<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Bangor
Hydro-Electric Co. Form 10Q for 06/30/98 and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to such 10Q.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000009548
<NAME> BANGOR HYDRO-ELECTRIC COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      244,881
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     54,911
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          32,172
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       278,276
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 610,240
<COMMON>                                        36,817
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       59,005
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             16,824
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 112,646
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            9,168
<PREFERRED>                                      4,734
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           285,435
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                       22,000
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    6,398
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                        1,594
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 168,265
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  610,240
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       95,701
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             2,495
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      76,790
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      79,285
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         16,416
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 647
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  17,063
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        12,388
<NET-INCOME>                                     4,675
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        623
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    4,052
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       22,785
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                           8,761
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    $0.55
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    $0.55