<ARTICLE>     UT
<LEGEND>      THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
              FROM THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND RELATED CONSOLIDATED
              STATEMENTS OF INCOME, RETAINED EARNINGS AND CASH FLOWS OF NEW
              ENGLAND ELECTRIC SYSTEM, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
              REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>  1,000
       
                                                              
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                           DEC-31-1995     DEC-31-1994
<PERIOD-END>                                MAR-31-1995     MAR-31-1994
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                     3-MOS           3-MOS
<BOOK-VALUE>                                   PER-BOOK        PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                     3,749,525               0
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     409,830               0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          487,131               0
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        422,016 <F1>          0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                        0               0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                5,068,502               0
<COMMON>                                         64,970               0
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       736,823               0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             789,350               0
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                1,591,143               0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                 0               0
<PREFERRED>                                     147,016 <F2>          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                          1,600,325               0
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              163,375 <F3>          0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                             0               0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                        0               0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    37,520               0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                             0               0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                           0               0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                      0               0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                1,529,123               0
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                 5,068,502               0
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       558,316         576,906
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             29,963          45,177
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      454,968         439,867
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      484,931         485,044
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          73,385          91,862
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                5,714           4,313
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   79,099          96,175
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         27,341          22,818
<NET-INCOME>                                     47,662          69,273
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       2,172 <F2>      2,180 <F2>
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    47,662          69,273
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         37,357          36,383
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        26,079          22,358
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          144,508         155,859
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      $.73           $1.07
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      $.73           $1.07
<FN>
<F1> Total deferred charges includes other assets and accrued Yankee Atomic
      costs.

<F2> Preferred stock reflects preferred stock of subsidiaries.  Preferred
     stock dividends reflect preferred stock dividends of subsidiaries.
<F3> Short-term notes includes commercial paper obligations.
</FN>