SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                        WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549-1004

                                FORM 8-K

                             CURRENT REPORT

                Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                  Securities Exchange Act of 1934

    Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)  July 22, 1997
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                      Commission File Number 0-404
                                             -----

                THE CONNECTICUT LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY
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          (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


               CONNECTICUT                      06-0303850
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     (State or other jurisdiction of          (I.R.S. Employer
      incorporation or organization)         Identification No.)


        SELDEN STREET, BERLIN, CONNECTICUT             06037-1616
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     (Address of principal executive offices)          (Zip Code)


                            (860) 665-5000
                            --------------
         (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


                            Not Applicable
                            --------------
    (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Item 5. Other Events

The Connecticut Light and Power Company (CL&P) expects to incur a loss in
the range of $70 million to $80 million for the second quarter of 1997. For
the calendar year 1997, while all three Millstone units are out of service,
CL&P expects to continue operating at a loss.


                                  SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.




                          THE CONNECTICUT LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY
                          ---------------------------------------
                                        Registrant




Date  July 24, 1997             By     /s/John H. Forsgren
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                                        John H. Forsgren
                                        Executive Vice President
                                        and Chief Financial Officer