<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.
<CIK>       0000071297
<NAME>      New England Electric System
<MULTIPLIER>     1,000
       
                                                     
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                    DEC-31-1995   DEC-31-1994
<PERIOD-END>                         DEC-31-1995   DEC-31-1994
<PERIOD-TYPE>                             12-MOS        12-MOS
<BOOK-VALUE>                            PER-BOOK      PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>              3,855,902     3,716,721
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>              408,820       423,713
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                   508,794       525,723
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        417,360 <F1>    418,684 <F1>
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 0             0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                         5,190,876     5,084,841
<COMMON>                                                64,970       64,970
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                736,823       736,823
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                      831,529       779,045
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                1,631,779 <F3>      1,580,838
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0             0
<PREFERRED>                                     147,016 <F2>    147,016 <F2>
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                   1,675,170     1,520,488
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             0             0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      0             0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>           203,250       233,970
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>             23,960        65,920
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                      0             0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    0             0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                               0             0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>         1,509,701     1,536,609
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>          5,190,876     5,084,841
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>              2,271,712     2,243,029
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                     128,340       128,257
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>             1,819,944     1,818,276
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>             1,948,284     1,946,533
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                  323,428       296,496
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                        12,098        16,071
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>           335,526       312,567
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                 114,175        97,005
<NET-INCOME>                             204,757       199,426
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       8,690 <F2>      8,697 <F2>
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>            204,757       199,426
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                 152,273       148,456
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                108,365        93,500
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                   469,853       417,966


<EPS-PRIMARY>                                 $3.15         $3.07
<EPS-DILUTED>                                 $3.15         $3.07
<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> Total common stockholders equity is reflected net of treasury stock at cost.
</FN>