<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Bangor
Hydro-Electric Co.'s Form 10Q, 3rd Qtr. 1998 and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to such From 10Q.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000009548
<NAME> BANGOR-HYDRO ELECTRIC COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      243,295
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     66,501
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          32,560
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       266,264
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 608,620
<COMMON>                                        36,817
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       59,054
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             19,461
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 115,332
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            9,183
<PREFERRED>                                      4,734
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           270,273
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                       19,000
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   19,395
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                        1,594
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 169,109
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  608,620
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      144,859
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             4,163
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     115,193
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     119,356
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         25,503
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 891
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  26,394
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        18,770
<NET-INCOME>                                     7,624
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        935
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    6,689
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       22,913
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          18,663
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    $0.91
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    $0.89