<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
<PERIOD-END>                         SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              9-MOS
<BOOK-VALUE>                            PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                555,851
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                   107,448
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                  60,685    <F1>
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           723,984
<COMMON>                                    56,624
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                 80,170
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                      117,400
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>           254,194
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                               36,500
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                     178,488
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                        24,925    <F2>
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>             32,500
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                      0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                               0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>           197,377
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>            723,984
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                384,236
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                       8,118
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>               342,168
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>               350,286
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                   33,950
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                        (1,377)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>            32,573
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                  14,997
<NET-INCOME>                              17,576
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                1,608
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>             15,968
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                   6,795
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                 12,899
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                    47,124
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0    <F3>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0    <F3>
<FN>
<F1>                                  Total deferred charges includes other assets.
<F2>                                  Short-term notes includes commercial paper obligations 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>