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 THE NARRAGANSETT ELECTRIC COMPANY, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
           REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
<MULTIPLIER>                                  1,000
       
                                                                          
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                    DEC-31-1996   DEC-31-1995  DEC-31-1996   DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                         JUN-30-1996   JUN-30-1995  JUN-30-1996   JUN-30-1995
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              6-MOS         6-MOS        QTR-2         QTR-2
<BOOK-VALUE>                            PER-BOOK      PER-BOOK     PER-BOOK      PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                550,289              0                         0            0
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    0              0                         0            0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                    92,875              0                         0            0
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                  59,917            <F1>          0              0                0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 0              0            0             0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           703,081              0            0             0
<COMMON>                                                56,624             0             0                0
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                 80,170              0            0             0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                      111,183              0            0             0
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>           247,977              0            0             0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0              0            0             0
<PREFERRED>                               36,500              0            0             0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                     185,958              0            0             0
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                         5,375              0            0             0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      0              0            0             0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>            12,000              0            0             0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>             25,000              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>           190,271              0            0             0
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>            703,081              0            0             0
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                243,755                    241,446                    116,470        116,426
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                       4,133                      4,116                      1,131            655
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>               219,091                    217,384                    107,094        108,470
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>               223,224                    221,500                    108,225        109,125
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                   20,531                     19,946                      8,245          7,301
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                        (1,234)          (38)                      (125)          74
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>            19,297                     19,908                      8,120          7,375
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                   9,890                      9,084                      5,003          4,317
<NET-INCOME>                               9,407                     10,824                      3,117          3,058
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                1,072                      1,072            536              536
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>              8,335                      9,752                      2,581          2,522
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                   5,379                      3,963                      3,114          3,397
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                  8,596                      8,070                      4,304          4,088
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                    37,519                     28,133                     19,198         10,673
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0            <F2>          0            <F2>   0   <F2>  0   <F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0            <F2>          0            <F2>   0   <F2>  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.
</FN>