<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>                        470,501               0               0               0
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                            0               0               0               0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                           100,700               0               0               0
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                         55,381 <F1>           0               0               0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                         0               0               0               0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   626,582               0               0               0
<COMMON>                                          56,624               0               0               0
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                         45,170               0               0               0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                               90,318               0               0               0
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                   192,112               0               0               0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  0               0               0               0
<PREFERRED>                                       36,500               0               0               0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                             178,893               0               0               0
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               33,625 <F2>           0               0               0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                              0               0               0               0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                         0               0               0               0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                          0               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>                   185,452               0               0               0
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                    626,582               0               0               0
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                        366,275         367,850         137,014         136,174
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                               4,594           4,304           3,355           2,915
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                       337,623         341,628         122,722         123,498
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                       342,217         345,932         126,077         126,413
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                           24,058          21,918          10,937           9,761
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                  (285)           (723)            149             162
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                    23,773          21,195          11,086           9,923
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          11,242          10,467           3,856           3,488
<NET-INCOME>                                      12,531          10,728           7,230           6,435
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        1,607           1,396             535             619
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                     10,924           9,332           6,695           5,816
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                           2,265           3,963           1,132             566
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                         10,489           9,454           3,675           3,261
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                            33,521          20,143           4,375           9,077
<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 notes payable to banks 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>