WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

  


MASS
<ARTICLE>  UT
<MULTIPLIER>1,000
       
                                                   
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                  DEC-31-1994   DEC-31-1993
<PERIOD-END>                       DEC-31-1994   DEC-31-1993
<PERIOD-TYPE>                           12-MOS        12-MOS
<BOOK-VALUE>                          PER-BOOK      PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>              995,995       945,285
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  0             0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                 240,191       229,643
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                         59,536 <F1>     57,376 <F1>
<OTHER-ASSETS>                               0             0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                       1,295,722     1,232,304
<COMMON>                                59,953        59,953
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>              187,172       187,172
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                    136,911       135,276
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>         384,036       382,401
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                        0             0
<PREFERRED>                             50,000        50,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                   265,631       264,719
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               81,820 <F2>     37,925 <F2>
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                    0             0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>               0             0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>           35,000             0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                    0             0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                  0             0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                             0             0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>         479,235       497,259
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>        1,295,722     1,232,304
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>            1,482,070     1,468,540
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                    22,265        11,055
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>           1,397,137     1,406,899
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>           1,419,402     1,417,954
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                 62,668        50,586
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                        (995)          (64)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>          61,673        50,522
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                26,947        26,743
<NET-INCOME>                            34,726        23,779
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>              3,114         3,772
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>           31,612        19,191
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                29,977        18,585
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>               20,967        23,403
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                  44,252        69,651
<EPS-PRIMARY>
<EPS-DILUTED>
<FN>
<F1> Total deferred charges includes other assets.
<F2> Short-term notes includes commercial paper obligations and short-term debt to affiliates.
</FN>