<ARTICLE>  UT
<MULTIPLIER>1,000
       
                                                                        
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                  DEC-31-1994   DEC-31-1993  DEC-31-1994   DEC-31-1993
<PERIOD-END>                       SEP-30-1994   SEP-30-1993  SEP-30-1994   SEP-30-1993
<PERIOD-TYPE>                            9-MOS         9-MOS        QTR-3         QTR-3
<BOOK-VALUE>                          PER-BOOK      PER-BOOK     PER-BOOK      PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>            1,851,661             0            0             0
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>             67,286             0            0             0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                 365,344             0            0             0
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        298,886 <F1>0           0             0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                               0             0            0             0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                       2,583,177             0            0             0
<COMMON>                               128,998             0            0             0
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>              374,829             0            0             0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                    383,299             0            0             0
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>         887,126             0            0             0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                        0             0            0             0
<PREFERRED>                             60,516             0            0             0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                   672,541             0            0             0
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               92,405 <F2>0           0             0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                    0             0            0             0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>               0             0            0             0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                0             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>         870,589             0            0             0
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>        2,583,177             0            0             0
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>            1,175,617     1,174,108      419,555       417,912
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                    83,596        78,633       33,158        34,262
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>             947,739       951,407      331,180       327,025
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>           1,031,335     1,030,040      364,338       361,287
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                144,282       144,068       55,217        56,625
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                       7,630         5,544        3,807         2,194
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>         151,912       149,612       59,024        58,819
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                26,723        35,506        9,206        11,747
<NET-INCOME>                           125,189       114,106       49,818        47,072
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>              2,582         4,017          858         1,221
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>          122,607       110,089       48,960        45,851
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                85,461        96,748       40,312        17,737
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>               28,111        35,010        9,620        11,500
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                 189,629       210,554       65,216        42,476
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         0 <F3>          0 <F3>          0 <F3>          0 <F3>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         0 <F3>          0 <F3>          0 <F3>          0 <F3>
<FN>
<F1> Total deferred charges includes other assets and accrued Yankee Atomic costs.
<F2> Short-term notes includes commercial paper obligations and short-term debt to affiliates.
<F3> Per share data is not relevant because the Company's common stock is wholly owned by New England Electric System.
</FN>