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

  


<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     DEC-31-1995     DEC-31-1994
<PERIOD-END>                                JUN-30-1995     JUN-30-1994     JUN-30-1995     JUN-30-1994
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                     6-MOS           6-MOS           QTR-2           QTR-2
<BOOK-VALUE>                                   PER-BOOK        PER-BOOK        PER-BOOK        PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                     3,808,158               0               0               0
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     397,066               0               0               0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          494,973               0               0               0
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        422,020  <F1>         0               0               0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                        0               0               0               0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                5,122,217               0               0               0
<COMMON>                                         64,970               0               0               0
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       736,823               0               0               0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             784,549               0               0               0
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                1,584,852               0               0               0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                 0               0               0               0
<PREFERRED>                                     147,016  <F2>         0               0               0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                          1,630,248               0               0               0
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              226,180  <F3>         0               0               0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                             0               0               0               0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                        0               0               0               0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    32,520               0               0               0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                             0               0               0               0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                           0               0               0               0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                      0               0               0               0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                1,499,911               0               0               0
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                 5,122,217               0               0               0
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                     1,091,863       1,093,984         533,547         517,078
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             50,742          67,955          20,779          22,778
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      907,855         876,451         452,887         436,584
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      958,597         944,406         473,666         459,362
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         133,266         149,578          59,881          57,716
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               11,203  <F2>     8,428           5,489           4,115
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  144,469         158,006          65,370          61,831
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         54,899          46,998          27,558          24,180
<NET-INCOME>                                     81,193         102,857          33,531          33,584
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       4,345  <F2>     4,353  <F2>     2,173  <F2>     2,173  <F2>
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    81,193         102,857          33,531          33,584
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         75,689          73,740          38,332          37,357
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        53,144          45,233          27,065          22,875
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          205,660         268,564          61,152         112,705

<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     $1.25           $1.58            $.52            $.51
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     $1.25           $1.58            $.52            $.51
<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>