<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 NEW ENGLAND POWER COMPANY,
   AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
   STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                          1,000

                                                                     
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                    MAR-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                         MAR-31-2000
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              3-MOS
<BOOK-VALUE>                            PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                499,447
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>               89,735
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                   458,550
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>               1,576,035    <F1>
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                         2,623,767
<COMMON>                                    72,398
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                582,983
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                        1,415
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>           656,796
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                1,567
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                     371,773
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                        38,500
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                      0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                               0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>         1,555,131
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>          2,623,767
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                134,564
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                       9,641
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>               108,604
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>               118,245
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                   16,319
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                         2,319
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>            18,638
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                   4,176
<NET-INCOME>                              14,462
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                   24
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>             14,438    <F2>
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                  24,098
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                  3,749
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                    34,738
<EPS-BASIC>                                    0    <F3>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0    <F3>
<FN>
<F1>                                  Total deferred charges includes regulatory assets, other assets, and
                                      goodwill, net of amortization.
<F2>                                  Earnings available for common includes preferred stock dividends.
<F3>                                  Per share data is not relevant because the Company's common stock is wholly
                                      owned by National Grid USA.
</FN>