<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 THE NARRAGANSETT ELECTRIC COMPANY, AND IS QUALIFIED 
           IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                  1,000
       
                                                                          
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                    DEC-31-1995   DEC-31-1994  DEC-31-1995   DEC-31-1994
<PERIOD-END>                         SEP-30-1995   SEP-30-1994  SEP-30-1995   SEP-30-1994
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              9-MOS         9-MOS        3-MOS         3-MOS
<BOOK-VALUE>                            PER-BOOK      PER-BOOK     PER-BOOK      PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                523,989             0            0             0
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    0             0            0             0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                   106,341             0            0             0
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                  56,804            <F1>          0             0            0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 0             0            0             0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           687,134             0            0             0
<COMMON>                                                56,624            0             0            0
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                 70,170             0            0             0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                      104,182             0            0             0
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>           230,976             0            0             0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0             0            0             0
<PREFERRED>                               36,500             0            0             0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                     203,857             0            0             0
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                        31,050            <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>           184,751             0            0             0
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>            687,134             0            0             0
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                380,663       366,275      139,217       137,014
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                       8,235         4,594        4,119         3,355
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>               339,783       337,623      122,399       122,722
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>               348,018       342,217      126,518       126,077
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                   32,645        24,058       12,699        10,937
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                          (307)         (285)        (269)          149
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>            32,338        23,773       12,430        11,086
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                  13,575        11,242        4,491         3,856
<NET-INCOME>                              18,763        12,531        7,939         7,230
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                1,607         1,607          535           535
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>             17,156        10,924        7,404         6,695
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                   4,530         2,265          567         1,132
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                 12,312        10,489        4,242         3,675

<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                    34,065        33,521        5,932         4,375
<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>