<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Bangor
Hydro-Electric Company's Form 10Q for the Second Quarter 1997 and is qualified
in its entirety by reference to such Form 10Q.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000009548
<NAME> BANGOR HYDRO-ELECTRIC COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      238,509
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     44,197
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          31,224
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       228,941
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 542,871
<COMMON>                                        36,817
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       56,969
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             13,525
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 107,311
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           10,701
<PREFERRED>                                      4,734
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           258,709
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                       33,000
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   16,467
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                        1,594
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 110,355
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  542,871
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       90,412
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           (1,422)
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      80,281
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      78,859
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         11,553
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 726
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  12,279
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        12,600
<NET-INCOME>                                     (321)
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        689
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  (1,010)
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       22,224
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          21,033
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  ($0.14)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  ($0.14)