<ARTICLE>   UT
<LEGEND>    THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
            THE BALANCE SHEET AND RELATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME, RETAINED
            EARNINGS AND CASH FLOWS OF MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC COMPANY, AND IS
            QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
            STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>1,000
       
                                        
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                  DEC-31-1994
<PERIOD-END>                       MAR-31-1995
<PERIOD-TYPE>                            3-MOS
<BOOK-VALUE>                          PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>            1,005,333
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                 228,320
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                         61,232 <F1>
<OTHER-ASSETS>                               0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                       1,294,885
<COMMON>                                59,953
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>              187,172
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                    135,264
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>         382,389
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                        0
<PREFERRED>                             50,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                   313,413
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               68,725 <F2>
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                    0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>               0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>           25,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                    0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                  0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                             0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>         455,358
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>        1,294,885
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>              373,092
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                     3,062
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>             356,681
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>             359,743
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                 13,349
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                         326
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>          13,675
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                 8,549
<NET-INCOME>                             5,126
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                778
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>            4,348
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                 5,995

<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                6,105
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                   9,896
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         0 <F3>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         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 stock is wholly owned by New England Electric System.
</FN>