<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Bangor
Hydro's Form 10-K for 12/31/97 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to
such 10-K.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000009548
<NAME> BANGOR HYDRO-ELECTRIC COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      244,414
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     44,339
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          33,443
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       278,387
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 600,583
<COMMON>                                        36,817
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       56,970
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             12,771
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 106,558
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            9,137
<PREFERRED>                                      4,734
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           221,643
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                       34,000
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   50,578
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                        1,594
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 172,339
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  600,583
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      187,324
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           (1,956)
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     165,491
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     163,535
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         23,789
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,292
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  25,081
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        25,467
<NET-INCOME>                                     (386)
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,376
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  (1,762)
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       22,638
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          36,373
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (.24)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    (.24)