<ARTICLE>   UT
<MULTIPLIER>1,000
       
                                                                        
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                  DEC-31-1994   DEC-31-1993  DEC-31-1994   DEC-31-1993
<PERIOD-END>                       SEP-30-1994   SEP-30-1993  SEP-30-1994   SEP-30-1993
<PERIOD-TYPE>                            9-MOS         9-MOS        QTR-3         QTR-3
<BOOK-VALUE>                          PER-BOOK      PER-BOOK     PER-BOOK      PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>              980,083             0            0             0
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  0             0            0             0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                 206,828             0            0             0
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                         59,761 <F1>0           0             0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                               0             0            0             0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                       1,246,672             0            0             0
<COMMON>                                59,953             0            0             0
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>              187,172             0            0             0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                    135,372             0            0             0
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>         382,497             0            0             0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                        0             0            0             0
<PREFERRED>                             50,000             0            0             0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                   254,653             0            0             0
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               42,570 <F2>0           0             0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                    0             0            0             0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>               0             0            0             0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>           35,000             0            0             0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                    0             0            0             0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                  0             0            0             0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                             0             0            0             0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>         481,952             0            0             0
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>        1,246,672             0            0             0
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>            1,098,180     1,094,871      376,582       376,137
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                    11,754         1,604          829         1,169
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>           1,044,128     1,068,875      365,633       366,980
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>           1,055,882     1,070,479      366,462       368,149
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                 42,298        24,392       10,120         7,988
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                      (1,785)         (313)         (19)          627
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>          40,513        24,079       10,101         8,615
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                21,295        19,959        8,670         6,411
<NET-INCOME>                            19,218         4,120        1,431         2,204
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>              2,335         2,879          778         1,165
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>           16,883         1,241          653         1,039
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                16,787        13,789        3,598         2,398
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>               15,500        17,977        5,334         5,843
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                  63,873        66,533       21,964        30,508
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         0 <F3>          0 <F3>          0 <F3>          0 <F3>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         0 <F3>          0 <F3>          0 <F3>          0 <F3>
<FN>
<F1> Total deferred charges includes other assets.
<F2> Short-term notes includes commercial paper obligations and short-term debt to affiliates.
<F3> Per share data is not relevant because the Company's common stock is wholly owned by New England Electric System.
</FN>