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.
<MULTIPLIER>     1,000
       
                                                                          
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                    DEC-31-1996   DEC-31-1995  DEC-31-1996   DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                         JUN-30-1996   JUN-30-1995  JUN-30-1996   JUN-30-1995
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              QTR-2         QTR-2        QTR-2         QTR-2
<BOOK-VALUE>                            PER-BOOK      PER-BOOK     PER-BOOK      PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>              3,889,104             0            0             0
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>              384,926             0            0             0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                   483,007             0            0             0
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                 389,639            <F1>          0             0            0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 0                          0             0            0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                         5,146,676                          0             0            0
<COMMON>                                                64,970                          0            0    0
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                736,814                          0             0            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                      850,939                          0             0            0
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>         1,650,222            <F3>          0             0            0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0                          0             0            0
<PREFERRED>                              132,016            <F2>          0             0            0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                   1,609,179                          0             0            0
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             0                          0             0            0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      0                          0             0            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>           195,902                          0             0            0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>             52,585                          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>         1,506,772                          0             0            0
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>          5,146,676                          0             0            0
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>              1,137,330                  1,091,863       551,110      533,547
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                      61,883                     50,742        22,705       20,779
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>               911,359                    907,855       459,272      452,887
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>               973,242                    958,597       481,977      473,666
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                  164,088                    133,266        69,133       59,881
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                         4,996                     11,203         2,863        5,489
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>           169,084                    144,469        71,996       65,370
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                  64,737                     54,899        33,134       27,558
<NET-INCOME>                              96,497                     81,193        35,001       33,531
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                4,165            <F2>      4,345            <F2>     1,993   <F2>   2,173   <F2>
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>             96,497                     81,193                    35,001         33,531
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                  76,637                     75,689                    38,332         38,332
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                 55,122                     53,144                    27,278         27,065
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                   274,505                    205,660                   100,048         61,152
<EPS-PRIMARY>                              $1.49                      $1.25            $.54           $.52
<EPS-DILUTED>                              $1.49                      $1.25            $.54           $.52
<FN>
<F1> Total deferred charges includes other assets.
<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>