<ARTICLE> UT <CIK> 0000031224 <NAME> EASTERN UTILITIES ASSOCIATES <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 720079 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 212310 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 149098 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 175542 <OTHER-ASSETS> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1257029 <COMMON> 102180 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 217229 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 52404 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 371813 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 27035 <PREFERRED> 6900 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 406337 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 51848 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 27512 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LEASES-CURRENT> 0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 365584 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 1257029 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 527068 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 10942 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 460285 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 471227 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 55841 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 16204 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 72045 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 39119 <NET-INCOME> 32926 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 2312 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 30614 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 33618 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 34035 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 115695 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.50 <EPS-DILUTED> 0