<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-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                         JUN-30-1997
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              6-MOS
<BOOK-VALUE>                            PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>              3,912,203
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>              372,721
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                   455,214
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                 403,566            <F1>
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                         5,143,704
<COMMON>                                                64,970
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                736,773
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                      904,825
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>         1,704,067            <F3>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                              126,166            <F2>
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                   1,484,542
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             0            
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>           170,825
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>            104,710
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                      0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                               0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>         1,553,394
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>          5,143,704
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>              1,215,771
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                      60,821
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>               993,405
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>             1,054,226
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                  161,545
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                           371
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>           161,916
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                  60,849
<NET-INCOME>                              94,052
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                3,666            <F2>
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>             94,052
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                  76,519
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                 54,281
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                   270,479
<EPS-PRIMARY>                              $1.45
<EPS-DILUTED>                              $1.45
<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 and unrealized
     gain on securities.
</FN>