<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-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                         MAR-31-1999
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              3-MOS
<BOOK-VALUE>                            PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                524,868
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                    63,866
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                  54,477                 <F1>
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           643,211
<COMMON>                                    56,624
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                105,795
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                       91,418
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>           254,079                 <F3>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                7,238
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                     168,723
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                        24,375
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>              8,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                      0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                               0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>           180,796
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>            643,211
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                126,128
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                       2,534
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>               113,005
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>               115,539
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                   10,589
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                        (1,069)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>             9,520
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                   4,488
<NET-INCOME>                               5,032
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                   94
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>              4,938
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                  3,626
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                    10,699
<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>