<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.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                                     
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                    DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                         JUN-30-1999
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              6-MOS
<BOOK-VALUE>                            PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>              1,139,324
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                   248,297
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                  43,444                 <F1>
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                         1,431,065
<COMMON>                                    59,953
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                239,414
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                      196,918
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>           496,494                 <F3>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                               15,739
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                     343,398
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                        11,725
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>            23,750
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>             10,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                      0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                               0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>           529,959
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>          1,431,065
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                758,603
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                      14,029
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>               703,243
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>               717,272
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                   41,331                 
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                        (3,327)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>            38,004
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                  16,581
<NET-INCOME>                              21,423
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                  480
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>             20,943
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                  25,181
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                 13,541
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                    68,419
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0                 <F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0                 <F2>
<FN>
<F1>                                  Total deferred charges includes other assets.
<F2>                                  Per share data is not relevant because the Company's common stock is
                                      wholly-owned by New England Electric System.
<F3>                                  Total common stockholders equity includes the unrealized gain on
                                      securities.
</FN>