<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Bangor
Hydro-Electric Company's March 31, 1997 Form 10-Q and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to such 10-Q.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000009548
<NAME> BANGOR HYDRO-ELECTRIC COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      231,273
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     49,408
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          38,119
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       235,102
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 553,902
<COMMON>                                        36,817
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       56,969
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             14,907
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 108,693
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           10,685
<PREFERRED>                                      4,734
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           273,209
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                       32,000
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   13,967
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                        1,594
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 109,020
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  553,902
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       48,176
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             (342)
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      41,861
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      41,519
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          6,657
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 392
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   7,049
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         6,333
<NET-INCOME>                                       716
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        344
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                      372
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       22,323
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                           9,120
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .05
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .05