  any  criminal  action  or
proceeding,  had no reasonable  cause to believe his conduct was  unlawful.  The
termination of any action, suit, or proceeding by judgment,  order,  settlement,
conviction,  or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent,  shall not, of
itself,  create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a
manner  which  he  reasonably  believed  to be in or not  opposed  to  the  best
interests  of  the  Company,  and,  with  respect  to  any  criminal  action  or
proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

                (b) The Company may  indemnify  any person who was or is a party
or is  threatened  to be made a party to any  threatened,  pending or  completed
action or suit by or in the right of the  Company to  procure a judgment  in its
favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a director,  officer,  employee or
agent of the  Company,  or is or was  serving at the request of the Company as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation,  partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses,  including attorneys' fees,
and  amounts  paid in  settlement  actually  and  reasonably  incurred by him in
connection  with the defense or  settlement of the action or suit if he acted in
good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the
best interests of the Company;  except that no indemnification  shall be made in
respect of any claim,  issue or matter as to which such  person  shall have been
adjudged to be liable for  negligence or misconduct  in the  performance  of his
duty to the  Company  unless and only to the extent  that the court in which the
action  or suit was  brought  determines  upon  application  that,  despite  the
adjudication of liability and in view of all the  circumstances of the case, the
person is fairly and  reasonably  entitled to indemnity for such expenses  which
the court shall deem proper.

                (c) To the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent of
the Company has been  successful  on the merits or  otherwise  in defense of any
action,  suit, or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) above, or in
defense of any claim, issue or matter therein,  he shall be indemnified  against
expenses,  including attorneys' fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him in
connection with the action, suit, or proceeding.

                (d) Any  indemnification  under  subsections  (a) and (b) above,
unless  ordered by a court,  shall be made by the Company only as  authorized in
the specific case upon a  determination  that  indemnification  of the director,
officer, employee or agent is proper in the

<PAGE>

circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in
this Section.  The determination shall be made by the Board  of  Directors  by a
majority  vote  of a  quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the
action, suit, or proceeding, or if such a  quorum  is not obtainable, or even if
obtainable a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent  legal
counsel in a written opinion, or by the stockholders.

                Section  2.  (a) In  addition  to the  indemnity  authorized  or
contemplated  under other  Sections of this  Article,  the Company shall further
indemnify  to the maximum  extent  permitted  by law, any person who was or is a
party  or is  threatened  to be  made a  party  to any  threatened,  pending  or
completed  action,  suit,  or proceeding  (including  appeals),  whether  civil,
criminal,   investigative   (including  private  Company   investigations),   or
administrative, including an action by or in the right of the Company, by reason
of the fact that the person is or was a  director,  officer,  or employee of the
Company,  or is or was  serving  at the  request of the  Company as a  director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation,  partnership,  joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit
plan, for and against any and all expenses  incurred by such person,  including,
but not limited to,  attorneys'  fees,  judgments,  fines  (including any excise
taxes or  penalties  assessed  on a person with  respect to an employee  benefit
plan), and amounts paid in settlement  actually or reasonably incurred by him in
connection with such action, suit or proceeding, provided that the Company shall
not indemnify  any person from or on account of such person's  conduct which was
finally adjudged to have been knowingly  fraudulent,  deliberately  dishonest or
willful misconduct.

                (b) Where full and complete indemnification is prohibited by law
or public  policy,  any person  referred  to in  subsection  (a) above who would
otherwise  be  entitled  to  indemnification  nevertheless  shall be entitled to
partial  indemnification  to the  extent  permitted  by law and  public  policy.
Furthermore,  where full and complete  indemnification  is  prohibited by law or
public  policy,  any  person  referred  to in  subsection  (a)  above  who would
otherwise  be entitled  to  indemnification  nevertheless  shall have a right of
contribution  to the extent  permitted  by law and public  policy in cases where
said party is held jointly liable with the Company.

                Section  3. The  indemnification  provided  by  Sections 1 and 2
shall  not be  deemed  exclusive  of any other  rights  to which  those  seeking
indemnification may be entitled under the articles of incorporation or bylaws or
any agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise both
as to action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity while
holding  such  office,  and the  Company is hereby  specifically  authorized  to
provide  such  indemnification  by  any  agreement,   vote  of  stockholders  or
disinterested directors or otherwise. The indemnification shall continue as to a
person who has ceased to be a  director,  officer,  employee  or agent and shall
inure to the  benefit  of the  heirs,  executors  and  administrators  of such a
person.

                Section 4. The Company is  authorized  to purchase  and maintain
insurance on behalf of, or provide another method or methods of assuring payment
to, any  person  who is or was a  director,  officer,  employee  or agent of the
Company,  or is or was  serving  at the  request of the  Company as a  director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation,  partnership,

<PAGE>

joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted  against
him and incurred by him in any capacity,  or arising out of  his status as such,
whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify  him  against  such
liability under the provisions of this Article.

                Section 5.  Expenses  incurred in  defending a civil or criminal
action,  suit or  proceeding  may be paid by the Company in advance of the final
disposition  of the action,  suit,  or  proceeding as authorized by the Board of
Directors in the specific case upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of
the  director,  officer,  employee or agent to repay such amount unless it shall
ultimately be determined that he is entitled to be indemnified by the Company as
authorized in this Article.

                Section 6. This  Article may be  hereafter  amended or repealed;
provided,  however,  that no  amendment  or repeal  shall  reduce,  terminate or
otherwise  adversely  affect  the  right of a person  who is or was a  director,
officer,  employee or agent to obtain indemnification with respect to an action,
suit, or proceeding  that pertains to or arises out of actions or omissions that
occur prior to the effective date of such amendment or repeal.


                                   ARTICLE V.

                              Certificates of Stock

                Section 1. The interest of each  stockholder  shall be evidenced
by certificates for shares of stock of the Company, in such form as the Board of
Directors may from time to time prescribe.  The certificates for shares of stock
of the Company  shall be signed by the  Chairman,  if any, or the President or a
Vice  President  (including  Senior or  Executive  Vice  Presidents)  and by the
Secretary or Treasurer  or an Assistant  Secretary or an Assistant  Treasurer of
the Company  and sealed with the seal of the Company and shall be  countersigned
and  registered in such manner,  if any, as the Board of Directors may from time
to time prescribe. Any or all the signatures on the certificate may be facsimile
and the  seal may be  facsimile,  engraved  or  printed.  In case  any  officer,
transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been
placed upon a certificate  shall have ceased to be such officer,  transfer agent
or registrar before such certificate is issued, the certificate may nevertheless
be issued by the Company  with the same effect as if the person were an officer,
transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

                Section  2.  The  shares  of  stock  of  the  Company  shall  be
transferable  only on the books of the Company by the holders  thereof in person
or by duly authorized attorney,  upon surrender for cancellation of certificates
for the same number of shares of the same class of stock, with an assignment and
power of transfer endorsed thereon or attached thereto, duly executed,  and with
such proof of the  authenticity  of the  signatures as the Company or its agents
may reasonably require.

<PAGE>


                Section 3. No  certificate  for  shares of stock of the  Company
shall be issued in place of any certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or
destroyed,  except  upon  production  of such  evidence  of such loss,  theft or
destruction,  and upon the Company being  indemnified to such extent and in such
manner as the Board of Directors in its discretion may require.


                                   ARTICLE VI.

                       Closing of Stock Transfer Books or
                               Fixing Record Date

                The  Board of  Directors  shall  have  power to close  the stock
transfer books of the Company for a period not exceeding  seventy days preceding
the date of any meeting of  stockholders  or the date of payment of any dividend
or the  date  for the  allotment  of  rights  or the date  when  any  change  or
conversion or exchange of shares shall go into effect;  provided,  however, that
in lieu of closing the stock transfer books as aforesaid, the Board of Directors
may fix in advance a date, not exceeding  seventy days preceding the date of any
meeting of  stockholders,  or the date for the payment of any  dividend,  or the
date for the  allotment of rights,  or the date when any change or conversion or
exchange of shares shall go into effect,  as a record date for the determination
of the stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, any such meeting, and
any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any such dividend, or
entitled to any such allotment of rights,  or entitled to exercise the rights in
respect of any such change,  conversion or exchange of shares. In such case such
stockholders  and only such  stockholders  as shall be stockholders of record on
the date of closing  the stock  transfer  books or on the  record  date so fixed
shall  be  entitled  to  notice  of,  and to  vote  at,  such  meeting,  and any
adjournments thereof, or to receive payment of such dividend, or to receive such
allotment  of  rights,  or  to  exercise  such  rights,  as  the  case  may  be,
notwithstanding  any  transfer of any shares on the books of the  Company  after
such  date of  closing  of the  transfer  books  or such  record  date  fixed as
aforesaid.


                                  ARTICLE VII.

                               Checks, Notes, etc.

                All checks and drafts on the  Company's  bank  accounts  and all
bills of exchange and promissory  notes,  and all  acceptances,  obligations and
other  instruments for the payment of money,  shall be signed by such officer or
officers or agent or agents as shall be thereunto  authorized  from time to time
by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may authorize any such officer
or agent to sign and, when the Company's  seal is on the  instrument,  to attest
any of the foregoing  instruments by the use of a facsimile signature,  engraved
or printed or otherwise  affixed  thereto.  In case any officer or agent who has
signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon any such instrument for
the payment of money shall have ceased to be such  officer or agent  before such
instrument is issued, such instrument may

<PAGE>

nevertheless be issued by the Company with the same  effect  as if such  officer
or agent had not ceased to be such officer or agent at the date of its issue.


                                  ARTICLE VIII.

                                   Fiscal Year

                The fiscal year of the  Company  shall begin on the first day of
January in each year and shall end on the thirty-first day of December following
until otherwise  changed by resolution of the Board, and the Board is authorized
at any time by  resolution  to adopt  and fix a  different  fiscal  year for the
Company.


                                   ARTICLE IX.

                                 Corporate Seal

                The corporate seal shall have inscribed  thereon the name of the
Company and the words "Corporate Seal, Missouri".


                                   ARTICLE X.

                                   Amendments

                The  By-Laws of the Company may be made,  altered,  amended,  or
repealed by the Board of Directors.











                                 LOAN AGREEMENT




                          Dated as of September 1, 1998


                                     between


                       STATE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT AND
                           ENERGY RESOURCES AUTHORITY


                                       and


                      UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY, dba AMERENUE




                            -------------------------
                                   $60,000,000
                Environmental Improvement Revenue Refunding Bonds
                        (Union Electric Company Project)
                                  Series 1998A
                            -------------------------



 =============================================================================


                          ILLINOIS COMMERCE COMMISSION
                             Identification No. 6097

<PAGE>



                                 LOAN AGREEMENT

                                                                            PAGE

ARTICLE I               DEFINITIONS...........................................1


ARTICLE II              REPRESENTATIONS.......................................2

       Section 2.1.         Representations of Issuer.........................2
       Section 2.2.         Representations of Company........................3

ARTICLE III             COMPLETION OF PROJECT.................................4

       Section 3.1.         Completion of Project.............................4
       Section 3.2.         Project Description...............................4
       Section 3.3.         Operation of Project..............................4
       Section 3.4.         Company Representative............................4
       Section 3.5.         Maintenance of Project............................4

ARTICLE IV              ISSUANCE OF BONDS; LOAN TO COMPANY....................5

       Section 4.1.         Issuance of Bonds; Loan to Company................5

ARTICLE V               REPAYMENT OF LOAN.....................................5

       Section 5.1.         Repayment of Loan.................................5
       Section 5.2.         Additional Payments...............................6
       Section 5.3.         Prepayments.......................................6
       Section 5.4.         Obligations of Company Unconditional..............7

ARTICLE VI              OTHER COMPANY AGREEMENTS..............................7

       Section 6.1.         Maintenance of Existence..........................7
       Section 6.2.         Financial Reports.................................7
       Section 6.3.         Payment of Taxes..................................8
       Section 6.4.         Arbitrage.........................................8
       Section 6.5.         Company's Obligation with Respect to Exclusion of
                            the Bonds.........................................8
       Section 6.6.         Notices Under the Indenture.......................9
       Section 6.7.         Letter of Credit..................................9
       Section 6.8.         Credit Ratings....................................9
       Section 6.9.         Purchases of Bonds................................9

ARTICLE VII             NO RECOURSE TO ISSUER; INDEMNIFICATION................9

       Section 7.1.         No Recourse to Issuer.............................9
       Section 7.2.         Indemnification..................................10

<PAGE>

ARTICLE VIII            ASSIGNMENT...........................................10

       Section 8.1.         Assignment by Company............................10
       Section 8.2.         Assignment by Issuer.............................10

ARTICLE IX               DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES...............................10

       Section 9.1.         Remedies on Default..............................10
       Section 9.2.         Delay Not Waiver; Remedies.......................11
       Section 9.3.         Attorneys' Fees and Expenses.....................11

ARTICLE X                MISCELLANEOUS.......................................11

       Section 10.1.        Notices..........................................11
       Section 10.2.        Binding Effect...................................11
       Section 10.3.        Severability.....................................11
       Section 10.4.        Amendments.......................................11
       Section 10.5.        Right of Company To Perform Issuer's Agreements..11
       Section 10.6.        Applicable Law...................................12
       Section 10.7.        Captions; References to Sections.................12
       Section 10.8.        Complete Agreement...............................12
       Section 10.9.        Termination......................................12
       Section 10.10.       Counterparts.....................................13

Signature....................................................................13



<PAGE>


           LOAN AGREEMENT dated as of September 1, 1998, between STATE
           ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT AND ENERGY RESOURCES AUTHORITY of
           the State of Missouri, a body  corporate  and politic and a
           governmental instrumentality of the  State of Missouri (the
           "Issuer"),and UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY,a Missouri corporation
           doing business as AMERENUE (the "Company").

         Section  260.005  through  Section  260.125,  inclusive,  R.S.  Mo., as
amended,  and Appendix  B(1) thereto  empowers the Issuer to issue its bonds for
any of its purposes,  including the refunding of bonds previously  issued by it.
On Junea21,  1984,  the Issuer issued its (i)  Adjustable - Fixed Rate Pollution
Control  Revenue Bonds,  Series 1984 A (Union Electric  Company  Project) in the
aggregate   principal   amount  of  $80,000,000  (all  of  which  are  currently
outstanding)  (the  "Series  1984 A Bonds")  and (ii)  Adjustable  - Fixed  Rate
Pollution Control Revenue Bonds,  Series 1984 B (Union Electric Company Project)
in the aggregate  principal  amount of  $80,000,000  (all of which are currently
outstanding) (the "Series 1984 B Bonds") (the Series 1984 A Bonds and the Series
1984 B Bonds are referred to  collectively as the "Prior Bonds") for the purpose
of constructing,  acquiring,  and installing certain pollution control and solid
waste disposal facilities (the `Project").

         The Issuer proposes to issue (a) $60,000,000  Environmental Improvement
Revenue  Refunding Bonds (Union Electric  Company Project) Series 1998A pursuant
to the Indenture (defined below) in order to provide the funds for the refunding
of a portion  of the  Series  1984 A Bonds and (b) to loan the  proceeds  of the
Bonds to the  Company.  The Company  desires to use the proceeds of the Bonds to
pay a portion of the cost of refunding a portion of the Series 1984 A Bonds, all
on the terms and conditions set forth in this Loan Agreement.

         Accordingly, the Issuer and the Company hereby agree as follows:

                                    ARTICLE I

                                   DEFINITIONS

         For all  purposes of this Loan  Agreement,  unless the context  clearly
requires  otherwise,  all terms defined in Article I of the  Indenture  have the
same meanings in this Loan Agreement.

         `Indenture"  means the Indenture of Trust relating to the Bonds,  dated
as of the date of this Loan Agreement,  between the Issuer and State Street Bank
and Trust Company of Missouri,  N.A., as trustee, as such Indenture of Trust may
be amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms.

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE II

                                 REPRESENTATIONS

   Section 2.1.    Representations of Issuer.  The Issuer represents as follows:

                   (a) The  Issuer (1) is a body  corporate  and  politic  and a
         governmental instrumentality duly organized and existing under the laws
         of the  State,  (2) has full  power  and  authority  to enter  into the
         transactions  contemplated  by this Loan Agreement and by the Indenture
         and to carry out its  obligations  under  this Loan  Agreement  and the
         Indenture,  including  the  issuance  of the  Bonds  and (3) by  proper
         corporate action has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this
         Loan Agreement, the Bonds and the Indenture.

                   (b) Under existing statutes and decisions, no taxes on income
         or profits  are imposed on the  Issuer.  The Issuer will not  knowingly
         take or omit to take any action  reasonably  within its  control  which
         action or omission  would impair the  exclusion of interest paid on the
         Bonds from the federal gross income of the owners of the Bonds.

                   (c) Neither the  execution and delivery by the Issuer of this
         Loan Agreement nor the  consummation by the Issuer of the  transactions
         contemplated  by this Loan Agreement  conflicts  with, will result in a
         breach of or default  under or will (except with respect to the lien of
         the Indenture)  result in the imposition of any lien on any property of
         the Issuer  pursuant  to the terms,  conditions  or  provisions  of any
         statute, order, rule, regulation,  agreement or instrument to which the
         Issuer is a party or by which it is bound.

                   (d) Each of this Loan  Agreement  and the  Indenture has been
         duly  authorized,  executed  and  delivered  by  the  Issuer  and  each
         constitutes  the  legal,  valid and  binding  obligation  of the Issuer
         enforceable  against the Issuer in accordance with its terms, except to
         the extent that the enforcement thereof may be limited by laws relating
         to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,  moratorium or other similar
         laws and  equitable  principles  of general  application  affecting the
         rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties.

                   (e) There is no litigation or proceeding  pending,  or to the
         knowledge  of the Issuer  after due  inquiry  threatened,  against  the
         Issuer,  or affecting it, which could adversely  affect the validity of
         this Loan  Agreement,  the Indenture or the Bonds or the ability of the
         Issuer to comply with its obligations  under this Loan  Agreement,  the
         Indenture or the Bonds.

                   (f) The Issuer is not in default under any of the  provisions
         of the laws of the State which would affect its existence or its powers
         referred to in the preceding subsection (a).

<PAGE>

                   (g) The Issuer  hereby finds and  determines  that,  based on
         representations  of the Company,  all requirements of the Act have been
         complied with and that the refinancing of the Project and the refunding
         of a portion of the Series  1984 A Bonds  through  the  issuance of the
         Bonds will further the public purposes of the Act.

                   (h) No member,  director,  officer or  official of the Issuer
         has any interest (financial, employment or other) in the Company or the
         transactions contemplated by this Loan Agreement which is prohibited by
         law.

                   (i) The Issuer will apply the  proceeds  from the sale of the
         Bonds as specified in the Indenture and this Loan Agreement. So long as
         any of the Bonds remain  outstanding and except as may be authorized by
         the  Indenture,  the  Issuer  will  not  issue  or sell  any  bonds  or
         obligations,  other than the Bonds,  the  principal  of or  interest on
         which will be  payable  from the  property  described  in the  granting
         clause of the Indenture.

 Section 2.2.    Representations of Company.  The Company represents as follows:

                   (a) The Company (1) is a corporation duly incorporated and in
         good  standing  in the State  and in all other  states in which it owns
         property,  (2) is duly  qualified  to transact  business and is in good
         standing in the State,  (3) is not in violation of any provision of its
         Articles of Incorporation or its By-laws,  (4) has full corporate power
         to own its  properties  and  conduct its  business,  (5) has full legal
         right,  power and  authority  to enter  into this  Loan  Agreement  and
         consummate all transactions contemplated by this Loan Agreement and (6)
         by proper  corporate  action  has duly  authorized  the  execution  and
         delivery of this Loan Agreement.

                   (b) Neither the execution and delivery by the Company of this
         Loan Agreement nor the  consummation by the Company of the transactions
         contemplated by this Loan Agreement  conflicts with or will result in a
         breach of or default under the Articles of  Incorporation or By-laws of
         the Company or the terms,  conditions  or  provisions  of any corporate
         restriction  or any  statute,  order,  rule,  regulation,  agreement or
         instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

                   (c) This Loan  Agreement has been duly  authorized,  executed
         and  delivered  by the Company  and  constitutes  the legal,  valid and
         binding obligation of the Company in accordance with its terms,  except
         to the  extent  that the  enforcement  thereof  may be  limited by laws
         relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other
         similar laws and equitable principles of general application  affecting
         the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties.

                   (d) There is no litigation or proceeding  pending,  or to the
         knowledge  of the  Company  after due inquiry  threatened,  against the
         Company,  or affecting it, which could adversely affect the validity of
         this Loan  Agreement  or the  ability of the Company to comply with its
         obligations under this Loan Agreement.

<PAGE>

                   (e) The  information  contained in the Tax  Agreement and all
         other written  information  relating to the Project and the Prior Bonds
         provided by the Company to the Issuer and bond counsel for the Bonds is
         true and correct in all material respects.

                   (f) Neither  the Prior  Indentures  nor the Prior  Agreements
         have been supplemented or amended.

                                   ARTICLE III

                              COMPLETION OF PROJECT

             Section 3.1.    Completion  of Project.  The  Company has completed
the  acquisition,  construction, installation and  equipping of the  Project  in
accordance with the Prior Indenture and the Prior Agreement.

             Section  3.2.  Project  Description.  The Company will not make any
material  changes in the Project  description  contained in Exhibit A unless the
Trustee and the Issuer  receive a Favorable  Opinion of Tax Counsel with respect
to such change.

             Section 3.3. Operation of Project.  So long as the Company operates
the  Project,  it will  operate it as  facilities  for  preventing  or  reducing
pollution  and/or the disposal of solid waste as  contemplated by the Act and as
solid waste disposal facilities and/or air or water pollution control facilities
as contemplated by Sections 103(b)(4)(E) and/or (F) of the 1954 Code.

             Section 3.4. Company  Representative.  Prior to the initial sale of
the Bonds, the Company shall appoint a Company Representative for the purpose of
acting  on  behalf  of the  Company  and  taking  all  actions  and  making  all
certificates required to be taken and made by a Company Representative under the
provisions  of  this  Loan  Agreement  and  the  Indenture,  and  shall  appoint
alternative  Company  Representatives  to take any such  action or make any such
certificate if the same is not taken or made by the Company  Representative.  In
the  event any of said  persons,  or any  successor  appointed  pursuant  to the
provisions of this Section,  should  resign or become  unavailable  or unable to
take any action or make any  certificate  provided for in this Loan Agreement or
the   Indenture,   another   Company   Representative   or   alternate   Company
Representative shall thereupon be appointed by the Company. If the Company fails
to make  such  designation  within  10 days  following  the  date  when the then
incumbent  resigns  or  becomes  unavailable  or  unable to take any of the said
actions, the Treasurer of the Company shall serve as the Company Representative.

         Whenever  under the  provisions of this Loan Agreement or the Indenture
the  approval  of the Company is required or the Issuer is required to take some
action at the request of the Company,  such  approval or such  request  shall be
made by the Company  Representative or alternate Company  Representative  unless
otherwise  specified in this Loan Agreement or the Indenture,  and the Issuer or
the Trustee shall be authorized to act on any such approval or request.

<PAGE>

             Section 3.5.  Maintenance of Project. The Company will at all times
make or cause to be made such  expenditures by means of renewals,  replacements,
repairs,  maintenance,  or otherwise as shall be necessary to maintain, preserve
and keep the  Project in good  repair,  physical  condition,  working  order and
condition and in a state of good operating  efficiency,  except that the Company
may abandon any portion of the Project if in its opinion the abandonment of such
portion is desirable in the proper  conduct of its business and in the operation
of its  properties  or is otherwise  in its best  interests,  provided  that the
Trustee receives a Favorable Opinion of Tax Counsel prior to such abandonment.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                       ISSUANCE OF BONDS; LOAN TO COMPANY

             Section 4.1. Issuance of Bonds; Loan to Company. In order to refund
a portion of the Series 1984 A Bonds,  the Issuer  will issue,  sell and deliver
the Bonds to the initial  purchasers  thereof  and  deposit the  proceeds of the
Bonds with the Trustee as provided in Article IV of the Indenture.  Such deposit
shall  constitute a loan to the Company  under this Loan  Agreement.  The Issuer
authorizes the Trustee to disburse the proceeds of the Bonds in accordance  with
Section 4.01 of the  Indenture.  If the proceeds of the Bonds are not sufficient
to  accomplish  the  refunding  of such  portion of the  Series  1984 A Bonds on
December 1, 1998,  the Company shall at its own expense and without any right of
reimbursement  in respect  thereof  immediately  pay all  amounts  necessary  to
accomplish  such  refunding.  The Company hereby  approves the Indenture and the
issuance by the Issuer of the Bonds.

                                    ARTICLE V

                                REPAYMENT OF LOAN

             Section 5.1. Repayment of Loan. (a) The Company will repay the loan
made to it under  Section 4.1 as follows:  Before 11:00 a.m.  (local time at the
principal corporate office of the Registrar) on each day on which any payment of
either principal of or interest on the Bonds, or both, shall become due (whether
at maturity, or upon redemption or acceleration or otherwise),  the Company will
pay, in immediately available funds, an amount which, together with other moneys
held by the Tender Agent or by the Trustee  under the  Indenture  and  available
therefor,  will enable the  Registrar  to make such  payment in full in a timely
manner. If such day on which any payment shall become due is not a Business Day,
then  the  payment  required  by this  Section  shall be made on or  before  the
succeeding Business Day. If the Company defaults in any payment required by this
Section,  the Company will pay  interest (to the extent  allowed by law) on such
amount until paid at the rate provided for in the Bonds.

         (b) The Company  will pay to the Tender  Agent,  on each day on which a
payment of purchase price of a Bond which has been tendered shall become due, an
amount which, together with other moneys held by the Tender Agent or the Trustee
under the Indenture

<PAGE>

and available  therefor, will  enable the Tender Agent to  make such payment  in
full in a timely manner.

         In furtherance of the foregoing,  so long as any Bonds are  outstanding
the Company will pay all amounts  required to prevent any  deficiency or default
in any  payment  of the  Bonds,  including  any  deficiency  caused by an act or
failure to act by the Trustee,  the Company,  the Issuer, the Remarketing Agent,
the Auction Agent, the Tender Agent or any other person.

         All amounts  payable  under this Section by the Company are assigned by
the Issuer to the  Trustee  pursuant  to the  Indenture  for the  benefit of the
Bondholders.  The Company consents to such assignment.  Accordingly, the Company
will pay directly to the Registrar at its principal  corporate  trust office all
payments payable by the Company  pursuant to this Section.  The Company need not
pay any amount paid to Bondholders by a draw on the Letter of Credit, if any.

             Section 5.2.    Additional  Payments.  The  Company  will  pay  the
issuance fee of the  Issuer  of $42,187.50  upon the issuance of the Bonds.  The
Company  will  also pay  the  following  within 30 days after  receipt of a bill
therefor:

                   (a)  The  reasonable  fees  and  expenses  of the  Issuer  in
         connection  with  this  Loan  Agreement  and the  Bonds,  such fees and
         expenses to be paid  directly to the Issuer;  provided that the Company
         Representative  shall have  approved  such expenses in writing prior to
         their incurrence.

                   (b) (i) The fees and expenses of the Trustee, the Remarketing
         Agent,  the Tender Agent,  the Auction Agent,  the Broker Dealers,  the
         Securities  Depository  and all other  fiduciaries  and agents  serving
         under the  Indenture  (including  any expenses in  connection  with any
         redemption  of the Bonds),  and (ii) all fees and  expenses,  including
         attorneys' fees, of the Trustee for any extraordinary services rendered
         by it under the  Indenture;  provided  that the  Company  may,  without
         creating an Event of Default,  delay  making any payment  under  clause
         (ii) while it contests in good faith the necessity for,  reasonableness
         of, or  reasonableness  of amount of, such  extraordinary  services and
         expenses.  All such fees and  expenses  are to be paid  directly to the
         Trustee,  the Remarketing  Agent,  the Tender Agent, the Auction Agent,
         the  Securities  Depository  or other  fiduciary  or agent  for its own
         account as and when such fees and expenses become due and payable.

                   (c) All  other  reasonable  fees  and  expenses  incurred  in
         connection with the issuance of the Bonds, including but not limited to
         all costs  associated  with any  discontinuance  of the book-entry only
         system.

             Section 5.3. Prepayments. The Company may at any time prepay to the
Registrar all or any part of the amounts payable under Sectiona5.1. A prepayment
will not relieve the Company of its obligations  under this Loan Agreement until
all the Bonds have been paid or  provision  for the payment of all the Bonds has
been  made in  accordance  with  the  Indenture.

<PAGE>

In the event of a mandatory redemption of the Bonds, the Company will prepay all
amounts necessary for such redemption.

             Section  5.4.  Obligations  of Company  Unconditional.  The Company
agrees  that the  obligations  of the Company to make the  payments  required by
Sections 5.1 and 5.3 and to perform its other agreements  contained in this Loan
Agreement  shall be  absolute  and  unconditional.  Until the  principal  of and
interest on the Bonds shall have been fully paid or provision for the payment of
the Bonds  made in  accordance  with the  Indenture,  the  Company  (a) will not
suspend or  discontinue  any  payments  provided  for in Section  5.1,  (b) will
perform  all its  other  agreements  in this  Loan  Agreement  and (c)  will not
terminate this Loan Agreement for any cause including any acts or  circumstances
that may constitute  failure of  consideration,  destruction of or damage to the
Project, commercial frustration of purpose, any change in the laws of the United
States or of the State or any political  subdivision of either or any failure of
the Issuer to perform any of its agreements,  whether express or implied, or any
duty,  liability  or  obligation  arising  from  or  connected  with  this  Loan
Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                            OTHER COMPANY AGREEMENTS

             Section 6.1.  Maintenance  of  Existence.  The Company  agrees that
during the term of this Loan  Agreement and so long as any Bond is  outstanding,
it will maintain its corporate  existence,  will continue to be a corporation in
good  standing  under the laws of the  State,  will not  dissolve  or  otherwise
dispose of all or substantially  all of its assets and will not consolidate with
or merge into another  legal  entity or permit one or more other legal  entities
(other than one or more  subsidiaries  of the  Company) to  consolidate  with or
merge into it, or sell or  otherwise  transfer  to another  legal  entity all or
substantially all its assets as an entirety and dissolve, unless (a) in the case
of any merger or  consolidation,  the Company is the surviving  corporation,  or
(b)(i) the  surviving,  resulting or  transferee  legal entity is organized  and
existing under the laws of the United States, a state thereof or the District of
Columbia, and (if not the Company) assumes in writing all the obligations of the
Company under this Loan Agreement and (ii) no event which constitutes,  or which
with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both would constitute an Event
of Default shall have occurred and be continuing  immediately after such merger,
consolidation or transfer.

             Section  6.2.  Financial  Reports.  The  Company  agrees to have an
annual audit made by its regular  independent  certified public accountants and,
upon  request,  to furnish  the  Trustee  (within  90 days after  receipt by the
Company) with a balance  sheet,  statement of income and statement of cash flows
showing  the   financial   condition   of  the  Company  and  its   consolidated
subsidiaries,  if any,  at the  close  of  each  fiscal  year,  the  results  of
operations and the cash flows of the Company and its consolidated  subsidiaries,
if any, for each fiscal year,  accompanied  by the opinion of said  accountants.
The  Trustee  will hold such  reports  solely  for the  purpose  of making  them
available  at its  principal  corporate  trust  office  for  examination  by the
Bondholders,  and is not required to notify the  Bondholders  of the contents of
any such report.  The Company may fulfill its  obligation  under this Section by

<PAGE>

furnishing  the Trustee a copy of its Annual  Report on Form 10-K, as filed with
the Securities and Exchange  Commission,  if such report shall contain the above
described financial statements.

             Section 6.3.  Payment of Taxes.  The Company will pay and discharge
promptly all lawful taxes,  assessments and other governmental charges or levies
imposed upon the Project, or upon any part thereof, as well as all claims of any
kind  (including  claims for labor,  materials and supplies)  which,  if unpaid,
might by law become a lien or charge upon the Project; provided that the Company
shall not be required to pay any such tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim (i)
if the amount, applicability or validity thereof shall currently be contested in
good  faith  by  appropriate   proceedings  promptly  initiated  and  diligently
conducted;  (ii) if the  Company  shall  have set  aside on its  books  reserves
(segregated to the extent required by generally accepted accounting  principles)
with respect  thereto  deemed  adequate by the Company;  and (iii) if failure to
make such payment will not impair the use of the Project by the Company.

             Section 6.4.  Arbitrage.  The Company covenants with the Issuer and
for and on behalf of the  purchasers  and  owners of the Bonds from time to time
outstanding  that so long as any of the  Bonds  remain  outstanding,  moneys  on
deposit in any fund in  connection  with the Bonds,  whether or not such  moneys
were  derived  from  the  proceeds  of the sale of the  Bonds or from any  other
sources,  will  not be used  in a  manner  which  will  cause  the  Bonds  to be
"arbitrage  bonds" within the meaning of Section 148 of the Code, and any lawful
regulations promulgated thereunder,  as the same exist on this date, or may from
time to time  hereafter be amended,  supplemented  or revised.  The Company also
covenants  for  the  benefit  of  the  Bondholders  to  comply  with  all of the
provisions of the Tax Agreement.  The Company  reserves the right,  however,  to
make any  investment  of such  moneys as may be  permitted  by State law at such
time,  if,  when  and  to the  extent  that  said  Section  148  or  regulations
promulgated  thereunder  shall be  repealed  or relaxed or shall be held void by
final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction,  but only if any investment
made by virtue of such repeal,  relaxation or decision would not, in the written
Opinion of Tax Counsel, result in making the interest on the Bonds includible in
the federal gross income of the owners of the Bonds.

             Section  6.5.  Company's  Obligation  with  Respect to Exclusion of
Interest Paid on the Bonds.  Notwithstanding  any other  provision  hereof,  the
Company  covenants  and agrees that it will not  knowingly  take or authorize or
permit,  to the extent  such action is within the  control of the  Company,  any
action to be taken  with  respect  to the  Project  or the Prior  Bonds,  or the
proceeds of the Bonds  (including  investment  earnings  thereon),  or any other
proceeds  derived  directly or indirectly in connection  with the Project or the
Prior Bonds,  which will result in the loss of the  exclusion of interest on the
Bonds from the federal gross income of the owners of the Bonds under Section 103
of the Code to the extent that such  interest on the Bonds was  excludable  when
such Bonds were issued  (except  for any Bond  during any period  while any such
Bond is held by a person  referred to in Section  103(b)(13)  of the 1954 Code);
and the  Company  also will not  knowingly  omit to take any action in its power
which, if omitted, would cause the above result. This provision

<PAGE>

shall control in  case of conflict or ambiguity with any other provision of this
Loan Agreement.

         The Company  covenants  and agrees to notify the Trustee and the Issuer
of the  occurrence  of any event of which the Company has notice and which event
would  require  the Company to prepay the  amounts  due  hereunder  because of a
redemption upon a determination of taxability.

             Section 6.6.  Notices Under the  Indenture.  The Company shall give
timely written  notice to the persons noted in Section  2.02(b) of the Indenture
as required by such  section,  prior to any change in the method of  determining
interest on the Bonds.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall use its
best  efforts  to notify  the Issuer as early as  possible  prior to  electing a
Long-Term  Interest Rate Period of three years or longer duration.  In addition,
if the Company shall elect to change the method of  determining  interest on the
Bonds,  the Company shall deliver to the persons noted in Section 2.02(b) of the
Indenture  concurrently  with the giving of notice with respect thereto,  and no
such change shall be effective without,  a Favorable Opinion of Tax Counsel,  if
required by the Indenture. The Company shall use its best efforts to provide the
Tender Agent and the Auction Agent with notice of any change in the maximum rate
permitted by law on the Auction Rate Bonds.

         If the  Company  determines  that a Payment  Default has  occurred  the
Company shall promptly notify the Tender Agent thereof.

             Section 6.7.  Letter of Credit.  Any Letter of Credit  delivered by
the Company  pursuant to the  Indenture  must comply with the  provisions of the
Indenture, including but not limited to, Article V thereof.

             Section 6.8. Credit Ratings.  The Company shall take all reasonable
action necessary to enable at least one nationally recognized statistical rating
organization (as that term is used in the rules and regulations of the SEC under
the  Securities  Exchange  Act) to provide  credit  ratings for the Auction Rate
Bonds.

             Section 6.9. Purchases of Bonds. (a) The Company shall not purchase
or otherwise acquire  Auction Rate Bonds unless the  Company redeems or  cancels
such Auction Rate Bonds on the day of any purchase.

           (b) So long as a Letter of Credit is in effect, the Company will not,
and will not permit any  "insider"  (as defined in the  Bankruptcy  Code) of the
Company, to purchase,  directly or indirectly,  any Bonds with any funds that do
not constitute moneys described in clauses first, second, third or fourth in the
second paragraph of Sectiona4.02 of the Indenture, except as required by Section
5.2(b).

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE VII

                     NO RECOURSE TO ISSUER; INDEMNIFICATION

             Section  7.1.  No  Recourse  to  Issuer.  The  Issuer  will  not be
obligated  to pay the  Bonds  or any fees or  expenses  incurred  in  connection
therewith  except from  revenues  provided by the  Company.  The issuance of the
Bonds will not directly or indirectly or contingently obligate the Issuer or the
State  to  levy  or  pledge  any  form  of  taxation  whatever  or to  make  any
appropriation  for their payment.  Neither the Issuer nor any member,  director,
employee,  agent or officer of the  Issuer  nor any person  executing  the Bonds
shall be liable personally for the Bonds or be subject to any personal liability
or accountability by reason of the issuance of the Bonds.

             Section 7.2.  Indemnification.  The Company during the term of this
Loan Agreement releases the Issuer, its members, officers, directors,  employees
and agents from and covenants and agrees that the Issuer, its members, officers,
directors, employees and agents shall not be liable for, and agrees to indemnify
and hold the Issuer,  its members,  directors,  officers,  employees  and agents
harmless  against,  any loss or damage to  property or any injury to or death of
any person  occurring on or about or  resulting  from any defect in the Project,
provided that the indemnity  shall not be effective for damages that result from
the  negligence  or  intentional  acts on the part of the Issuer,  its  members,
officers,  directors,  employees or agents.  The Company will also indemnify and
save harmless the Issuer, its members, officers, directors,  employees or agents
from and against any and all losses,  costs,  charges,  expenses,  judgments and
liabilities  imposed  upon or  asserted  against it or them with  respect to the
Project  on  account  of any  failure  on the part of the  Company to perform or
comply with any of the provisions of this Loan Agreement.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                   ASSIGNMENT

             Section  8.1.  Assignment  by  Company.  The Company may assign its
rights and obligations  under this Loan Agreement with the prior written consent
of the Issuer, but no assignment will relieve the Company from primary liability
for any obligations under this Loan Agreement.

             Section  8.2.  Assignment  by Issuer.  The Issuer  will  assign its
rights  under and  interest in this Loan  Agreement  (except for the  Unassigned
Rights) to the Trustee  pursuant to the Indenture as security for the payment of
the Bonds,  and the Company assents to this  assignment.  Otherwise,  the Issuer
will not sell,  assign or  otherwise  dispose of its rights under or interest in
this Loan Agreement nor create or permit to exist any lien, encumbrance or other
security interest in or on such rights or interest.

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE IX

                              DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

             Section  9.1.  Remedies on Default.  Whenever  any Event of Default
under the  Indenture  has  occurred  and is  continuing,  the  Trustee  may take
whatever  action may appear  necessary or desirable to collect the payments then
due and to become due or to enforce  performance of any agreement of the Company
in this Loan Agreement.

         In addition,  if an Event of Default is continuing  with respect to any
of the  Unassigned  Rights,  the  Issuer  may take  whatever  action  may appear
necessary  or  desirable  to it to enforce  performance  by the  Company of such
Unassigned Rights.

         Any  amounts  collected  pursuant to action  taken  under this  Section
(except for amounts  payable  directly to the Issuer or the Trustee  pursuant to
Sections 5.2, 7.2 and 9.3) shall be applied in accordance with the Indenture.

         Nothing in this Loan Agreement shall be construed to permit the Issuer,
the Trustee,  any Bondholder or any receiver in any proceeding brought under the
Indenture to take  possession  of or exclude the Company from  possession of the
Project by reason of the occurrence of an Event of Default.

             Section 9.2. Delay Not Waiver; Remedies. A delay or omission by the
Issuer or the Trustee in exercising  any right or remedy  accruing upon an Event
of Default  shall not impair  the right or remedy or  constitute  a waiver of or
acquiescence  in the  Event of  Default.  No remedy  is  exclusive  of any other
remedy. All available remedies are cumulative.

             Section 9.3.  Attorneys'  Fees and Expenses.  If the Company should
default under any provision of this Loan  Agreement and the Issuer should employ
attorneys or incur other  expenses for the  collection of the payments due under
this Loan Agreement, the Company will on demand pay to the Issuer the reasonable
fees of such  attorneys  and such other  reasonable  expenses so incurred by the
Issuer.

                                    ARTICLE X

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

            Section 10.1.    Notices.    All  notices  or  other  communications
hereunder shall be sufficiently  given  and shall be deemed given when delivered
or mailed as provided in the Indenture.

            Section 10.2. Binding Effect. This Loan Agreement shall inure to the
benefit  of and  shall be  binding  upon  the  Issuer,  the  Company  and  their
respective  successors  and  assigns,   subject,  however,  to  the  limitations
contained in Section 6.1.

<PAGE>

            Section 10.3. Severability. If any  provision of this Loan Agreement
shall be determined to be unenforceable  at any time, that  shall not affect any
other provision of this Loan Agreement or the  enforceability of that  provision
at any other time.

            Section 10.4. Amendments. After the issuance of the Bonds, this Loan
Agreement  may not be  effectively  amended or  terminated  without  the written
consent  of the  Trustee  and  the  Tender  Agent  and in  accordance  with  the
provisions of the Indenture.

            Section 10.5. Right of Company To Perform Issuer's  Agreements.  The
Issuer  irrevocably  authorizes  and empowers the Company to perform in the name
and on  behalf  of the  Issuer  any  agreement  made by the  Issuer in this Loan
Agreement  or in the  Indenture  which the  Issuer  fails to perform in a timely
fashion if the  continuance of such failure could result in an Event of Default.
This  Section  will not  require the  Company to perform  any  agreement  of the
Issuer.

            Section 10.6.    Applicable   Law.  This  Loan  Agreement  shall  be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State.

            Section 10.7. Captions; References to Sections. The captions in this
Loan Agreement are for convenience  only and do not define or limit the scope or
intent of any  provisions  or Sections  of this Loan  Agreement.  References  to
Articles and  Sections are to the Articles and Sections of this Loan  Agreement,
unless the context otherwise requires.

            Section 10.8.  Complete  Agreement.  This Loan Agreement  represents
the  entire agreement  between the  Issuer and the  Company with  respect to its
subject matter.

            Section 10.9.  Termination.  When no Bonds are Outstanding under the
Indenture,  the  Company and the Issuer  shall not have any further  obligations
under this Loan Agreement; provided that the Company's covenants in Sections 6.4
and 6.5, and the provisions of Section 5.3 with respect to mandatory  redemption
of the Bonds, shall survive so long as any Bond remains unpaid.

<PAGE>



         Section 10.10.    Counterparts.  This Loan  Agreement  may be signed in
several  counterparts.  Each  will be  an original,  but all  of  them  together
constitute the same instrument.



                                    STATE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT AND
                                        ENERGY RESOURCES AUTHORITY



                                    By         /S/ Avis Parman
                                       ---------------------------------
                                                    Chairman


[SEAL]

Attest:

By      /S/ Charles D. Banks
   --------------------------------
              Secretary

                                    UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY, dba AMERENUE



                                    By      /S/ Donald E. Brandt
                                       --------------------------------
                                            Senior Vice President

<PAGE>



                                    EXHIBIT A

                                   THE PROJECT

         The  Project  consists  of  the  portion  of the  following  facilities
previously  financed  by the Issuer with the Prior  Bonds.  The  facilities  are
located at Union Electric  Company's  Callaway Nuclear Plant in Callaway County,
Missouri.

A.  WATER POLLUTION CONTROL FACILITIES:

            1. Oily Waste Treatment  System.  The oily waste treatment system is
designed to remove oily waste from  contaminated  water in  compliance  with the
Federal  Clean  Water  Act.  The  oily  waste  treatment  system  collects,  for
processing  and  disposal,  nonradioactive  waste  from  areas  where oil may be
present,  and waste that may contain  oil and/or  trace  amounts of  radioactive
contaminants.  Areas  where oily waste is  collected  by the system  include the
turbine building,  control building,  communications corridor,  diesel generator
building, and the auxiliary feedwater pump room.

            2.  Steam  Generator  Blowdown  System.  The  function  of the steam
generator  blowdown  system is to treat blowdown to the extent  required to meet
chemical composition limits for release to the environment. This system consists
of heat exchangers, mixed bed demineralizers, filters and associated hardware.

            3 Liquid Radwaste System. The function of the liquid radwaste system
is to collect,  segregate and treat both the reactor grade and nonreactor  grade
liquid  wastes  during  plant  power,  refueling  and  maintenance   operations.
Specifically,  it handles  potentially  radioactive  floor and equipment drains,
laundry,  and chemical  waste.  After  processing to remove  low-level and other
pollutants,  a  substantial  amount  of the  treated  liquid is  expected  to be
recycled for use in the plant,  while the  remainder  will be piped to the river
for release  there.  The liquid  radwaste  system  consists of several tanks and
pumps,  an  evaporator,  heat  exchanger,  demineralizers,  charcoal  adsorbers,
filters, and a reverse osmosis unit.

            4. Boron Recycle  System.  In order to keep the reactor  functioning
properly,  the  percentage  of boron in the  reactor  coolant is adjusted by the
addition of reactor makeup water,  blending  boric acid as needed.  As discussed
below,  this operation occurs as part of the function of the chemical and volume
control system ("CVCS").

         Waste streams from the CVCS are let down from time to time to the boron
recycle system ("BRS").  Waste streams  containing  boron and other minerals are
treated  in the  BRS by  demineralization,  filtration  and  evaporation.  After
treatment,  some of the liquid waste will be discharged to the Missouri River in
compliance  with discharge  limits imposed by the Clean Water Act.  Liquid waste
meeting the chemical requirements for reactor makeup water will be pumped to the
makeup water storage tank for reuse in the reactor  coolant  water  system.  The
system  evaporator  that treats the waste streams  concentrates  boric acid to 4
percent  weight.  The  concentrated  solution is then  pumped to the  evaporator
bottoms tank (primary) for  processing and disposal or, if reusable,  is sent to
the boric acid tanks. Absent

<PAGE>

pollution control requirements, these wastes would have been discharged directly
to the environment.

            5.  Secondary  Liquid Waste.  The function of the  secondary  liquid
waste system is to treat waste liquids  collected in the turbine  building floor
and equipment  drains.  The turbine  building  drains are segregated into drains
where  turbine  cycle  leakage is likely.  This system  also  treats  condensate
polisher regeneration wastes. This treatment is to achieve compliance within the
discharge  limits  imposed by the Clean  Water  Act.  Absent  pollution  control
requirements,   these  wastes  would  have  been  discharged   directly  to  the
environment.  The system consists of several tanks and pumps,  an evaporator,  a
demineralizer,  a charcoal bed, an oil interceptor,  and three filters.  It also
includes associated piping, valves, electrical and control equipment.

            6. Facilities For Discharge of Wastes. After treatment in the liquid
radwaste system, boron recovery,  steam generator blowdown, and secondary liquid
waste systems,  the liquids that will be discharged to the river are transferred
to either of two discharge holdup tanks and then pumped through about five miles
of buried piping to the Missouri River.  The discharge holdup tanks will provide
further holding, monitoring and treatment of liquids before they are released to
the river. The tanks are sized to provide holdup for primary liquid radwaste and
secondary  liquid  waste  that  will  eventually  be  discharged.  The tanks are
necessary  to  provide  the  sampling  required  in  order  to  ensure  that all
discharges are within pollution  control limits.  Each tank holds  approximately
100,000 gallons and will have related equipment to provide necessary adjustments
to  obtain  the  required  pH  levels.   Piping  is  installed  to  provide  for
reprocessing  the tank  contents if  monitoring  shows that the contents fail to
meet the environmental requirements for discharge.

            7. Chemical Waste  Treatment  System.  The chemical waste  treatment
system collects waste chemicals and detergent wastes for treatment and disposal.
Waste is collected from the chemical and volume control system sample room sink,
the hot laboratory sample sinks, the recycle  evaporator and recycle  evaporator
reagent tank,  the waste  evaporator  and waste  evaporator  reagent  tank,  the
secondary liquid waste evaporator and secondary liquid waste evaporator  reagent
tank, the radwaste  building sample  laboratory  sink,  evaporator  bottoms tank
overflow (primary and secondary),  decontamination tanks in hot machine shop and
turbine  building  sample  laboratory  sinks.  Except as  described  below,  all
effluents  in this system flow by gravity  directly to the  chemical  drain tank
located  in the  basement  of the  radwaste  building.  The  effluents  from hot
laboratory  sample  sinks flow by gravity to the chemical  equipment  drain sump
located in the  basement  of the  control  building.  This sump is vented to the
access control exhaust system to prevent  diffusion of vapors to the atmosphere.
The same is true of the vent for the detergent drain tank,  which collects waste
from the  laundry,  hot  laboratory,  and the men's and  women's  disrobe  areas
located in the control  building.  The turbine building sample  laboratory sinks
are tied to a common drain line. This line can be routed through  demineralizers
and discharged to the oil waste system or discharged  into a portable  container
outside the laboratory.

            8. Floor and Equipment Drain System.  One of three subsystems within
the floor and equipment  drains is designed to collect  liquid waste and pump it
to the floor drain tank.

<PAGE>

The  pollution  control  equipment  processes  effluent originating  in  the hot
machine shop decontamination area prior to releasing it to the floor drain tank.

         9-10. Sewage Collection and Treatment System.  The power block drainage
system  collects wastes from service  facilities,  pantry  facilities,  electric
water coolers, clean shower,  plumbing fixtures and toilet drains in the control
building,  and from electric  water coolers,  electric  water heaters,  plumbing
fixtures and toilet room floor drains in the turbine building.

         The  collection  facilities  drain to a lift station and the wastes are
then  pumped to the  sewage  treatment  plant.  After  treatment  the wastes are
discharged  to the  river.  (The  qualifying  facilities  do not  include  field
facilities used during construction.)

         This system is not in regular  operation at substantially  the level of
treatment  for which it was  intended.  The Company will  therefore  improve its
maintenance  and inspection  program and make  necessary  changes to the system.
When this is  completed,  the system  will be  capable  of meeting or  exceeding
applicable  federal,  state  and local  requirements  for the  control  of water
pollution.

           11.  Chemical and Volume  Control  Letdown  Waste  Processing  System
(CVCS).  During plant  operation,  this  maintains  the reactor  coolant  system
equilibrium  fission and corrosion  product  activities within specified limits.
The letdown waste  effluent from the system is processed and treated.  Mixed-bed
demineralizers  are  provided  in the letdown  system to provide  cleanup of the
letdown  flow.  The  demineralizers  remove ionic  corrosion  products,  certain
fission products, and act as filters. One demineralizer is usually in continuous
service for normal letdown flow and can be  supplemented  intermittently  by the
cation bed demineralizer for additional purification as required.

B.  AIR POLLUTION CONTROL FACILITIES:

            1. Gaseous Radwaste System. The function of this system is to remove
polluting  gases produced by the fission process from the reactor coolant system
and to collect other gaseous waste  pollutants  from sources having  appreciable
amounts of fission  product gases and hydrogen.  The system has the capacity for
achieving decay of such waste gases through  long-term  storage,  thus complying
with air pollution  control  requirements  by  eliminating  regularly  scheduled
discharges  of  radioactive  gases into the  atmosphere.  This  system  consists
principally  of the  hydrogen  recombiner  and a series of eight waste gas decay
tanks. The hydrogen  recombiner  provides a means of drawing off the waste gases
through combination with hydrogen. The hydrogen is then catalytically recombined
to form water,  and the remaining  waste gases are then processed and allowed to
decay in waste gas decay tanks.

            2. Control Building  Ventilation  Exhaust System. The access control
exhaust  system takes  suction from the  potentially  contaminated  areas of the
access control floor and the basement beneath. This system filters exhaust prior
to discharge to the environment.

<PAGE>

            3. Auxiliary  Building  Ventilation  Exhaust System. All exhaust air
from the auxiliary  building is processed  through the  auxiliary/fuel  building
normal exhaust system filter train for cleanup prior to radiation monitoring and
discharge to the environment.

            4.  Condenser Air Removal  System.  The condenser air removal system
exhausts  potentially  radioactive  gases and other gases from the condenser and
processes  them  through a  charcoal  adsorber  unit prior to  discharge  to the
environment.

            5.   Containment   Atmospheric   Control  System.   The  containment
atmospheric control system has two functionsuto reduce the containment  airborne
concentrations of radioiodine and particulates to acceptable levels prior to and
during  occupancy  of the  containment  and to reduce  the  amount  of  airborne
radioiodine and  particulates  released to the environment  prior to containment
purges. The system operates,  as needed,  prior to and during purging to provide
internal cleanup of the containment atmosphere by recirculation through charcoal
adsorbers and particulate filters.

            6.  Containment  Purge System.  During  operation of the containment
shutdown purge supply system,  the containment  shutdown purge exhaust fan takes
suction from the containment  through the  containment  purge exhaust system and
containment purge filtration unit and discharges it to the environment.

            7. Radiation  Monitoring  System  (primarily  air pollution  control
related).  A portion of the process and effluent radiation  monitoring system is
necessary  to monitor,  record,  and control the release to the  environment  of
radioactive materials that may be generated under normal conditions. The process
and  effluent   radioactivity   monitors   operate   continuously   during  both
intermittent  and  continuous   discharges  of  potentially   radioactive  plant
effluents.

C.  SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITIES:


            1. Solid  Radwaste  Processing  System.(*)    The   solid   radwaste
processing  system  includes  facilities  for  solidification,  compaction,  and
temporary storage of solid wastes. It collects spent resins, evaporator bottoms,
spent  charcoal  and  miscellaneous  dry  wastes.  The  system  is  designed  to
provide  adequate  handling,  processing  and  drumming  up  of  the wastes, and
temporarily  storing  them  until  shipment o ffsite for  disposal at a licensed
burial site. The wastes are generated  during  normal plant operation and during
anticipated  operational  occurrences, such as  refueling and  high  maintenance
periods.


<PAGE>

         Filter Handling System.  The filter handling system provides a means of
         removing  and  transferring  spent  filter  cartridges  from the filter
         vessels for processing and disposal.

         Resin Sluicing  System.  The resin sluicing system provides a means for
         transferring  spent resins from the  demineralizers  to the spent resin
         storage tank.  From there these resins are processed for disposal.  The
         system is  designed to minimize  the amount of waste  liquid  generated
         during sluicing.

            2. Temporary Storage.(**)     A  consulting  engineering  firm   was
retained to determine a location for storage of solidified  secondary  radwaste.
The consultants  determined that it would be  best to store this low-level waste
on a temporary basis pending disposal in what is now called the fabrication shop
(or similar structure).

D.  MISCELLANEOUS:

            1. Radwaste Building and Radwaste Pipe Tunnel. The radwaste building
contains  only  facilities   performing  a  solid  waste  disposal  function  or
facilities  performing a pollution  control  function.  As discussed  below, the
radwaste  building  and the  radwaste  pipe tunnel are  necessary  to the proper
functioning of those systems described above which are located in the building.

         Radwaste Building. The radwaste building is a rectangular,  multistory,
         structural  steel  and  reinforced   concrete  structure  which  houses
         facilities  for treatment and disposal of radioactive  liquid,  gaseous
         and solid wastes.

         Radwaste  Pipe  Tunnel.  The  radwaste  pipe  tunnel is a  below-grade,
         reinforced concrete structure connecting the auxiliary building and the
         radwaste  building.  The tunnel provides access and carries  electrical
         cable trays and piping between the auxiliary  building and the radwaste
         building.  It functions  only in support of the  radwaste  building and
         equipment therein.



- ----------
(*)      Certain portions of the Solid Radwaste  Processing System are no longer
         in use. Since the plant became  operational,  the equipment  associated
         with solidifying  radioactive  resins and bottoms has been retired.  In
         addition,  the equipment  processing  contaminated  laundry  wastewater
         (reverse  osmosis)  has been  retired.  Equipment  associated  with the
         solidification  of  radwastes  is being  replaced  with a new  Radwaste
         Volume  Reduction  system.  The total  estimated  costs of the  retired
         equipment  is  $14,283,360,  a portion of which was  financed  with the
         Prior Bonds.

(**)     The temporary  storage  facilities were  not  constructed.   The  total
         estimated  cost of the  temporary storage  facilities which  was to  be
         financed with the Prior Bonds was $198,681.









  ===========================================================================


                                 LOAN AGREEMENT




                          Dated as of September 1, 1998


                                     between


                       STATE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT AND
                           ENERGY RESOURCES AUTHORITY


                                       and


                      UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY, dba AMERENUE




                            -------------------------
                                   $50,000,000
                Environmental Improvement Revenue Refunding Bonds
                        (Union Electric Company Project)
                                  Series 1998B
                            -------------------------



  ===========================================================================

                                                 ILLINOIS COMMERCE COMMISSION
                                                    Identification No. 6097

<PAGE>



                                 LOAN AGREEMENT

                                                                            PAGE

ARTICLE I              DEFINITIONS.............................................1


ARTICLE II             REPRESENTATIONS.........................................2

       Section 2.1.        Representations of Issuer...........................2
       Section 2.2.        Representations of Company..........................3

ARTICLE III            COMPLETION OF PROJECT...................................4

       Section 3.1.        Completion of Project...............................4
       Section 3.2.        Project Description.................................4
       Section 3.3.        Operation of Project................................4
       Section 3.4.        Company Representative..............................4
       Section 3.5.        Maintenance of Project..............................5

ARTICLE IV             ISSUANCE OF BONDS; LOAN TO COMPANY......................5

       Section 4.1.        Issuance of Bonds; Loan to Company..................5

ARTICLE V              REPAYMENT OF LOAN.......................................5

       Section 5.1.        Repayment of Loan...................................5
       Section 5.2.        Additional Payments.................................6
       Section 5.3.        Prepayments.........................................6
       Section 5.4.        Obligations of Company Unconditional................7

ARTICLE VI             OTHER COMPANY AGREEMENTS................................7

       Section 6.1.        Maintenance of Existence............................7
       Section 6.2.        Financial Reports...................................7
       Section 6.3.        Payment of Taxes....................................8
       Section 6.4.        Arbitrage...........................................8
       Section 6.5.        Company's Obligation with Respect to Exclusion
                             of Interest Paid on the Bonds.....................8
       Section 6.6.        Notices Under the Indenture.........................9
       Section 6.7.        Letter of Credit....................................9
       Section 6.8.        Credit Ratings......................................9
       Section 6.9.        Purchases of Bonds..................................9

ARTICLE VII            NO RECOURSE TO ISSUER; INDEMNIFICATION.................10

       Section 7.1.        No Recourse to Issuer..............................10
       Section 7.2.        Indemnification....................................10

<PAGE>

ARTICLE VIII           ASSIGNMENT.............................................10

       Section 8.1.        Assignment by Company..............................10
       Section 8.2.        Assignment by Issuer...............................10

ARTICLE IX              DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES.................................11

       Section 9.1.        Remedies on Default................................11
       Section 9.2.        Delay Not Waiver; Remedies.........................11
       Section 9.3.        Attorneys' Fees and Expenses.......................11

ARTICLE X               MISCELLANEOUS.........................................11

       Section 10.1.       Notices............................................11
       Section 10.2.       Binding Effect.....................................11
       Section 10.3.       Severability.......................................12
       Section 10.4.       Amendments.........................................12
       Section 10.5.       Right of Company To Perform Issuer's Agreements....12
       Section 10.6.       Applicable Law.....................................12
       Section 10.7.       Captions; References to Sections...................12
       Section 10.8.       Complete Agreement.................................12
       Section 10.9.       Termination........................................12
       Section 10.10.      Counterparts.......................................13

Signature.....................................................................13



<PAGE>



           LOAN AGREEMENT dated as of September 1, 1998, between STATE
           ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT AND ENERGY RESOURCES AUTHORITY of
           the State of Missouri, a body  corporate and  politic and a
           governmental instrumentality of the  State of Missouri (the
          "Issuer"), and UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY, a Missouri corporation
           doing business as AMERENUE (the "Company").

         Section  260.005  through  Section  260.125,  inclusive,  R.S.  Mo., as
amended,  and Appendix  B(1) thereto  empowers the Issuer to issue its bonds for
any of its purposes,  including the refunding of bonds previously  issued by it.
On June 1, 1984,  the Issuer  issued its (i)  Adjustable - Fixed Rate  Pollution
Control  Revenue Bonds,  Series 1984 A (Union Electric  Company  Project) in the
aggregate   principal   amount  of  $80,000,000  (all  of  which  are  currently
outstanding)  (the  "Series  1984 A Bonds")  and (ii)  Adjustable  - Fixed  Rate
Pollution Control Revenue Bonds,  Series 1984 B (Union Electric Company Project)
in the aggregate  principal  amount of  $80,000,000  (all of which are currently
outstanding) (the "Series 1984 B Bonds") (the Series 1984 A Bonds and the Series
1984 B Bonds are referred to  collectively as the "Prior Bonds") for the purpose
of constructing,  acquiring,  and installing certain pollution control and solid
waste disposal facilities (the "Project").

         The  Issuer   proposes  to  issue  (a)(i)   $60,000,000   Environmental
Improvement  Revenue  Refunding  Bonds (Union Electric  Company  Project) Series
1998A  pursuant to the Series A Indenture (as defined in the Indenture  referred
to below) and (ii) $50,000,000 Environmental Improvement Revenue Refunding Bonds
(Union Electric Company Project) Series 1998B pursuant to the Indenture in order
to provide the funds for the  refunding  of a portion of the Series 1984 A Bonds
and (b) to loan the proceeds of the Bonds to the Company. The Company desires to
use the  proceeds  of the  Bonds to pay a  portion  of the cost of  refunding  a
portion of the Series 1984 A Bonds and a portion of the Series 1984 B Bonds, all
on the terms and conditions set forth in this Loan Agreement.

         Accordingly, the Issuer and the Company hereby agree as follows:

                                    ARTICLE I

                                   DEFINITIONS

         For all  purposes of this Loan  Agreement,  unless the context  clearly
requires  otherwise,  all terms defined in Article I of the  Indenture  have the
same meanings in this Loan Agreement.

         "Indenture"  means the Indenture of Trust relating to the Bonds,  dated
as of the date of this Loan Agreement,  between the Issuer and State Street Bank
and Trust Company of Missouri,  N.A., as trustee, as such Indenture of Trust may
be amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms.

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE II

                                 REPRESENTATIONS

   Section 2.1.    Representations of Issuer.  The Issuer represents as follows:

                   (a) The  Issuer (1) is a body  corporate  and  politic  and a
         governmental instrumentality duly organized and existing under the laws
         of the  State,  (2) has full  power  and  authority  to enter  into the
         transactions  contemplated  by this Loan Agreement and by the Indenture
         and to carry out its  obligations  under  this Loan  Agreement  and the
         Indenture,  including  the  issuance  of the  Bonds  and (3) by  proper
         corporate action has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this
         Loan Agreement, the Bonds and the Indenture.

                   (b) Under existing statutes and decisions, no taxes on income
         or profits  are imposed on the  Issuer.  The Issuer will not  knowingly
         take or omit to take any action  reasonably  within its  control  which
         action or omission  would impair the  exclusion of interest paid on the
         Bonds from the federal gross income of the owners of the Bonds.

                   (c) Neither the  execution and delivery by the Issuer of this
         Loan Agreement nor the  consummation by the Issuer of the  transactions
         contemplated  by this Loan Agreement  conflicts  with, will result in a
         breach of or default  under or will (except with respect to the lien of
         the Indenture)  result in the imposition of any lien on any property of
         the Issuer  pursuant  to the terms,  conditions  or  provisions  of any
         statute, order, rule, regulation,  agreement or instrument to which the
         Issuer is a party or by which it is bound.

                   (d) Each of this Loan  Agreement  and the  Indenture has been
         duly  authorized,  executed  and  delivered  by  the  Issuer  and  each
         constitutes  the  legal,  valid and  binding  obligation  of the Issuer
         enforceable  against the Issuer in accordance with its terms, except to
         the extent that the enforcement thereof may be limited by laws relating
         to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,  moratorium or other similar
         laws and  equitable  principles  of general  application  affecting the
         rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties.

                   (e) There is no litigation or proceeding  pending,  or to the
         knowledge  of the Issuer  after due  inquiry  threatened,  against  the
         Issuer,  or affecting it, which could adversely  affect the validity of
         this Loan  Agreement,  the Indenture or the Bonds or the ability of the
         Issuer to comply with its obligations  under this Loan  Agreement,  the
         Indenture or the Bonds.

                   (f) The Issuer is not in default under any of the  provisions
         of the laws of the State which would affect its existence or its powers
         referred to in the preceding subsection (a).

<PAGE>

                   (g) The Issuer  hereby finds and  determines  that,  based on
         representations  of the Company,  all requirements of the Act have been
         complied with and that the refinancing of the Project and the refunding
         of a portion  of the  Series  1984 A Bonds and a portion  of the Series
         1984 B Bonds  through the issuance of the Bonds will further the public
         purposes of the Act.

                   (h) No member,  director,  officer or  official of the Issuer
         has any interest (financial, employment or other) in the Company or the
         transactions contemplated by this Loan Agreement which is prohibited by
         law.

                   (i) The Issuer will apply the  proceeds  from the sale of the
         Bonds as specified in the Indenture and this Loan Agreement. So long as
         any of the Bonds remain  outstanding and except as may be authorized by
         the  Indenture,  the  Issuer  will  not  issue  or sell  any  bonds  or
         obligations,  other than the Bonds,  the  principal  of or  interest on
         which will be  payable  from the  property  described  in the  granting
         clause of the Indenture.

    Section 2.2. Representations of Company.  The Company represents as follows:

                   (a) The Company (1) is a corporation duly incorporated and in
         good  standing  in the State  and in all other  states in which it owns
         property,  (2) is duly  qualified  to transact  business and is in good
         standing in the State,  (3) is not in violation of any provision of its
         Articles of Incorporation or its By-laws,  (4) has full corporate power
         to own its  properties  and  conduct its  business,  (5) has full legal
         right,  power and  authority  to enter  into this  Loan  Agreement  and
         consummate all transactions contemplated by this Loan Agreement and (6)
         by proper  corporate  action  has duly  authorized  the  execution  and
         delivery of this Loan Agreement.

                   (b) Neither the execution and delivery by the Company of this
         Loan Agreement nor the  consummation by the Company of the transactions
         contemplated by this Loan Agreement  conflicts with or will result in a
         breach of or default under the Articles of  Incorporation or By-laws of
         the Company or the terms,  conditions  or  provisions  of any corporate
         restriction  or any  statute,  order,  rule,  regulation,  agreement or
         instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

                   (c) This Loan  Agreement has been duly  authorized,  executed
         and  delivered  by the Company  and  constitutes  the legal,  valid and
         binding obligation of the Company in accordance with its terms,  except
         to the  extent  that the  enforcement  thereof  may be  limited by laws
         relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other
         similar laws and equitable principles of general application  affecting
         the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties.

                   (d) There is no litigation or proceeding  pending,  or to the
         knowledge  of the  Company  after due inquiry  threatened,  against the
         Company,  or affecting it, which could adversely affect the validity of
         this Loan  Agreement  or the  ability of the Company to comply with its
         obligations under this Loan Agreement.

<PAGE>

                   (e) The  information  contained in the Tax  Agreement and all
         other written  information  relating to the Project and the Prior Bonds
         provided by the Company to the Issuer and bond counsel for the Bonds is
         true and correct in all material respects.

                   (f) Neither  the Prior  Indentures  nor the Prior  Agreements
         have been supplemented or amended.

                                   ARTICLE III

                              COMPLETION OF PROJECT

             Section 3.1.  Completion of Project.  The Company has completed the
acquisition,   construction,  installation  and  equipping  of  the  Project  in
accordance with the Prior Indenture and the Prior Agreement.

             Section  3.2.  Project  Description.  The Company will not make any
material  changes in the Project  description  contained in Exhibit A unless the
Trustee and the Issuer  receive a Favorable  Opinion of Tax Counsel with respect
to such change.

             Section 3.3. Operation of Project.  So long as the Company operates
the  Project,  it will  operate it as  facilities  for  preventing  or  reducing
pollution  and/or the disposal of solid waste as  contemplated by the Act and as
solid waste disposal facilities and/or air or water pollution control facilities
as contemplated by Sections 103(b)(4)(E) and/or (F) of the 1954 Code.

             Section 3.4. Company  Representative.  Prior to the initial sale of
the Bonds, the Company shall appoint a Company Representative for the purpose of
acting  on  behalf  of the  Company  and  taking  all  actions  and  making  all
certificates required to be taken and made by a Company Representative under the
provisions  of  this  Loan  Agreement  and  the  Indenture,  and  shall  appoint
alternative  Company  Representatives  to take any such  action or make any such
certificate if the same is not taken or made by the Company  Representative.  In
the  event any of said  persons,  or any  successor  appointed  pursuant  to the
provisions of this Section,  should  resign or become  unavailable  or unable to
take any action or make any  certificate  provided for in this Loan Agreement or
the   Indenture,   another   Company   Representative   or   alternate   Company
Representative shall thereupon be appointed by the Company. If the Company fails
to make  such  designation  within  10 days  following  the  date  when the then
incumbent  resigns  or  becomes  unavailable  or  unable to take any of the said
actions, the Treasurer of the Company shall serve as the Company Representative.

         Whenever  under the  provisions of this Loan Agreement or the Indenture
the  approval  of the Company is required or the Issuer is required to take some
action at the request of the Company,  such  approval or such  request  shall be
made by the Company  Representative or alternate Company  Representative  unless
otherwise  specified in this Loan Agreement or the Indenture,  and the Issuer or
the Trustee shall be authorized to act on any such approval or request.

<PAGE>

             Section 3.5.  Maintenance of Project. The Company will at all times
make or cause to be made such  expenditures by means of renewals,  replacements,
repairs,  maintenance,  or otherwise as shall be necessary to maintain, preserve
and keep the  Project in good  repair,  physical  condition,  working  order and
condition and in a state of good operating  efficiency,  except that the Company
may abandon any portion of the Project if in its opinion the abandonment of such
portion is desirable in the proper  conduct of its business and in the operation
of its  properties  or is otherwise  in its best  interests,  provided  that the
Trustee receives a Favorable Opinion of Tax Counsel prior to such abandonment.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                       ISSUANCE OF BONDS; LOAN TO COMPANY

             Section 4.1. Issuance of Bonds; Loan to Company. In order to refund
a portion of the Series  1984 A Bonds and a portion of the Series  1984 B Bonds,
the Issuer  will issue,  sell and  deliver  the Bonds to the initial  purchasers
thereof and  deposit  the  proceeds of the Bonds with the Trustee as provided in
Article IV of the Indenture. Such deposit shall constitute a loan to the Company
under this Loan  Agreement.  The Issuer  authorizes  the Trustee to disburse the
proceeds of the Bonds in accordance with  Sectiona4.01 of the Indenture.  If the
proceeds of the Bonds are not  sufficient  to  accomplish  the refunding of such
portion of the Series  1984 A Bonds and such  portion of the Series 1984 B Bonds
on Decembera1,  1998, the Company shall at its own expense and without any right
of  reimbursement  in respect thereof  immediately pay all amounts  necessary to
accomplish  such  refunding.  The Company hereby  approves the Indenture and the
issuance by the Issuer of the Bonds.

                                    ARTICLE V

                                REPAYMENT OF LOAN

             Section 5.1. Repayment of Loan. (a) The Company will repay the loan
made to it under  Section 4.1 as follows:  Before 11:00 a.m.  (local time at the
principal corporate office of the Registrar) on each day on which any payment of
either principal of or interest on the Bonds, or both, shall become due (whether
at maturity, or upon redemption or acceleration or otherwise),  the Company will
pay, in immediately available funds, an amount which, together with other moneys
held by the Tender Agent or by the Trustee  under the  Indenture  and  available
therefor,  will enable the  Registrar  to make such  payment in full in a timely
manner. If such day on which any payment shall become due is not a Business Day,
then  the  payment  required  by this  Section  shall be made on or  before  the
succeeding Business Day. If the Company defaults in any payment required by this
Section,  the Company will pay  interest (to the extent  allowed by law) on such
amount until paid at the rate provided for in the Bonds.

         (b) The Company  will pay to the Tender  Agent,  on each day on which a
payment of purchase price of a Bond which has been tendered shall become due, an
amount which, together with other moneys held by the Tender Agent or the Trustee
under the Indenture

<PAGE>

and available therefor,  will enable the  Tender Agent to make  such  payment in
full in a timely manner.

         In furtherance of the foregoing,  so long as any Bonds are  outstanding
the Company will pay all amounts  required to prevent any  deficiency or default
in any  payment  of the  Bonds,  including  any  deficiency  caused by an act or
failure to act by the Trustee,  the Company,  the Issuer, the Remarketing Agent,
the Auction Agent, the Tender Agent or any other person.

         All amounts  payable  under this Section by the Company are assigned by
the Issuer to the  Trustee  pursuant  to the  Indenture  for the  benefit of the
Bondholders.  The Company consents to such assignment.  Accordingly, the Company
will pay directly to the Registrar at its principal  corporate  trust office all
payments payable by the Company  pursuant to this Section.  The Company need not
pay any amount paid to Bondholders by a draw on the Letter of Credit, if any.

        Section 5.2.    Additional  Payments.  The Company will pay the issuance
fee of the Issuer of $42,187.50 upon the issuance of the Bonds. The Company will
also pay the following within 30 days after receipt of a bill therefor:

                   (a)  The  reasonable  fees  and  expenses  of the  Issuer  in
         connection  with  this  Loan  Agreement  and the  Bonds,  such fees and
         expenses to be paid  directly to the Issuer;  provided that the Company
         Representative  shall have  approved  such expenses in writing prior to
         their incurrence.

                   (b) (i) The fees and expenses of the Trustee, the Remarketing
         Agent,  the Tender Agent,  the Auction Agent,  the Broker Dealers,  the
         Securities  Depository  and all other  fiduciaries  and agents  serving
         under the  Indenture  (including  any expenses in  connection  with any
         redemption  of the Bonds),  and (ii) all fees and  expenses,  including
         attorneys' fees, of the Trustee for any extraordinary services rendered
         by it under the  Indenture;  provided  that the  Company  may,  without
         creating an Event of Default,  delay  making any payment  under  clause
         (ii) while it contests in good faith the necessity for,  reasonableness
         of, or  reasonableness  of amount of, such  extraordinary  services and
         expenses.  All such fees and  expenses  are to be paid  directly to the
         Trustee,  the Remarketing  Agent,  the Tender Agent, the Auction Agent,
         the  Securities  Depository  or other  fiduciary  or agent  for its own
         account as and when such fees and expenses become due and payable.

                   (c) All  other  reasonable  fees  and  expenses  incurred  in
         connection with the issuance of the Bonds, including but not limited to
         all costs  associated  with any  discontinuance  of the book-entry only
         system.

             Section 5.3. Prepayments. The Company may at any time prepay to the
Registrar all or any part of the amounts payable under Section 5.1. A prepayment
will not relieve the Company of its obligations  under this Loan Agreement until
all the Bonds have been paid or  provision  for the payment of all the Bonds has
been made in  accordance  with  the  Indenture.

<PAGE>

In the event of a mandatory redemption of the Bonds, the Company will prepay all
amounts necessary for such redemption.

             Section  5.4.  Obligations  of Company  Unconditional.  The Company
agrees  that the  obligations  of the Company to make the  payments  required by
Sections 5.1 and 5.3 and to perform its other agreements  contained in this Loan
Agreement  shall be  absolute  and  unconditional.  Until the  principal  of and
interest on the Bonds shall have been fully paid or provision for the payment of
the Bonds  made in  accordance  with the  Indenture,  the  Company  (a) will not
suspend or  discontinue  any  payments  provided  for in Section  5.1,  (b) will
perform  all its  other  agreements  in this  Loan  Agreement  and (c)  will not
terminate this Loan Agreement for any cause including any acts or  circumstances
that may constitute  failure of  consideration,  destruction of or damage to the
Project, commercial frustration of purpose, any change in the laws of the United
States or of the State or any political  subdivision of either or any failure of
the Issuer to perform any of its agreements,  whether express or implied, or any
duty,  liability  or  obligation  arising  from  or  connected  with  this  Loan
Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                            OTHER COMPANY AGREEMENTS

             Section 6.1.  Maintenance  of  Existence.  The Company  agrees that
during the term of this Loan  Agreement and so long as any Bond is  outstanding,
it will maintain its corporate  existence,  will continue to be a corporation in
good  standing  under the laws of the  State,  will not  dissolve  or  otherwise
dispose of all or substantially  all of its assets and will not consolidate with
or merge into another  legal  entity or permit one or more other legal  entities
(other than one or more  subsidiaries  of the  Company) to  consolidate  with or
merge into it, or sell or  otherwise  transfer  to another  legal  entity all or
substantially all its assets as an entirety and dissolve, unless (a) in the case
of any merger or  consolidation,  the Company is the surviving  corporation,  or
(b)(i) the  surviving,  resulting or  transferee  legal entity is organized  and
existing under the laws of the United States, a state thereof or the District of
Columbia, and (if not the Company) assumes in writing all the obligations of the
Company under this Loan Agreement and (ii) no event which constitutes,  or which
with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both would constitute an Event
of Default shall have occurred and be continuing  immediately after such merger,
consolidation or transfer.

             Section  6.2.  Financial  Reports.  The  Company  agrees to have an
annual audit made by its regular  independent  certified public accountants and,
upon  request,  to furnish  the  Trustee  (within  90 days after  receipt by the
Company) with a balance  sheet,  statement of income and statement of cash flows
showing  the   financial   condition   of  the  Company  and  its   consolidated
subsidiaries,  if any,  at the  close  of  each  fiscal  year,  the  results  of
operations and the cash flows of the Company and its consolidated  subsidiaries,
if any, for each fiscal year,  accompanied  by the opinion of said  accountants.
The  Trustee  will hold such  reports  solely  for the  purpose  of making  them
available  at its  principal  corporate  trust  office  for  examination  by the
Bondholders,  and is not required to notify the  Bondholders  of the contents of
any such report.  The Company may fulfill its  obligation  under this Section by

<PAGE>

furnishing  the Trustee a copy of its Annual  Report on Form 10-K, as filed with
the Securities and Exchange  Commission,  if such report shall contain the above
described financial statements.

             Section 6.3.  Payment of Taxes.  The Company will pay and discharge
promptly all lawful taxes,  assessments and other governmental charges or levies
imposed upon the Project, or upon any part thereof, as well as all claims of any
kind  (including  claims for labor,  materials and supplies)  which,  if unpaid,
might by law become a lien or charge upon the Project; provided that the Company
shall not be required to pay any such tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim (i)
if the amount, applicability or validity thereof shall currently be contested in
good  faith  by  appropriate   proceedings  promptly  initiated  and  diligently
conducted;  (ii) if the  Company  shall  have set  aside on its  books  reserves
(segregated to the extent required by generally accepted accounting  principles)
with respect  thereto  deemed  adequate by the Company;  and (iii) if failure to
make such payment will not impair the use of the Project by the Company.

             Section 6.4.  Arbitrage.  The Company covenants with the Issuer and
for and on behalf of the  purchasers  and  owners of the Bonds from time to time
outstanding  that so long as any of the  Bonds  remain  outstanding,  moneys  on
deposit in any fund in  connection  with the Bonds,  whether or not such  moneys
were  derived  from  the  proceeds  of the sale of the  Bonds or from any  other
sources,  will  not be used  in a  manner  which  will  cause  the  Bonds  to be
"arbitrage  bonds" within the meaning of Sectiona148 of the Code, and any lawful
regulations promulgated thereunder,  as the same exist on this date, or may from
time to time  hereafter be amended,  supplemented  or revised.  The Company also
covenants  for  the  benefit  of  the  Bondholders  to  comply  with  all of the
provisions of the Tax Agreement.  The Company  reserves the right,  however,  to
make any  investment  of such  moneys as may be  permitted  by State law at such
time,  if,  when  and  to  the  extent  that  said  Sectiona148  or  regulations
promulgated  thereunder  shall be  repealed  or relaxed or shall be held void by
final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction,  but only if any investment
made by virtue of such repeal,  relaxation or decision would not, in the written
Opinion of Tax Counsel, result in making the interest on the Bonds includible in
the federal gross income of the owners of the Bonds.

             Section  6.5.  Company's  Obligation  with  Respect to Exclusion of
Interest Paid on the Bonds.  Notwithstanding  any other  provision  hereof,  the
Company  covenants  and agrees that it will not  knowingly  take or authorize or
permit,  to the extent  such action is within the  control of the  Company,  any
action to be taken  with  respect  to the  Project  or the Prior  Bonds,  or the
proceeds of the Bonds  (including  investment  earnings  thereon),  or any other
proceeds  derived  directly or indirectly in connection  with the Project or the
Prior Bonds,  which will result in the loss of the  exclusion of interest on the
Bonds from the federal gross income of the owners of the Bonds under Sectiona103
of the Code to the extent that such  interest on the Bonds was  excludable  when
such Bonds were issued  (except  for any Bond  during any period  while any such
Bond is held by a person  referred to in Section  103(b)(13)  of the 1954 Code);
and the  Company  also will not  knowingly  omit to take any action in its power
which, if omitted, would cause the above result. This provision

<PAGE>

shall control in  case of conflict or ambiguity with any other provision of this
Loan Agreement.

         The Company  covenants  and agrees to notify the Trustee and the Issuer
of the  occurrence  of any event of which the Company has notice and which event
would  require  the Company to prepay the  amounts  due  hereunder  because of a
redemption upon a determination of taxability.

             Section 6.6.  Notices Under the  Indenture.  The Company shall give
timely written  notice to the persons noted in Section  2.02(b) of the Indenture
as required by such  section,  prior to any change in the method of  determining
interest on the Bonds.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall use its
best  efforts  to notify  the Issuer as early as  possible  prior to  electing a
Long-Term  Interest Rate Period of three years or longer duration.  In addition,
if the Company shall elect to change the method of  determining  interest on the
Bonds,  the Company shall deliver to the persons noted in Section 2.02(b) of the
Indenture  concurrently  with the giving of notice with respect thereto,  and no
such change shall be effective without,  a Favorable Opinion of Tax Counsel,  if
required by the Indenture. The Company shall use its best efforts to provide the
Tender Agent and the Auction Agent with notice of any change in the maximum rate
permitted by law on the Auction Rate Bonds.

         If the  Company  determines  that a Payment  Default has  occurred  the
Company shall promptly notify the Tender Agent thereof.

             Section 6.7.  Letter of Credit.  Any Letter of Credit  delivered by
the Company  pursuant to the  Indenture  must comply with the  provisions of the
Indenture, including but not limited to, Article V thereof.

             Section 6.8. Credit Ratings.  The Company shall take all reasonable
action necessary to enable at least one nationally recognized statistical rating
organization (as that term is used in the rules and regulations of the SEC under
the  Securities  Exchange  Act) to provide  credit  ratings for the Auction Rate
Bonds.

             Section 6.9.    Purchases of Bonds.  (a)  The  Company  shall   not
purchase or otherwise  acquire  Auction Rate Bonds unless the Company redeems or
cancels such Auction Rate Bonds on the day of any purchase.

           (b) So long as a Letter of Credit is in effect, the Company will not,
and will not permit any  "insider"  (as defined in the  Bankruptcy  Code) of the
Company, to purchase,  directly or indirectly,  any Bonds with any funds that do
not constitute moneys described in clauses first, second, third or fourth in the
second paragraph of Section 4.02 of the Indenture, except as required by Section
5.2(b).

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE VII

                     NO RECOURSE TO ISSUER; INDEMNIFICATION

             Section  7.1.  No  Recourse  to  Issuer.  The  Issuer  will  not be
obligated  to pay the  Bonds  or any fees or  expenses  incurred  in  connection
therewith  except from  revenues  provided by the  Company.  The issuance of the
Bonds will not directly or indirectly or contingently obligate the Issuer or the
State  to  levy  or  pledge  any  form  of  taxation  whatever  or to  make  any
appropriation  for their payment.  Neither the Issuer nor any member,  director,
employee,  agent or officer of the  Issuer  nor any person  executing  the Bonds
shall be liable personally for the Bonds or be subject to any personal liability
or accountability by reason of the issuance of the Bonds.

             Section 7.2.  Indemnification.  The Company during the term of this
Loan Agreement releases the Issuer, its members, officers, directors,  employees
and agents from and covenants and agrees that the Issuer, its members, officers,
directors, employees and agents shall not be liable for, and agrees to indemnify
and hold the Issuer,  its members,  directors,  officers,  employees  and agents
harmless  against,  any loss or damage to  property or any injury to or death of
any person  occurring on or about or  resulting  from any defect in the Project,
provided that the indemnity  shall not be effective for damages that result from
the  negligence  or  intentional  acts on the part of the Issuer,  its  members,
officers,  directors,  employees or agents.  The Company will also indemnify and
save harmless the Issuer, its members, officers, directors,  employees or agents
from and against any and all losses,  costs,  charges,  expenses,  judgments and
liabilities  imposed  upon or  asserted  against it or them with  respect to the
Project  on  account  of any  failure  on the part of the  Company to perform or
comply with any of the provisions of this Loan Agreement.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                   ASSIGNMENT

             Section  8.1.  Assignment  by  Company.  The Company may assign its
rights and obligations  under this Loan Agreement with the prior written consent
of the Issuer, but no assignment will relieve the Company from primary liability
for any obligations under this Loan Agreement.

             Section  8.2.  Assignment  by Issuer.  The Issuer  will  assign its
rights  under and  interest in this Loan  Agreement  (except for the  Unassigned
Rights) to the Trustee  pursuant to the Indenture as security for the payment of
the Bonds,  and the Company assents to this  assignment.  Otherwise,  the Issuer
will not sell,  assign or  otherwise  dispose of its rights under or interest in
this Loan Agreement nor create or permit to exist any lien, encumbrance or other
security interest in or on such rights or interest.

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE IX

                              DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

             Section  9.1.  Remedies on Default.  Whenever  any Event of Default
under the  Indenture  has  occurred  and is  continuing,  the  Trustee  may take
whatever  action may appear  necessary or desirable to collect the payments then
due and to become due or to enforce  performance of any agreement of the Company
in this Loan Agreement.

         In addition,  if an Event of Default is continuing  with respect to any
of the  Unassigned  Rights,  the  Issuer  may take  whatever  action  may appear
necessary  or  desirable  to it to enforce  performance  by the  Company of such
Unassigned Rights.

         Any  amounts  collected  pursuant to action  taken  under this  Section
(except for amounts  payable  directly to the Issuer or the Trustee  pursuant to
Sections 5.2, 7.2 and 9.3) shall be applied in accordance with the Indenture.

         Nothing in this Loan Agreement shall be construed to permit the Issuer,
the Trustee,  any Bondholder or any receiver in any proceeding brought under the
Indenture to take  possession  of or exclude the Company from  possession of the
Project by reason of the occurrence of an Event of Default.

             Section 9.2. Delay Not Waiver; Remedies. A delay or omission by the
Issuer or the Trustee in exercising  any right or remedy  accruing upon an Event
of Default  shall not impair  the right or remedy or  constitute  a waiver of or
acquiescence  in the  Event of  Default.  No remedy  is  exclusive  of any other
remedy. All available remedies are cumulative.

             Section 9.3.  Attorneys'  Fees and Expenses.  If the Company should
default under any provision of this Loan  Agreement and the Issuer should employ
attorneys or incur other  expenses for the  collection of the payments due under
this Loan Agreement, the Company will on demand pay to the Issuer the reasonable
fees of such  attorneys  and such other  reasonable  expenses so incurred by the
Issuer.

                                    ARTICLE X

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

            Section 10.1.    Notices.    All  notices  or  other  communications
hereunder shall be  sufficiently  given and shall be deemed given when delivered
or mailed as provided in the Indenture.

            Section 10.2. Binding Effect. This Loan Agreement shall inure to the
benefit  of and  shall be  binding  upon  the  Issuer,  the  Company  and  their
respective  successors  and  assigns,   subject,  however,  to  the  limitations
contained in Section 6.1.

<PAGE>

            Section 10.3.  Severability. If any provision of this Loan Agreement
shall be determined to be  unenforceable  at any time, that shall not affect any
other provision of this Loan Agreement or the enforceability  of that  provision
at any other time

            Section 10.4. Amendments. After the issuance of the Bonds, this Loan
Agreement  may not be  effectively  amended or  terminated  without  the written
consent  of the  Trustee  and  the  Tender  Agent  and in  accordance  with  the
provisions of the Indenture.

            Section 10.5. Right of Company To Perform Issuer's  Agreements.  The
Issuer  irrevocably  authorizes  and empowers the Company to perform in the name
and on  behalf  of the  Issuer  any  agreement  made by the  Issuer in this Loan
Agreement  or in the  Indenture  which the  Issuer  fails to perform in a timely
fashion if the  continuance of such failure could result in an Event of Default.
This  Section  will not  require the  Company to perform  any  agreement  of the
Issuer.

            Section 10.6. Applicable Law. This Loan  Agreement shall be governed
by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State.

            Section 10.7. Captions; References to Sections. The captions in this
Loan Agreement are for convenience  only and do not define or limit the scope or
intent of any  provisions  or Sections  of this Loan  Agreement.  References  to
Articles and  Sections are to the Articles and Sections of this Loan  Agreement,
unless the context otherwise requires.

            Section 10.8.  Complete  Agreement.  This Loan Agreement  represents
the  entire  agreement  between  the Issuer and  the Company with respect to its
subject matter.

            Section 10.9.  Termination.  When no Bonds are Outstanding under the
Indenture,  the  Company and the Issuer  shall not have any further  obligations
under this Loan Agreement; provided that the Company's covenants in Sections 6.4
and 6.5, and the provisions of Section 5.3 with respect to mandatory  redemption
of the Bonds, shall survive so long as any Bond remains unpaid.

<PAGE>



         Section 10.10.    Counterparts.  This Loan  Agreement  may be signed in
several  counterparts.  Each  will be  an  original, but  all of  them  together
constitute the same instrument.



                                      STATE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT AND
                                           ENERGY RESOURCES AUTHORITY



                                     By           /S/ Avis Parman
                                           ---------------------------------
                                                      Chairman


[SEAL]

Attest:

By    /S/ Charles D. Banks
   --------------------------
            Secretary

                                      UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY, dba AMERENUE



                                      By    /S/ Donald E. Brandt
                                         -----------------------------
                                            Senior Vice President

<PAGE>




                                    EXHIBIT A

                                   THE PROJECT

         The  Project  consists  of  the  portion  of the  following  facilities
previously  financed  by the Issuer with the Prior  Bonds.  The  facilities  are
located at Union Electric  Company's  Callaway Nuclear Plant in Callaway County,
Missouri.

A.  WATER POLLUTION CONTROL FACILITIES:

            1. Oily Waste Treatment  System.  The oily waste treatment system is
designed to remove oily waste from  contaminated  water in  compliance  with the
Federal  Clean  Water  Act.  The  oily  waste  treatment  system  collects,  for
processing  and  disposal,  nonradioactive  waste  from  areas  where oil may be
present,  and waste that may contain  oil and/or  trace  amounts of  radioactive
contaminants.  Areas  where oily waste is  collected  by the system  include the
turbine building,  control building,  communications corridor,  diesel generator
building, and the auxiliary feedwater pump room.

            2.  Steam  Generator  Blowdown  System.  The  function  of the steam
generator  blowdown  system is to treat blowdown to the extent  required to meet
chemical composition limits for release to the environment. This system consists
of heat exchangers, mixed bed demineralizers, filters and associated hardware.

            3 Liquid Radwaste System. The function of the liquid radwaste system
is to collect,  segregate and treat both the reactor grade and nonreactor  grade
liquid  wastes  during  plant  power,  refueling  and  maintenance   operations.
Specifically,  it handles  potentially  radioactive  floor and equipment drains,
laundry,  and chemical  waste.  After  processing to remove  low-level and other
pollutants,  a  substantial  amount  of the  treated  liquid is  expected  to be
recycled for use in the plant,  while the  remainder  will be piped to the river
for release  there.  The liquid  radwaste  system  consists of several tanks and
pumps,  an  evaporator,  heat  exchanger,  demineralizers,  charcoal  adsorbers,
filters, and a reverse osmosis unit.

            4. Boron Recycle  System.  In order to keep the reactor  functioning
properly,  the  percentage  of boron in the  reactor  coolant is adjusted by the
addition of reactor makeup water,  blending  boric acid as needed.  As discussed
below,  this operation occurs as part of the function of the chemical and volume
control system ("CVCS").

         Waste streams from the CVCS are let down from time to time to the boron
recycle system ("BRS").  Waste streams  containing  boron and other minerals are
treated  in the  BRS by  demineralization,  filtration  and  evaporation.  After
treatment,  some of the liquid waste will be discharged to the Missouri River in
compliance  with discharge  limits imposed by the Clean Water Act.  Liquid waste
meeting the chemical requirements for reactor makeup water will be pumped to the
makeup water storage tank for reuse in the reactor  coolant  water  system.  The
system  evaporator  that treats the waste streams  concentrates  boric acid to 4
percent  weight.  The  concentrated  solution is then  pumped to the  evaporator
bottoms tank (primary) for  processing and disposal or, if reusable,  is sent to
the boric acid tanks. Absent

<PAGE>

pollution control requirements, these wastes would have been discharged directly
to the environment.

            5.  Secondary  Liquid Waste.  The function of the  secondary  liquid
waste system is to treat waste liquids  collected in the turbine  building floor
and equipment  drains.  The turbine  building  drains are segregated into drains
where  turbine  cycle  leakage is likely.  This system  also  treats  condensate
polisher regeneration wastes. This treatment is to achieve compliance within the
discharge  limits  imposed by the Clean  Water  Act.  Absent  pollution  control
requirements,   these  wastes  would  have  been  discharged   directly  to  the
environment.  The system consists of several tanks and pumps,  an evaporator,  a
demineralizer,  a charcoal bed, an oil interceptor,  and three filters.  It also
includes associated piping, valves, electrical and control equipment.

            6. Facilities For Discharge of Wastes. After treatment in the liquid
radwaste system, boron recovery,  steam generator blowdown, and secondary liquid
waste systems,  the liquids that will be discharged to the river are transferred
to either of two discharge holdup tanks and then pumped through about five miles
of buried piping to the Missouri River.  The discharge holdup tanks will provide
further holding, monitoring and treatment of liquids before they are released to
the river. The tanks are sized to provide holdup for primary liquid radwaste and
secondary  liquid  waste  that  will  eventually  be  discharged.  The tanks are
necessary  to  provide  the  sampling  required  in  order  to  ensure  that all
discharges are within pollution  control limits.  Each tank holds  approximately
100,000 gallons and will have related equipment to provide necessary adjustments
to  obtain  the  required  pH  levels.   Piping  is  installed  to  provide  for
reprocessing  the tank  contents if  monitoring  shows that the contents fail to
meet the environmental requirements for discharge.

            7. Chemical Waste  Treatment  System.  The chemical waste  treatment
system collects waste chemicals and detergent wastes for treatment and disposal.
Waste is collected from the chemical and volume control system sample room sink,
the hot laboratory sample sinks, the recycle  evaporator and recycle  evaporator
reagent tank,  the waste  evaporator  and waste  evaporator  reagent  tank,  the
secondary liquid waste evaporator and secondary liquid waste evaporator  reagent
tank, the radwaste  building sample  laboratory  sink,  evaporator  bottoms tank
overflow (primary and secondary),  decontamination tanks in hot machine shop and
turbine  building  sample  laboratory  sinks.  Except as  described  below,  all
effluents  in this system flow by gravity  directly to the  chemical  drain tank
located  in the  basement  of the  radwaste  building.  The  effluents  from hot
laboratory  sample  sinks flow by gravity to the chemical  equipment  drain sump
located in the  basement  of the  control  building.  This sump is vented to the
access control exhaust system to prevent  diffusion of vapors to the atmosphere.
The same is true of the vent for the detergent drain tank,  which collects waste
from the  laundry,  hot  laboratory,  and the men's and  women's  disrobe  areas
located in the control  building.  The turbine building sample  laboratory sinks
are tied to a common drain line. This line can be routed through  demineralizers
and discharged to the oil waste system or discharged  into a portable  container
outside the laboratory.

            8. Floor and Equipment Drain System.  One of three subsystems within
the floor and equipment  drains is designed to collect  liquid waste and pump it
to the floor drain tank.

<PAGE>

The pollution  control  equipment  processes  effluent  originating  in  the hot
machine shop decontamination area prior to releasing it to the floor drain tank.

         9-10. Sewage Collection and Treatment System.  The power block drainage
system  collects wastes from service  facilities,  pantry  facilities,  electric
water coolers, clean shower,  plumbing fixtures and toilet drains in the control
building,  and from electric  water coolers,  electric  water heaters,  plumbing
fixtures and toilet room floor drains in the turbine building.

         The  collection  facilities  drain to a lift station and the wastes are
then  pumped to the  sewage  treatment  plant.  After  treatment  the wastes are
discharged  to the  river.  (The  qualifying  facilities  do not  include  field
facilities used during construction.)

         This system is not in regular  operation at substantially  the level of
treatment  for which it was  intended.  The Company will  therefore  improve its
maintenance  and inspection  program and make  necessary  changes to the system.
When this is  completed,  the system  will be  capable  of meeting or  exceeding
applicable  federal,  state  and local  requirements  for the  control  of water
pollution.

           11.  Chemical and Volume  Control  Letdown  Waste  Processing  System
(CVCS).  During plant  operation,  this  maintains  the reactor  coolant  system
equilibrium  fission and corrosion  product  activities within specified limits.
The letdown waste  effluent from the system is processed and treated.  Mixed-bed
demineralizers  are  provided  in the letdown  system to provide  cleanup of the
letdown  flow.  The  demineralizers  remove ionic  corrosion  products,  certain
fission products, and act as filters. One demineralizer is usually in continuous
service for normal letdown flow and can be  supplemented  intermittently  by the
cation bed demineralizer for additional purification as required.

B.  AIR POLLUTION CONTROL FACILITIES:

            1. Gaseous Radwaste System. The function of this system is to remove
polluting  gases produced by the fission process from the reactor coolant system
and to collect other gaseous waste  pollutants  from sources having  appreciable
amounts of fission  product gases and hydrogen.  The system has the capacity for
achieving decay of such waste gases through  long-term  storage,  thus complying
with air pollution  control  requirements  by  eliminating  regularly  scheduled
discharges  of  radioactive  gases into the  atmosphere.  This  system  consists
principally  of the  hydrogen  recombiner  and a series of eight waste gas decay
tanks. The hydrogen  recombiner  provides a means of drawing off the waste gases
through combination with hydrogen. The hydrogen is then catalytically recombined
to form water,  and the remaining  waste gases are then processed and allowed to
decay in waste gas decay tanks.

            2. Control Building  Ventilation  Exhaust System. The access control
exhaust  system takes  suction from the  potentially  contaminated  areas of the
access control floor and the basement beneath. This system filters exhaust prior
to discharge to the environment.

<PAGE>

            3. Auxiliary  Building  Ventilation  Exhaust System. All exhaust air
from the auxiliary  building is processed  through the  auxiliary/fuel  building
normal exhaust system filter train for cleanup prior to radiation monitoring and
discharge to the environment.

            4.  Condenser Air Removal  System.  The condenser air removal system
exhausts  potentially  radioactive  gases and other gases from the condenser and
processes  them  through a  charcoal  adsorber  unit prior to  discharge  to the
environment.

            5.   Containment   Atmospheric   Control  System.   The  containment
atmospheric control system has two functions-to reduce the containment  airborne
concentrations of radioiodine and particulates to acceptable levels prior to and
during  occupancy  of the  containment  and to reduce  the  amount  of  airborne
radioiodine and  particulates  released to the environment  prior to containment
purges. The system operates,  as needed,  prior to and during purging to provide
internal cleanup of the containment atmosphere by recirculation through charcoal
adsorbers and particulate filters.

            6.  Containment  Purge System.  During  operation of the containment
shutdown purge supply system,  the containment  shutdown purge exhaust fan takes
suction from the containment  through the  containment  purge exhaust system and
containment purge filtration unit and discharges it to the environment.

            7. Radiation  Monitoring  System  (primarily  air pollution  control
related).  A portion of the process and effluent radiation  monitoring system is
necessary  to monitor,  record,  and control the release to the  environment  of
radioactive materials that may be generated under normal conditions. The process
and  effluent   radioactivity   monitors   operate   continuously   during  both
intermittent  and  continuous   discharges  of  potentially   radioactive  plant
effluents.

C.  SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITIES:

            1.  Solid Radwaste  Processing System.(*)     The   solid   radwaste
processing  system  includes  facilities  for  solidification,  compaction,  and
temporary storage of solid wastes. It collects spent resins, evaporator bottoms,
spent charcoal and miscellaneous dry wastes.  The system is designed to  provide
adequate handling,  processing and  drumming up of the wastes,  and  temporarily
storing them until shipment offsite for disposal at a licensed  burial site. The
wastes  are  generated  during  normal plant  operation  and during  anticipated
operational occurrences, such as refueling and high maintenance periods.

<PAGE>

         Filter Handling System.  The filter handling system provides a means of
         removing  and  transferring  spent  filter  cartridges  from the filter
         vessels for processing and disposal.

         Resin Sluicing  System.  The resin sluicing system provides a means for
         transferring  spent resins from the  demineralizers  to the spent resin
         storage tank.  From there these resins are processed for disposal.  The
         system is  designed to minimize  the amount of waste  liquid  generated
         during sluicing.

            2. Temporary Storage.(**) A consulting engineering firm was retained
to determine  a  location  for  storage of  solidified  secondary  radwaste. The
consultants  determined that it would be best to store this low-level waste on a
temporary basis pending  disposal in what is now called the fabrication shop (or
similar structure).

D.  MISCELLANEOUS:

            1. Radwaste Building and Radwaste Pipe Tunnel. The radwaste building
contains  only  facilities   performing  a  solid  waste  disposal  function  or
facilities  performing a pollution  control  function.  As discussed  below, the
radwaste  building  and the  radwaste  pipe tunnel are  necessary  to the proper
functioning of those systems described above which are located in the building.

         Radwaste Building. The radwaste building is a rectangular,  multistory,
         structural  steel  and  reinforced   concrete  structure  which  houses
         facilities  for treatment and disposal of radioactive  liquid,  gaseous
         and solid wastes.

         Radwaste  Pipe  Tunnel.  The  radwaste  pipe  tunnel is a  below-grade,
         reinforced concrete structure connecting the auxiliary building and the
         radwaste  building.  The tunnel provides access and carries  electrical
         cable trays and piping between the auxiliary  building and the radwaste
         building.  It functions  only in support of the  radwaste  building and
         equipment therein.



- ----------
(*)      Certain portions of the Solid Radwaste  Processing System are no longer
         in use. Since the plant became  operational,  the equipment  associated
         with solidifying  radioactive  resins and bottoms has been retired.  In
         addition,  the equipment  processing  contaminated  laundry  wastewater
         (reverse  osmosis)  has been  retired.  Equipment  associated  with the
         solidification  of  radwastes  is being  replaced  with a new  Radwaste
         Volume  Reduction  system.  The total  estimated  costs of the  retired
         equipment  is  $14,283,360,  a portion of which was  financed  with the
         Prior Bonds.

(**)     The  temporary  storage  facilities  were  not  constructed.  The total
         estimated  cost of  the temporary  storage facilities  which was  to be
         financed with the Prior Bonds was $198,681.







  ===========================================================================




                                 LOAN AGREEMENT




                          Dated as of September 1, 1998


                                     between


                       STATE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT AND
                           ENERGY RESOURCES AUTHORITY


                                       and


                      UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY, dba AMERENUE




                            -------------------------
                                   $50,000,000
                Environmental Improvement Revenue Refunding Bonds
                        (Union Electric Company Project)
                                  Series 1998C
                            -------------------------



  ===========================================================================

                                               ILLINOIS COMMERCE COMMISSION
                                                  Identification No. 6097

<PAGE>



                                 LOAN AGREEMENT

                                                                            PAGE

ARTICLE I              DEFINITIONS.............................................1


ARTICLE II             REPRESENTATIONS.........................................2

       Section 2.1.        Representations of Issuer...........................2
       Section 2.2.        Representations of Company..........................3

ARTICLE III            COMPLETION OF PROJECT...................................4

       Section 3.1.        Completion of Project...............................4
       Section 3.2.        Project Description.................................4
       Section 3.3.        Operation of Project................................4
       Section 3.4.        Company Representative..............................4
       Section 3.5.        Maintenance of Project..............................5

ARTICLE IV             ISSUANCE OF BONDS; LOAN TO COMPANY......................5

       Section 4.1.        Issuance of Bonds; Loan to Company..................5

ARTICLE V              REPAYMENT OF LOAN.......................................5

       Sectiona5.1.        Repayment of Loan...................................5
       Sectiona5.2.        Additional Payments.................................6
       Sectiona5.3.        Prepayments.........................................6
       Sectiona5.4.        Obligations of Company Unconditional................7

ARTICLEAVI             OTHER COMPANY AGREEMENTS................................7

       Section 6.1.        Maintenance of Existence............................7
       Section 6.2.        Financial Reports...................................7
       Section 6.3.        Payment of Taxes....................................8
       Section 6.4.        Arbitrage...........................................8
       Section 6.5.        Company's Obligation with Respect to Exclusion
                             of Interest Paid on the Bonds.....................8
       Section 6.6.        Notices Under the Indenture.........................9
       Section 6.7.        Letter of Credit....................................9
       Section 6.8.        Credit Ratings......................................9
       Section 6.9.        Purchases of Bonds..................................9

ARTICLE VII            NO RECOURSE TO ISSUER; INDEMNIFICATION.................10

       Section 7.1.        No Recourse to Issuer..............................10
       Section 7.2.        Indemnification....................................10

<PAGE>

ARTICLE VIII           ASSIGNMENT.............................................10

       Section 8.1.        Assignment by Company..............................10
       Section 8.2.        Assignment by Issuer...............................10

ARTICLE IX              DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES.................................11

       Section 9.1.        Remedies on Default................................11
       Section 9.2.        Delay Not Waiver; Remedies.........................11
       Section 9.3.        Attorneys' Fees and Expenses.......................11

ARTICLE X               MISCELLANEOUS.........................................11

       Section 10.1.       Notices............................................11
       Section 10.2.       Binding Effect.....................................11
       Section 10.3.       Severability.......................................12
       Section 10.4.       Amendments.........................................12
       Section 10.5.       Right of Company To Perform Issuer's Agreements....12
       Section 10.6.       Applicable Law.....................................12
       Section 10.7.       Captions; References to Sections...................12
       Section 10.8.       Complete Agreement.................................12
       Section 10.9.       Termination........................................12
       Section 10.10.      Counterparts.......................................13

Signature.....................................................................13


<PAGE>






           LOAN AGREEMENT dated as of September 1, 1998, between STATE
           ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT AND ENERGY RESOURCES AUTHORITY of
           the State of Missouri, a body  corporate  and politic and a
           governmental instrumentality of the  State of Missouri (the
          "Issuer"), and UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY, a Missouri corporation
           doing business as AMERENUE (the "Company").

         Section  260.005  through  Section  260.125,  inclusive,  R.S.  Mo., as
amended,  and Appendix  B(1) thereto  empowers the Issuer to issue its bonds for
any of its purposes,  including the refunding of bonds previously  issued by it.
On Junea21,  1984,  the Issuer issued its (i)  Adjustable - Fixed Rate Pollution
Control  Revenue Bonds,  Series 1984 A (Union Electric  Company  Project) in the
aggregate   principal   amount  of  $80,000,000  (all  of  which  are  currently
outstanding)  (the  "Series  1984 A Bonds")  and (ii)  Adjustable  - Fixed  Rate
Pollution Control Revenue Bonds,  Series 1984 B (Union Electric Company Project)
in the aggregate  principal  amount of  $80,000,000  (all of which are currently
outstanding) (the "Series 1984 B Bonds") (the Series 1984 A Bonds and the Series
1984 B Bonds are referred to  collectively as the "Prior Bonds") for the purpose
of constructing,  acquiring,  and installing certain pollution control and solid
waste disposal facilities (the "Project").

         The Issuer proposes to issue (a) $50,000,000  Environmental Improvement
Revenue  Refunding Bonds (Union Electric  Company Project) Series 1998C pursuant
to the Indenture (defined below) in order to provide the funds for the refunding
of a portion  of the  Series  1984 B Bonds and (b) to loan the  proceeds  of the
Bonds to the  Company.  The Company  desires to use the proceeds of the Bonds to
pay a portion of the cost of refunding a portion of the Series 1984aB Bonds, all
on the terms and conditions set forth in this Loan Agreement.

         Accordingly, the Issuer and the Company hereby agree as follows:

                                    ARTICLE I

                                   DEFINITIONS

         For all  purposes of this Loan  Agreement,  unless the context  clearly
requires  otherwise,  all terms defined in Article I of the  Indenture  have the
same meanings in this Loan Agreement.

         "Indenture"  means the Indenture of Trust relating to the Bonds,  dated
as of the date of this Loan Agreement,  between the Issuer and State Street Bank
and Trust Company of Missouri,  N.A., as trustee, as such Indenture of Trust may
be amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms.


<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE II

                                 REPRESENTATIONS

   Section 2.1.    Representations of Issuer.  The Issuer represents as follows:

                   (a) The  Issuer (1) is a body  corporate  and  politic  and a
         governmental instrumentality duly organized and existing under the laws
         of the  State,  (2) has full  power  and  authority  to enter  into the
         transactions  contemplated  by this Loan Agreement and by the Indenture
         and to carry out its  obligations  under  this Loan  Agreement  and the
         Indenture,  including  the  issuance  of the  Bonds  and (3) by  proper
         corporate action has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this
         Loan Agreement, the Bonds and the Indenture.

                   (b) Under existing statutes and decisions, no taxes on income
         or profits  are imposed on the  Issuer.  The Issuer will not  knowingly
         take or omit to take any action  reasonably  within its  control  which
         action or omission  would impair the  exclusion of interest paid on the
         Bonds from the federal gross income of the owners of the Bonds.

                   (c) Neither the  execution and delivery by the Issuer of this
         Loan Agreement nor the  consummation by the Issuer of the  transactions
         contemplated  by this Loan Agreement  conflicts  with, will result in a
         breach of or default  under or will (except with respect to the lien of
         the Indenture)  result in the imposition of any lien on any property of
         the Issuer  pursuant  to the terms,  conditions  or  provisions  of any
         statute, order, rule, regulation,  agreement or instrument to which the
         Issuer is a party or by which it is bound.

                   (d) Each of this Loan  Agreement  and the  Indenture has been
         duly  authorized,  executed  and  delivered  by  the  Issuer  and  each
         constitutes  the  legal,  valid and  binding  obligation  of the Issuer
         enforceable  against the Issuer in accordance with its terms, except to
         the extent that the enforcement thereof may be limited by laws relating
         to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,  moratorium or other similar
         laws and  equitable  principles  of general  application  affecting the
         rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties.

                   (e) There is no litigation or proceeding  pending,  or to the
         knowledge  of the Issuer  after due  inquiry  threatened,  against  the
         Issuer,  or affecting it, which could adversely  affect the validity of
         this Loan  Agreement,  the Indenture or the Bonds or the ability of the
         Issuer to comply with its obligations  under this Loan  Agreement,  the
         Indenture or the Bonds.

                   (f) The Issuer is not in default under any of the  provisions
         of the laws of the State which would affect its existence or its powers
         referred to in the preceding subsection (a).

<PAGE>

                   (g) The Issuer  hereby finds and  determines  that,  based on
         representations  of the Company,  all requirements of the Act have been
         complied with and that the refinancing of the Project and the refunding
         of a portion of the Series  1984 B Bonds  through  the  issuance of the
         Bonds will further the public purposes of the Act.

                   (h) No member,  director,  officer or  official of the Issuer
         has any interest (financial, employment or other) in the Company or the
         transactions contemplated by this Loan Agreement which is prohibited by
         law.

                   (i) The Issuer will apply the  proceeds  from the sale of the
         Bonds as specified in the Indenture and this Loan Agreement. So long as
         any of the Bonds remain  outstanding and except as may be authorized by
         the  Indenture,  the  Issuer  will  not  issue  or sell  any  bonds  or
         obligations,  other than the Bonds,  the  principal  of or  interest on
         which will be  payable  from the  property  described  in the  granting
         clause of the Indenture.

 Section 2.2.    Representations of Company.  The Company represents as follows:

                   (a) The Company (1) is a corporation duly incorporated and in
         good  standing  in the State  and in all other  states in which it owns
         property,  (2) is duly  qualified  to transact  business and is in good
         standing in the State,  (3) is not in violation of any provision of its
         Articles of Incorporation or its By-laws,  (4) has full corporate power
         to own its  properties  and  conduct its  business,  (5) has full legal
         right,  power and  authority  to enter  into this  Loan  Agreement  and
         consummate all transactions contemplated by this Loan Agreement and (6)
         by proper  corporate  action  has duly  authorized  the  execution  and
         delivery of this Loan Agreement.

                   (b) Neither the execution and delivery by the Company of this
         Loan Agreement nor the  consummation by the Company of the transactions
         contemplated by this Loan Agreement  conflicts with or will result in a
         breach of or default under the Articles of  Incorporation or By-laws of
         the Company or the terms,  conditions  or  provisions  of any corporate
         restriction  or any  statute,  order,  rule,  regulation,  agreement or
         instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

                   (c) This Loan  Agreement has been duly  authorized,  executed
         and  delivered  by the Company  and  constitutes  the legal,  valid and
         binding obligation of the Company in accordance with its terms,  except
         to the  extent  that the  enforcement  thereof  may be  limited by laws
         relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other
         similar laws and equitable principles of general application  affecting
         the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties.

                   (d) There is no litigation or proceeding  pending,  or to the
         knowledge  of the  Company  after due inquiry  threatened,  against the
         Company,  or affecting it, which could adversely affect the validity of
         this Loan  Agreement  or the  ability of the Company to comply with its
         obligations under this Loan Agreement.

<PAGE>

                   (e) The  information  contained in the Tax  Agreement and all
         other written  information  relating to the Project and the Prior Bonds
         provided by the Company to the Issuer and bond counsel for the Bonds is
         true and correct in all material respects.

                   (f) Neither  the Prior  Indentures  nor the Prior  Agreements
have been supplemented or amended.

                                   ARTICLE III

                              COMPLETION OF PROJECT

             Section 3.1.    Completion of Project.   The Company has  completed
the  acquisition,  construction,  installation  and  equipping of the Project in
accordance with the Prior Indenture and the Prior Agreement.

             Section  3.2.  Project  Description.  The Company will not make any
material  changes in the Project  description  contained in Exhibit A unless the
Trustee and the Issuer  receive a Favorable  Opinion of Tax Counsel with respect
to such change.

             Section 3.3. Operation of Project.  So long as the Company operates
the  Project,  it will  operate it as  facilities  for  preventing  or  reducing
pollution  and/or the disposal of solid waste as  contemplated by the Act and as
solid waste disposal facilities and/or air or water pollution control facilities
as contemplated by Sections 103(b)(4)(E) and/or (F) of the 1954 Code.

             Section 3.4. Company  Representative.  Prior to the initial sale of
the Bonds, the Company shall appoint a Company Representative for the purpose of
acting  on  behalf  of the  Company  and  taking  all  actions  and  making  all
certificates required to be taken and made by a Company Representative under the
provisions  of  this  Loan  Agreement  and  the  Indenture,  and  shall  appoint
alternative  Company  Representatives  to take any such  action or make any such
certificate if the same is not taken or made by the Company  Representative.  In
the  event any of said  persons,  or any  successor  appointed  pursuant  to the
provisions of this Section,  should  resign or become  unavailable  or unable to
take any action or make any  certificate  provided for in this Loan Agreement or
the   Indenture,   another   Company   Representative   or   alternate   Company
Representative shall thereupon be appointed by the Company. If the Company fails
to make  such  designation  within  10 days  following  the  date  when the then
incumbent  resigns  or  becomes  unavailable  or  unable to take any of the said
actions, the Treasurer of the Company shall serve as the Company Representative.

         Whenever  under the  provisions of this Loan Agreement or the Indenture
the  approval  of the Company is required or the Issuer is required to take some
action at the request of the Company,  such  approval or such  request  shall be
made by the Company  Representative or alternate Company  Representative  unless
otherwise  specified in this Loan Agreement or the Indenture,  and the Issuer or
the Trustee shall be authorized to act on any such approval or request.

<PAGE>

             Section 3.5.  Maintenance of Project. The Company will at all times
make or cause to be made such  expenditures by means of renewals,  replacements,
repairs,  maintenance,  or otherwise as shall be necessary to maintain, preserve
and keep the  Project in good  repair,  physical  condition,  working  order and
condition and in a state of good operating  efficiency,  except that the Company
may abandon any portion of the Project if in its opinion the abandonment of such
portion is desirable in the proper  conduct of its business and in the operation
of its  properties  or is otherwise  in its best  interests,  provided  that the
Trustee receives a Favorable Opinion of Tax Counsel prior to such abandonment.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                       ISSUANCE OF BONDS; LOAN TO COMPANY

             Section 4.1. Issuance of Bonds; Loan to Company. In order to refund
a portion of the Series  1984aB Bonds,  the Issuer will issue,  sell and deliver
the Bonds to the initial  purchasers  thereof  and  deposit the  proceeds of the
Bonds with the Trustee as provided in Article IV of the Indenture.  Such deposit
shall  constitute a loan to the Company  under this Loan  Agreement.  The Issuer
authorizes the Trustee to disburse the proceeds of the Bonds in accordance  with
Section 4.01 of the  Indenture.  If the proceeds of the Bonds are not sufficient
to  accomplish  the  refunding  of such  portion of the  Series  1984 B Bonds on
December 1, 1998,  the Company shall at its own expense and without any right of
reimbursement  in respect  thereof  immediately  pay all  amounts  necessary  to
accomplish  such  refunding.  The Company hereby  approves the Indenture and the
issuance by the Issuer of the Bonds.

                                    ARTICLE V

                                REPAYMENT OF LOAN

             Section 5.1. Repayment of Loan. (a) The Company will repay the loan
made to it under  Section 4.1 as follows:  Before 11:00 a.m.  (local time at the
principal corporate office of the Registrar) on each day on which any payment of
either principal of or interest on the Bonds, or both, shall become due (whether
at maturity, or upon redemption or acceleration or otherwise),  the Company will
pay, in immediately available funds, an amount which, together with other moneys
held by the Tender Agent or by the Trustee  under the  Indenture  and  available
therefor,  will enable the  Registrar  to make such  payment in full in a timely
manner. If such day on which any payment shall become due is not a Business Day,
then  the  payment  required  by this  Section  shall be made on or  before  the
succeeding Business Day. If the Company defaults in any payment required by this
Section,  the Company will pay  interest (to the extent  allowed by law) on such
amount until paid at the rate provided for in the Bonds.

         (b) The Company  will pay to the Tender  Agent,  on each day on which a
payment of purchase price of a Bond which has been tendered shall become due, an
amount which, together with other moneys held by the Tender Agent or the Trustee
under the Indenture

<PAGE>

and available  therefor,  will enable the Tender Agent to make  such  payment in
full in a timely manner.

         In furtherance of the foregoing,  so long as any Bonds are  outstanding
the Company will pay all amounts  required to prevent any  deficiency or default
in any  payment  of the  Bonds,  including  any  deficiency  caused by an act or
failure to act by the Trustee,  the Company,  the Issuer, the Remarketing Agent,
the Auction Agent, the Tender Agent or any other person.

         All amounts  payable  under this Section by the Company are assigned by
the Issuer to the  Trustee  pursuant  to the  Indenture  for the  benefit of the
Bondholders.  The Company consents to such assignment.  Accordingly, the Company
will pay directly to the Registrar at its principal  corporate  trust office all
payments payable by the Company  pursuant to this Section.  The Company need not
pay any amount paid to Bondholders by a draw on the Letter of Credit, if any.

             Section 5.2.    Additional  Payments.    The Company  will pay  the
issuance fee of  the Issuer of $42,187.50  upon  the issuance of the Bonds.  The
Company  will also  pay the  following  within 30  days after receipt of  a bill
therefor:

                   (a)  The  reasonable  fees  and  expenses  of the  Issuer  in
         connection  with  this  Loan  Agreement  and the  Bonds,  such fees and
         expenses to be paid  directly to the Issuer;  provided that the Company
         Representative  shall have  approved  such expenses in writing prior to
         their incurrence.

                   (b) (i) The fees and expenses of the Trustee, the Remarketing
         Agent,  the Tender Agent,  the Auction Agent,  the Broker Dealers,  the
         Securities  Depository  and all other  fiduciaries  and agents  serving
         under the  Indenture  (including  any expenses in  connection  with any
         redemption  of the Bonds),  and (ii) all fees and  expenses,  including
         attorneys' fees, of the Trustee for any extraordinary services rendered
         by it under the  Indenture;  provided  that the  Company  may,  without
         creating an Event of Default,  delay  making any payment  under  clause
         (ii) while it contests in good faith the necessity for,  reasonableness
         of, or  reasonableness  of amount of, such  extraordinary  services and
         expenses.  All such fees and  expenses  are to be paid  directly to the
         Trustee,  the Remarketing  Agent,  the Tender Agent, the Auction Agent,
         the  Securities  Depository  or other  fiduciary  or agent  for its own
         account as and when such fees and expenses become due and payable.

                   (c) All  other  reasonable  fees  and  expenses  incurred  in
         connection with the issuance of the Bonds, including but not limited to
         all costs  associated  with any  discontinuance  of the book-entry only
         system.

             Section 5.3. Prepayments. The Company may at any time prepay to the
Registrar all or any part of the amounts payable under Section 5.1. A prepayment
will not relieve the Company of its obligations  under this Loan Agreement until
all the Bonds have been paid or  provision  for the payment of all the Bonds has
been  made in  accordance  with  the  Indenture.

<PAGE>

In the event of a mandatory redemption of the Bonds, the Company will prepay all
amounts necessary for such redemption.

             Section  5.4.  Obligations  of Company  Unconditional.  The Company
agrees  that the  obligations  of the Company to make the  payments  required by
Sections 5.1 and 5.3 and to perform its other agreements  contained in this Loan
Agreement  shall be  absolute  and  unconditional.  Until the  principal  of and
interest on the Bonds shall have been fully paid or provision for the payment of
the Bonds  made in  accordance  with the  Indenture,  the  Company  (a) will not
suspend or  discontinue  any  payments  provided  for in  Sectiona5.1,  (b) will
perform  all its  other  agreements  in this  Loan  Agreement  and (c)  will not
terminate this Loan Agreement for any cause including any acts or  circumstances
that may constitute  failure of  consideration,  destruction of or damage to the
Project, commercial frustration of purpose, any change in the laws of the United
States or of the State or any political  subdivision of either or any failure of
the Issuer to perform any of its agreements,  whether express or implied, or any
duty,  liability  or  obligation  arising  from  or  connected  with  this  Loan
Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                            OTHER COMPANY AGREEMENTS

             Section 6.1.  Maintenance  of  Existence.  The Company  agrees that
during the term of this Loan  Agreement and so long as any Bond is  outstanding,
it will maintain its corporate  existence,  will continue to be a corporation in
good  standing  under the laws of the  State,  will not  dissolve  or  otherwise
dispose of all or substantially  all of its assets and will not consolidate with
or merge into another  legal  entity or permit one or more other legal  entities
(other than one or more  subsidiaries  of the  Company) to  consolidate  with or
merge into it, or sell or  otherwise  transfer  to another  legal  entity all or
substantially all its assets as an entirety and dissolve, unless (a) in the case
of any merger or  consolidation,  the Company is the surviving  corporation,  or
(b)(i) the  surviving,  resulting or  transferee  legal entity is organized  and
existing under the laws of the United States, a state thereof or the District of
Columbia, and (if not the Company) assumes in writing all the obligations of the
Company under this Loan Agreement and (ii) no event which constitutes,  or which
with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both would constitute an Event
of Default shall have occurred and be continuing  immediately after such merger,
consolidation or transfer.

             Section  6.2.  Financial  Reports.  The  Company  agrees to have an
annual audit made by its regular  independent  certified public accountants and,
upon  request,  to furnish  the  Trustee  (within  90 days after  receipt by the
Company) with a balance  sheet,  statement of income and statement of cash flows
showing  the   financial   condition   of  the  Company  and  its   consolidated
subsidiaries,  if any,  at the  close  of  each  fiscal  year,  the  results  of
operations and the cash flows of the Company and its consolidated  subsidiaries,
if any, for each fiscal year,  accompanied  by the opinion of said  accountants.
The  Trustee  will hold such  reports  solely  for the  purpose  of making  them
available  at its  principal  corporate  trust  office  for  examination  by the
Bondholders,  and is not required to notify the  Bondholders  of the contents of
any such report.  The Company may fulfill its  obligation  under this Section by

<PAGE>

furnishing  the Trustee a copy of its Annual  Report on Form 10-K, as filed with
the Securities and Exchange  Commission,  if such report shall contain the above
described financial statements.

             Section 6.3.  Payment of Taxes.  The Company will pay and discharge
promptly all lawful taxes,  assessments and other governmental charges or levies
imposed upon the Project, or upon any part thereof, as well as all claims of any
kind  (including  claims for labor,  materials and supplies)  which,  if unpaid,
might by law become a lien or charge upon the Project; provided that the Company
shall not be required to pay any such tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim (i)
if the amount, applicability or validity thereof shall currently be contested in
good  faith  by  appropriate   proceedings  promptly  initiated  and  diligently
conducted;  (ii) if the  Company  shall  have set  aside on its  books  reserves
(segregated to the extent required by generally accepted accounting  principles)
with respect  thereto  deemed  adequate by the Company;  and (iii) if failure to
make such payment will not impair the use of the Project by the Company.

             Section 6.4.  Arbitrage.  The Company covenants with the Issuer and
for and on behalf of the  purchasers  and  owners of the Bonds from time to time
outstanding  that so long as any of the  Bonds  remain  outstanding,  moneys  on
deposit in any fund in  connection  with the Bonds,  whether or not such  moneys
were  derived  from  the  proceeds  of the sale of the  Bonds or from any  other
sources,  will  not be used  in a  manner  which  will  cause  the  Bonds  to be
"arbitrage  bonds" within the meaning of Section 148 of the Code, and any lawful
regulations promulgated thereunder,  as the same exist on this date, or may from
time to time  hereafter be amended,  supplemented  or revised.  The Company also
covenants  for  the  benefit  of  the  Bondholders  to  comply  with  all of the
provisions of the Tax Agreement.  The Company  reserves the right,  however,  to
make any  investment  of such  moneys as may be  permitted  by State law at such
time,  if,  when  and  to the  extent  that  said  Section  148  or  regulations
promulgated  thereunder  shall be  repealed  or relaxed or shall be held void by
final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction,  but only if any investment
made by virtue of such repeal,  relaxation or decision would not, in the written
Opinion of Tax Counsel, result in making the interest on the Bonds includible in
the federal gross income of the owners of the Bonds.

             Section  6.5.  Company's  Obligation  with  Respect to Exclusion of
Interest Paid on the Bonds.  Notwithstanding  any other  provision  hereof,  the
Company  covenants  and agrees that it will not  knowingly  take or authorize or
permit,  to the extent  such action is within the  control of the  Company,  any
action to be taken  with  respect  to the  Project  or the Prior  Bonds,  or the
proceeds of the Bonds  (including  investment  earnings  thereon),  or any other
proceeds  derived  directly or indirectly in connection  with the Project or the
Prior Bonds,  which will result in the loss of the  exclusion of interest on the
Bonds from the federal gross income of the owners of the Bonds under Section 103
of the Code to the extent that such  interest on the Bonds was  excludable  when
such Bonds were issued  (except  for any Bond  during any period  while any such
Bond is held by a person  referred to in  Sectiona103(b)(13)  of the 1954 Code);
and the  Company  also will not  knowingly  omit to take any action in its power
which, if omitted, would cause the above result. This provision

<PAGE>

shall control in  case of conflict or ambiguity with any other provision of this
Loan Agreement.

         The Company  covenants  and agrees to notify the Trustee and the Issuer
of the  occurrence  of any event of which the Company has notice and which event
would  require  the Company to prepay the  amounts  due  hereunder  because of a
redemption upon a determination of taxability.

             Section 6.6.  Notices Under the  Indenture.  The Company shall give
timely written  notice to the persons noted in Section  2.02(b) of the Indenture
as required by such  section,  prior to any change in the method of  determining
interest on the Bonds.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall use its
best  efforts  to notify  the Issuer as early as  possible  prior to  electing a
Long-Term  Interest Rate Period of three years or longer duration.  In addition,
if the Company shall elect to change the method of  determining  interest on the
Bonds,  the Company shall deliver to the persons noted in Section 2.02(b) of the
Indenture  concurrently  with the giving of notice with respect thereto,  and no
such change shall be effective without,  a Favorable Opinion of Tax Counsel,  if
required by the Indenture. The Company shall use its best efforts to provide the
Tender Agent and the Auction Agent with notice of any change in the maximum rate
permitted by law on the Auction Rate Bonds.

         If the  Company  determines  that a Payment  Default has  occurred  the
Company shall promptly notify the Tender Agent thereof.

             Section 6.7.  Letter of Credit.  Any Letter of Credit  delivered by
the Company  pursuant to the  Indenture  must comply with the  provisions of the
Indenture, including but not limited to, ArticleaV thereof.

             Section 6.8. Credit Ratings.  The Company shall take all reasonable
action necessary to enable at least one nationally recognized statistical rating
organization (as that term is used in the rules and regulations of the SEC under
the  Securities  Exchange  Act) to provide  credit  ratings for the Auction Rate
Bonds.

             Section 6.9. Purchases of Bonds. (a) The Company shall not purchase
or  otherwise  acquire  Auction Rate Bonds unless the Company redeems or cancels
such Auction Rate Bonds on the day of any purchase.

           (b) So long as a Letter of Credit is in effect, the Company will not,
and will not permit any  "insider"  (as defined in the  Bankruptcy  Code) of the
Company, to purchase,  directly or indirectly,  any Bonds with any funds that do
not constitute moneys described in clauses first, second, third or fourth in the
second paragraph of Sectiona4.02 of the Indenture, except as required by Section
5.2(b).

<PAGE>


                                   ARTICLE VII

                     NO RECOURSE TO ISSUER; INDEMNIFICATION

             Section  7.1.  No  Recourse  to  Issuer.  The  Issuer  will  not be
obligated  to pay the  Bonds  or any fees or  expenses  incurred  in  connection
therewith  except from  revenues  provided by the  Company.  The issuance of the
Bonds will not directly or indirectly or contingently obligate the Issuer or the
State  to  levy  or  pledge  any  form  of  taxation  whatever  or to  make  any
appropriation  for their payment.  Neither the Issuer nor any member,  director,
employee,  agent or officer of the  Issuer  nor any person  executing  the Bonds
shall be liable personally for the Bonds or be subject to any personal liability
or accountability by reason of the issuance of the Bonds.

             Section 7.2.  Indemnification.  The Company during the term of this
Loan Agreement releases the Issuer, its members, officers, directors,  employees
and agents from and covenants and agrees that the Issuer, its members, officers,
directors, employees and agents shall not be liable for, and agrees to indemnify
and hold the Issuer,  its members,  directors,  officers,  employees  and agents
harmless  against,  any loss or damage to  property or any injury to or death of
any person  occurring on or about or  resulting  from any defect in the Project,
provided that the indemnity  shall not be effective for damages that result from
the  negligence  or  intentional  acts on the part of the Issuer,  its  members,
officers,  directors,  employees or agents.  The Company will also indemnify and
save harmless the Issuer, its members, officers, directors,  employees or agents
from and against any and all losses,  costs,  charges,  expenses,  judgments and
liabilities  imposed  upon or  asserted  against it or them with  respect to the
Project  on  account  of any  failure  on the part of the  Company to perform or
comply with any of the provisions of this Loan Agreement.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                   ASSIGNMENT

             Section  8.1.  Assignment  by  Company.  The Company may assign its
rights and obligations  under this Loan Agreement with the prior written consent
of the Issuer, but no assignment will relieve the Company from primary liability
for any obligations under this Loan Agreement.

             Section  8.2.  Assignment  by Issuer.  The Issuer  will  assign its
rights  under and  interest in this Loan  Agreement  (except for the  Unassigned
Rights) to the Trustee  pursuant to the Indenture as security for the payment of
the Bonds,  and the Company assents to this  assignment.  Otherwise,  the Issuer
will not sell,  assign or  otherwise  dispose of its rights under or interest in
this Loan Agreement nor create or permit to exist any lien, encumbrance or other
security interest in or on such rights or interest.

<PAGE>
      
                                  ARTICLE IX

                              DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

             Section  9.1.  Remedies on Default.  Whenever  any Event of Default
under the  Indenture  has  occurred  and is  continuing,  the  Trustee  may take
whatever  action may appear  necessary or desirable to collect the payments then
due and to become due or to enforce  performance of any agreement of the Company
in this Loan Agreement.

         In addition,  if an Event of Default is continuing  with respect to any
of the  Unassigned  Rights,  the  Issuer  may take  whatever  action  may appear
necessary  or  desirable  to it to enforce  performance  by the  Company of such
Unassigned Rights.

         Any  amounts  collected  pursuant to action  taken  under this  Section
(except for amounts  payable  directly to the Issuer or the Trustee  pursuant to
Sections 5.2, 7.2 and 9.3) shall be applied in accordance with the Indenture.

         Nothing in this Loan Agreement shall be construed to permit the Issuer,
the Trustee,  any Bondholder or any receiver in any proceeding brought under the
Indenture to take  possession  of or exclude the Company from  possession of the
Project by reason of the occurrence of an Event of Default.

             Section 9.2. Delay Not Waiver; Remedies. A delay or omission by the
Issuer or the Trustee in exercising  any right or remedy  accruing upon an Event
of Default  shall not impair  the right or remedy or  constitute  a waiver of or
acquiescence  in the  Event of  Default.  No remedy  is  exclusive  of any other
remedy. All available remedies are cumulative.

             Section 9.3.  Attorneys'  Fees and Expenses.  If the Company should
default under any provision of this Loan  Agreement and the Issuer should employ
attorneys or incur other  expenses for the  collection of the payments due under
this Loan Agreement, the Company will on demand pay to the Issuer the reasonable
fees of such  attorneys  and such other  reasonable  expenses so incurred by the
Issuer.

                                    ARTICLE X

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

            Section 10.1.    Notices.   All  notices  or   other  communications
hereunder shall be  sufficiently  given and shall be deemed given when delivered
or mailed as provided in the Indenture.

            Section 10.2. Binding Effect. This Loan Agreement shall inure to the
benefit  of and  shall be  binding  upon  the  Issuer,  the  Company  and  their
respective  successors  and  assigns,   subject,  however,  to  the  limitations
contained in Section 6.1.

<PAGE>

            Section 10.3.  Severability. If any provision of this Loan Agreement
shall be determined to be  unenforceable  at any time, that shall not affect any
other provision of this Loan Agreement or the enforceability  of  that provision
at any other time

            Section 10.4. Amendments. After the issuance of the Bonds, this Loan
Agreement  may not be  effectively  amended or  terminated  without  the written
consent  of the  Trustee  and  the  Tender  Agent  and in  accordance  with  the
provisions of the Indenture.

            Section 10.5. Right of Company To Perform Issuer's  Agreements.  The
Issuer  irrevocably  authorizes  and empowers the Company to perform in the name
and on  behalf  of the  Issuer  any  agreement  made by the  Issuer in this Loan
Agreement  or in the  Indenture  which the  Issuer  fails to perform in a timely
fashion if the  continuance of such failure could result in an Event of Default.
This  Section  will not  require the  Company to perform  any  agreement  of the
Issuer.

            Section 10.6. Applicable Law. This Loan  Agreement shall be governed
by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State.

            Section 10.7. Captions; References to Sections. The captions in this
Loan Agreement are for convenience  only and do not define or limit the scope or
intent of any  provisions  or Sections  of this Loan  Agreement.  References  to
Articles and  Sections are to the Articles and Sections of this Loan  Agreement,
unless the context otherwise requires.

            Section 10.8.   Complete  Agreement.  This Loan Agreement represents
the entire  agreement  between the  Issuer and the  Company  with respect to its
subject matter.

            Section 10.9.  Termination.  When no Bonds are Outstanding under the
Indenture,  the  Company and the Issuer  shall not have any further  obligations
under this Loan Agreement; provided that the Company's covenants in Sections 6.4
and 6.5, and the provisions of Section 5.3 with respect to mandatory  redemption
of the Bonds, shall survive so long as any Bond remains unpaid.

<PAGE>



         Section 10.10.    Counterparts.  This Loan  Agreement  may be signed in
several counterparts.  Each  will  be an  original,  but  all of  them  together
constitute the same instrument.



                                       STATE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT AND
                                           ENERGY RESOURCES AUTHORITY



                                     By          /S/ Avis Parman
                                         ----------------------------------
                                                      Chairman


[SEAL]

Attest:

By    /S/ Charles D. Banks
   ---------------------------
            Secretary

                                       UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY, dba AMERENUE



                                       By     /S/ Donald E. Brandt
                                          --------------------------------
                                              Senior Vice President

<PAGE>




                                    EXHIBIT A

                                   THE PROJECT

         The  Project  consists  of  the  portion  of the  following  facilities
previously  financed  by the Issuer with the Prior  Bonds.  The  facilities  are
located at Union Electric  Company's  Callaway Nuclear Plant in Callaway County,
Missouri.

A.  WATER POLLUTION CONTROL FACILITIES:

            1. Oily Waste Treatment  System.  The oily waste treatment system is
designed to remove oily waste from  contaminated  water in  compliance  with the
Federal  Clean  Water  Act.  The  oily  waste  treatment  system  collects,  for
processing  and  disposal,  nonradioactive  waste  from  areas  where oil may be
present,  and waste that may contain  oil and/or  trace  amounts of  radioactive
contaminants.  Areas  where oily waste is  collected  by the system  include the
turbine building,  control building,  communications corridor,  diesel generator
building, and the auxiliary feedwater pump room.

            2.  Steam  Generator  Blowdown  System.  The  function  of the steam
generator  blowdown  system is to treat blowdown to the extent  required to meet
chemical composition limits for release to the environment. This system consists
of heat exchangers, mixed bed demineralizers, filters and associated hardware.

            3 Liquid Radwaste System. The function of the liquid radwaste system
is to collect,  segregate and treat both the reactor grade and nonreactor  grade
liquid  wastes  during  plant  power,  refueling  and  maintenance   operations.
Specifically,  it handles  potentially  radioactive  floor and equipment drains,
laundry,  and chemical  waste.  After  processing to remove  low-level and other
pollutants,  a  substantial  amount  of the  treated  liquid is  expected  to be
recycled for use in the plant,  while the  remainder  will be piped to the river
for release  there.  The liquid  radwaste  system  consists of several tanks and
pumps,  an  evaporator,  heat  exchanger,  demineralizers,  charcoal  adsorbers,
filters, and a reverse osmosis unit.

            4. Boron Recycle  System.  In order to keep the reactor  functioning
properly,  the  percentage  of boron in the  reactor  coolant is adjusted by the
addition of reactor makeup water,  blending  boric acid as needed.  As discussed
below,  this operation occurs as part of the function of the chemical and volume
control system ("CVCS").

         Waste streams from the CVCS are let down from time to time to the boron
recycle system ("BRS").  Waste streams  containing  boron and other minerals are
treated  in the  BRS by  demineralization,  filtration  and  evaporation.  After
treatment,  some of the liquid waste will be discharged to the Missouri River in
compliance  with discharge  limits imposed by the Clean Water Act.  Liquid waste
meeting the chemical requirements for reactor makeup water will be pumped to the
makeup water storage tank for reuse in the reactor  coolant  water  system.  The
system  evaporator  that treats the waste streams  concentrates  boric acid to 4
percent  weight.  The  concentrated  solution is then  pumped to the  evaporator
bottoms tank (primary) for  processing and disposal or, if reusable,  is sent to
the boric acid tanks. Absent

<PAGE>

pollution control requirements, these wastes would have been discharged directly
to the environment.

            5.  Secondary  Liquid Waste.  The function of the  secondary  liquid
waste system is to treat waste liquids  collected in the turbine  building floor
and equipment  drains.  The turbine  building  drains are segregated into drains
where  turbine  cycle  leakage is likely.  This system  also  treats  condensate
polisher regeneration wastes. This treatment is to achieve compliance within the
discharge  limits  imposed by the Clean  Water  Act.  Absent  pollution  control
requirements,   these  wastes  would  have  been  discharged   directly  to  the
environment.  The system consists of several tanks and pumps,  an evaporator,  a
demineralizer,  a charcoal bed, an oil interceptor,  and three filters.  It also
includes associated piping, valves, electrical and control equipment.

            6. Facilities For Discharge of Wastes. After treatment in the liquid
radwaste system, boron recovery,  steam generator blowdown, and secondary liquid
waste systems,  the liquids that will be discharged to the river are transferred
to either of two discharge holdup tanks and then pumped through about five miles
of buried piping to the Missouri River.  The discharge holdup tanks will provide
further holding, monitoring and treatment of liquids before they are released to
the river. The tanks are sized to provide holdup for primary liquid radwaste and
secondary  liquid  waste  that  will  eventually  be  discharged.  The tanks are
necessary  to  provide  the  sampling  required  in  order  to  ensure  that all
discharges are within pollution  control limits.  Each tank holds  approximately
100,000 gallons and will have related equipment to provide necessary adjustments
to  obtain  the  required  pH  levels.   Piping  is  installed  to  provide  for
reprocessing  the tank  contents if  monitoring  shows that the contents fail to
meet the environmental requirements for discharge.

            7. Chemical Waste  Treatment  System.  The chemical waste  treatment
system collects waste chemicals and detergent wastes for treatment and disposal.
Waste is collected from the chemical and volume control system sample room sink,
the hot laboratory sample sinks, the recycle  evaporator and recycle  evaporator
reagent tank,  the waste  evaporator  and waste  evaporator  reagent  tank,  the
secondary liquid waste evaporator and secondary liquid waste evaporator  reagent
tank, the radwaste  building sample  laboratory  sink,  evaporator  bottoms tank
overflow (primary and secondary),  decontamination tanks in hot machine shop and
turbine  building  sample  laboratory  sinks.  Except as  described  below,  all
effluents  in this system flow by gravity  directly to the  chemical  drain tank
located  in the  basement  of the  radwaste  building.  The  effluents  from hot
laboratory  sample  sinks flow by gravity to the chemical  equipment  drain sump
located in the  basement  of the  control  building.  This sump is vented to the
access control exhaust system to prevent  diffusion of vapors to the atmosphere.
The same is true of the vent for the detergent drain tank,  which collects waste
from the  laundry,  hot  laboratory,  and the men's and  women's  disrobe  areas
located in the control  building.  The turbine building sample  laboratory sinks
are tied to a common drain line. This line can be routed through  demineralizers
and discharged to the oil waste system or discharged  into a portable  container
outside the laboratory.

            8. Floor and Equipment Drain System.  One of three subsystems within
the floor and equipment  drains is designed to collect  liquid waste and pump it
to the floor drain tank.

<PAGE>

The  pollution  control  equipment  processes  effluent  originating  in the hot
machine shop decontamination area prior to releasing it to the floor drain tank.

         9-10. Sewage Collection and Treatment System.  The power block drainage
system  collects wastes from service  facilities,  pantry  facilities,  electric
water coolers, clean shower,  plumbing fixtures and toilet drains in the control
building,  and from electric  water coolers,  electric  water heaters,  plumbing
fixtures and toilet room floor drains in the turbine building.

         The  collection  facilities  drain to a lift station and the wastes are
then  pumped to the  sewage  treatment  plant.  After  treatment  the wastes are
discharged  to the  river.  (The  qualifying  facilities  do not  include  field
facilities used during construction.)

         This system is not in regular  operation at substantially  the level of
treatment  for which it was  intended.  The Company will  therefore  improve its
maintenance  and inspection  program and make  necessary  changes to the system.
When this is  completed,  the system  will be  capable  of meeting or  exceeding
applicable  federal,  state  and local  requirements  for the  control  of water
pollution.

           11.  Chemical and Volume  Control  Letdown  Waste  Processing  System
(CVCS).  During plant  operation,  this  maintains  the reactor  coolant  system
equilibrium  fission and corrosion  product  activities within specified limits.
The letdown waste  effluent from the system is processed and treated.  Mixed-bed
demineralizers  are  provided  in the letdown  system to provide  cleanup of the
letdown  flow.  The  demineralizers  remove ionic  corrosion  products,  certain
fission products, and act as filters. One demineralizer is usually in continuous
service for normal letdown flow and can be  supplemented  intermittently  by the
cation bed demineralizer for additional purification as required.

B.  AIR POLLUTION CONTROL FACILITIES:

            1. Gaseous Radwaste System. The function of this system is to remove
polluting  gases produced by the fission process from the reactor coolant system
and to collect other gaseous waste  pollutants  from sources having  appreciable
amounts of fission  product gases and hydrogen.  The system has the capacity for
achieving decay of such waste gases through  long-term  storage,  thus complying
with air pollution  control  requirements  by  eliminating  regularly  scheduled
discharges  of  radioactive  gases into the  atmosphere.  This  system  consists
principally  of the  hydrogen  recombiner  and a series of eight waste gas decay
tanks. The hydrogen  recombiner  provides a means of drawing off the waste gases
through combination with hydrogen. The hydrogen is then catalytically recombined
to form water,  and the remaining  waste gases are then processed and allowed to
decay in waste gas decay tanks.

            2. Control Building  Ventilation  Exhaust System. The access control
exhaust  system takes  suction from the  potentially  contaminated  areas of the
access control floor and the basement beneath. This system filters exhaust prior
to discharge to the environment.

<PAGE>

            3. Auxiliary  Building  Ventilation  Exhaust System. All exhaust air
from the auxiliary  building is processed  through the  auxiliary/fuel  building
normal exhaust system filter train for cleanup prior to radiation monitoring and
discharge to the environment.

            4.  Condenser Air Removal  System.  The condenser air removal system
exhausts  potentially  radioactive  gases and other gases from the condenser and
processes  them  through a  charcoal  adsorber  unit prior to  discharge  to the
environment.

            5.   Containment   Atmospheric   Control  System.   The  containment
atmospheric control system has two functions-to reduce the containment  airborne
concentrations of radioiodine and particulates to acceptable levels prior to and
during  occupancy  of the  containment  and to reduce  the  amount  of  airborne
radioiodine and  particulates  released to the environment  prior to containment
purges. The system operates,  as needed,  prior to and during purging to provide
internal cleanup of the containment atmosphere by recirculation through charcoal
adsorbers and particulate filters.

            6.  Containment  Purge System.  During  operation of the containment
shutdown purge supply system,  the containment  shutdown purge exhaust fan takes
suction from the containment  through the  containment  purge exhaust system and
containment purge filtration unit and discharges it to the environment.

            7. Radiation  Monitoring  System  (primarily  air pollution  control
related).  A portion of the process and effluent radiation  monitoring system is
necessary  to monitor,  record,  and control the release to the  environment  of
radioactive materials that may be generated under normal conditions. The process
and  effluent   radioactivity   monitors   operate   continuously   during  both
intermittent  and  continuous   discharges  of  potentially   radioactive  plant
effluents.

C.  SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITIES:

            1.  Solid  Radwaste  Processing System. (*)    The  solid   radwaste
processing  system  includes  facilities  for  solidification,  compaction,  and
temporary storage of solid wastes. It collects spent resins, evaporator bottoms,
spent charcoal and miscellaneous dry  wastes. The system is designed to  provide
adequate  handling,  processing  and  drumming up of the wastes, and temporarily
storing them until  shipment offsite for disposal at a licensed burial site. The
wastes are  generated  during  normal  plant  operation  and during  anticipated
operational occurrences, such as refueling and high maintenance periods.

<PAGE>

         Filter Handling System.  The filter handling system provides a means of
         removing  and  transferring  spent  filter  cartridges  from the filter
         vessels for processing and disposal.

         Resin Sluicing  System.  The resin sluicing system provides a means for
         transferring  spent resins from the  demineralizers  to the spent resin
         storage tank.  From there these resins are processed for disposal.  The
         system is  designed to minimize  the amount of waste  liquid  generated
         during sluicing.

           2. Temporary Storage. (**) A consulting engineering firm was retained
to determine  a  location  for storage  of  solidified  secondary  radwaste. The
consultants  determined that it would be best to store this low-level waste on a
temporary basis pending  disposal in what is now called the fabrication shop (or
similar structure).

D.  MISCELLANEOUS:

            1. Radwaste Building and Radwaste Pipe Tunnel. The radwaste building
contains  only  facilities   performing  a  solid  waste  disposal  function  or
facilities  performing a pollution  control  function.  As discussed  below, the
radwaste  building  and the  radwaste  pipe tunnel are  necessary  to the proper
functioning of those systems described above which are located in the building.

         Radwaste Building. The radwaste building is a rectangular,  multistory,
         structural  steel  and  reinforced   concrete  structure  which  houses
         facilities  for treatment and disposal of radioactive  liquid,  gaseous
         and solid wastes.

         Radwaste  Pipe  Tunnel.  The  radwaste  pipe  tunnel is a  below-grade,
         reinforced concrete structure connecting the auxiliary building and the
         radwaste  building.  The tunnel provides access and carries  electrical
         cable trays and piping between the auxiliary  building and the radwaste
         building.  It functions  only in support of the  radwaste  building and
         equipment therein.



- ----------
*        Certain portions of the Solid Radwaste  Processing System are no longer
         in use. Since the plant became  operational,  the equipment  associated
         with solidifying  radioactive  resins and bottoms has been retired.  In
         addition,  the equipment  processing  contaminated  laundry  wastewater
         (reverse  osmosis)  has been  retired.  Equipment  associated  with the
         solidification  of  radwastes  is being  replaced  with a new  Radwaste
         Volume  Reduction  system.  The total  estimated  costs of the  retired
         equipment  is  $14,283,360,  a portion of which was  financed  with the
         Prior Bonds.

**       The  temporary  storage  facilities  were  not  constructed.  The total
         estimated  cost of the  temporary storage  facilities which  was to  be
         financed with the Prior Bonds was $198,681.




<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY
COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS

                                                                                                                12 Months
                                                                Year Ended December 31,                           Ended
                                             --------------------------------------------------------------   September 30,
                                                1993         1994        1995         1996         1997          1998
                                                ----         ----        ----         ----         ----          ----

                                                                   Thousands of Dollars Except Ratios


<S>                                          <C>          <C>         <C>          <C>           <C>          <C>     
Net Income                                    $297,160     $320,757    $314,107     $304,876      $301,655     $319,708
Add- Extraordinary items net of tax                  -            -           -            -        26,967       26,967
                                             ----------   ----------   ---------   ----------   ----------- -----------
Net Income from continuing operations         $297,160     $320,757    $314,107     $304,876      $328,622     $346,675

Add- Federal and state income taxes:
   Current                                     146,900      232,497     222,072      198,405       234,846      248,827
   Deferred (net)                               40,039      (20,208)     (6,770)       4,160       (33,926)     (34,284)
   Deferred investment tax credits, net         (7,626)      (6,182)     (6,181)      (6,182)      (10,451)      (9,949)
   Income tax applicable to
     nonoperating income                         3,403       (2,280)     (1,387)        (173)        9,294        5,673
                                             ----------   ----------   ---------   ----------   -----------  -----------
                                               182,716      203,827     207,734      196,210       199,763      210,267
                                             ----------   ----------   ---------   ----------   -----------  -----------

Net income before income taxes                 479,876      524,584     521,841      501,086       528,385      556,942
                                             ----------   ----------   ---------   ----------   -----------  -----------



Add- fixed charges:
   Interest on long term debt                  124,430      135,608     129,239      128,375       135,004      127,390
   Rentals                                       1,314        1,299       3,330        3,458         3,727        3,406
   Amortization of net debt premium,
      discount, expenses and losses              5,170        5,504       5,502        4,269         3,672        3,556
                                             ----------   ----------   ---------   ----------   -----------  -----------
                                               130,914      142,411     138,071      136,102       142,403      134,352
                                             ----------   ----------   ---------   ----------   -----------  -----------

Earnings as defined                            610,790      666,995     659,912      637,188       670,788      691,294
                                             ==========   ==========   =========   ==========   ===========  ===========

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges                4.66         4.68        4.78         4.68          4.71         5.14


Earnings required for preferred dividends:
   Preferred stock dividends                    14,087       13,252      13,250       13,249         8,817        8,817
   Adjustment to pre-tax basis                   7,450        7,262       7,558        7,363         4,509        4,250
                                             ----------   ----------   ---------   ----------   -----------  -----------
                                                21,537       20,514      20,808       20,612        13,326       13,067

Fixed charges plus preferred stock dividend
    requirements                               152,451      162,925     158,879      156,714       155,729      147,419
                                             ==========   ==========   =========   ==========   ===========  ===========

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges plus
    preferred stock dividend requirements         4.00         4.09        4.15         4.06          4.30         4.68
                                             ==========   ==========   =========   ==========   ===========  ===========

</TABLE>


<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>  UT
<LEGEND>

                                                                     Exhibit 27

                             UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY
                             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)


</LEGEND>
       

<S>                                              <C>
 
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                            9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                  DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                       SEP-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                          PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                            5,338,722
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                            141,084
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 818,935
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                43,216
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                         776,668
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                       7,118,625
<COMMON>                                               510,619
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                              701,896
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                  1,265,067
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                       2,477,582
                                        0
                                            155,197
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                 1,722,550
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                           0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                    0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                               0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                          160,000
                                    0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                             60,323
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                        14,102
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                       2,528,871
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                        7,118,625
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                            1,913,698
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                   201,717
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                           1,323,296
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                           1,525,013
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                388,685
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                       7,412
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                         396,097
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                92,993
<NET-INCOME>                                           303,104
                              6,613
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                          296,491
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                               191,380
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                    0  <F1>
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                 476,876
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                             0.00  <F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                             0.00  <F2>

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


</TABLE>


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