Exhibit 23.1



                      CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


     We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration
statements of Boston Edison Company on Form S-3 (File Nos. 33-36824,
33-57840 and 33-59693) and on Form S-8 (File Nos. 33-00810, 33-7558,
33-38434, 33-48424, 33-48425, 33-59662, 33-59682 and 33-58457) of our
report dated January 25, 1996 on our audits of the consolidated financial
statements of Boston Edison Company as of December 31, 1995 and 1994 and
for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1995, which
report is included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.



                                 By:  /s/ Coopers & Lybrand, L.L.P.
                                      -------------------------------------
                                          Coopers & Lybrand, L.L.P.


Boston, Massachusetts
March 28, 1996