<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Bangor
Hydro-Electric Co. 10Q for 3/31/98 and is qualified in its entirety by reference
to such 10Q.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000009548
<NAME> BANGOR HYDRO-ELECTRIC CO.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      244,850
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     48,158
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          33,628
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       274,773
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 601,409
<COMMON>                                        36,817
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       56,969
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             14,869
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 108,655
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            9,152
<PREFERRED>                                      4,734
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           259,575
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                       16,000
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   29,933
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                        1,594
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 171,766
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  601,409
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       49,100
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             1,356
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      39,334
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      40,690
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          8,410
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 266
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   8,676
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         6,268
<NET-INCOME>                                     2,408
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        312
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    2,096
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       20,728
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                           7,803
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     $.28
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     $.28