<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000012473
<NAME> BLACKSTONE VALLEY ELECTRIC COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                  12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                        85758
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                         45
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                           16684
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                         28346
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  130833
<COMMON>                                          9203
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                        17908
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                              10981
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                   38092
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                       6130
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                             33500
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                1400
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                     1500
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                   50211
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                   130833
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       140258
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                              3326
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      127380
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      130706
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                           9552
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 195
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                    9747
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          4101
<NET-INCOME>                                      5646
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        289
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                     5357
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          3497
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                         3186
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                            8000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0