<ARTICLE>                         UT
  <LEGEND>                          THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
                                      FROM THE BALANCE SHEET AND RELATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME,
                                      RETAINED EARNINGS AND CASH FLOWS OF THE NARRAGANSETT ELECTRIC
                                      COMPANY, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
                                      FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
  <CIK>                             0000069659
  <NAME>                            The Narragansett Electric Company
  <MULTIPLIER>                      1,000
         
                                                                   
  <FISCAL-YEAR-END>                DEC-31-1996
  <PERIOD-END>                     DEC-31-1996
  <PERIOD-TYPE>                         12-MOS
  <BOOK-VALUE>                        PER-BOOK
  <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>            560,183
  <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                0
  <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                89,938
  <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>              56,881    <F1>
  <OTHER-ASSETS>                             0
  <TOTAL-ASSETS>                       707,002
  <COMMON>                                56,624
  <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>             80,170
  <RETAINED-EARNINGS>                  119,978
  <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>       256,772
  <PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                      0
  <PREFERRED>                           36,500
  <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                 178,517
  <SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                     5,300
  <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                  0
  <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>        13,725
  <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>         32,500
  <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                  0
  <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                0
  <LEASES-CURRENT>                           0
  <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>       183,688
  <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>        707,002
  <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>            503,585
  <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                  11,951
  <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>           448,123
  <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>           460,074
  <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>               43,511
  <OTHER-INCOME-NET>                      (732)
  <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>        42,779
  <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>              19,825
  <NET-INCOME>                          22,954
  <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>            2,143
  <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>         20,811
  <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>               9,060
  <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>             17,205
  <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                65,637
  <EPS-PRIMARY>                              0    <F2>
  <EPS-DILUTED>                              0    <F2>
  <FN>
  <F1>                              Total deferred charges includes other assets.
  <F2>                              Per share data is not relevant because the Company's common stock is
                                      wholly-owned by New England Electric System.
  </FN>