<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Bangor
Hydro-Electric Company Form 10Q - 3rd Quarter 1997 and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to such 10Q.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000009548
<NAME> BANGOR HYDRO-ELECTRIC COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      242,365
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     44,497
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          32,569
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       283,739
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 603,170
<COMMON>                                        36,817
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       56,970
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             12,992
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 106,779
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           10,716
<PREFERRED>                                      4,734
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           244,643
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                       33,000
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   28,578
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                        1,594
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 173,126
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  603,170
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      137,969
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           (1,509)
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     122,023
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     120,514
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         17,455
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,016
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  18,471
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        18,980
<NET-INCOME>                                     (509)
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,033
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  (1,542)
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       22,307
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          30,317
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (.21)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    (.21)