WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

  


<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 IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
            ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>1,000
       
                                                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                            6-MOS         6-MOS        QTR-2         QTR-2
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                  DEC-31-1995   DEC-31-1994  DEC-31-1995   DEC-31-1994
<PERIOD-END>                       JUN-30-1995   JUN-30-1994  JUN-30-1995   JUN-30-1994
<BOOK-VALUE>                          PER-BOOK      PER-BOOK     PER-BOOK      PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>            1,018,711             0            0             0
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  0             0            0             0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                 222,106             0            0             0
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                58,167  <F1>       0            0             0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                               0             0            0             0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                       1,298,984             0            0             0
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>              187,171             0            0             0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                    134,654             0            0             0
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>         381,778             0            0             0
<COMMON>                                59,953             0            0             0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                        0             0            0             0
<PREFERRED>                             50,000             0            0             0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                   333,327             0            0             0
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                      70,275  <F2>       0            0             0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                    0             0            0             0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>               0             0            0             0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>           10,000             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>         453,604             0            0             0
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>        1,298,984             0            0             0
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>              728,523       721,598      355,431       339,886
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                     4,605        10,925        1,562         5,046
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>             669,396       678,495      342,696       319,786
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>             704,001       689,420      344,258       324,832
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                 24,522        32,178       11,173        15,054
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                        (817)       (1,766)      (1,143)         (311)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>          23,705        30,412       10,030        14,743
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                16,012        12,625        7,463         6,528
<NET-INCOME>                             7,693        17,787        2,567         8,215
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>              1,557         1,557          779           779
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>            6,136        16,230        1,788         7,436
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                 8,393        13,189        2,398         6,594
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>               12,581        10,166        6,476         5,163
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                  35,102        41,909       25,206        33,852

<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 notes payable to associated companies.
<F3> Per share data is not relevant because the Company's common stock is wholly owned by New England Electric System.
</FN>