<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
STATEMENT OF INCOME, STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS AND BALANCE SHEET AND IS QUALIFIED
IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000018651
<NAME> CENTRAL ILLINOIS LIGHT COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 855,056
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 3,789
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 167,451
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 22,687
<OTHER-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,048,983
<COMMON> 185,661
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 27,000
<RETAINED-EARNINGS> 139,364
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 352,025
22,000
19,120
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 245,969
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 75,200
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 0
0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 763
<LEASES-CURRENT> 555
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 333,351
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 1,048,983
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 438,821
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 22,399
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 361,248
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 383,647
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 55,174
<OTHER-INCOME-NET> (2,197)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 52,977
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 16,681
<NET-INCOME> 36,296
2,437
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 33,859
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 16,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 13,188
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 89,504
<EPS-BASIC> 0
<EPS-DILUTED> 0
</TABLE>
