<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 NEW ENGLAND POWER COMPANY, AND IS
                                      QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
                                      STATEMENTS.
<MULTIPLIER>                          1,000
       
                                                                                
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                    DEC-31-1996   DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                         MAR-31-1996   MAR-31-1995
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              3-MOS         3-MOS
<BOOK-VALUE>                            PER-BOOK      PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>              1,948,337             0
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>               73,931             0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                   344,467             0
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                         262,822   <F1>                   0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                         0                          0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 2,629,557                          0
<COMMON>                                           128,998                        0
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                        374,829                          0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                              396,399                          0
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                   900,226                          0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  0                          0
<PREFERRED>                                       60,516                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                             732,846                          0
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               134,675   <F2>                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                              0                          0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                         0                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                      3,000                          0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                              0                          0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                            0                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                       0                          0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                   798,294                          0
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  2,629,557                          0
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                        400,460                    391,118
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                              25,551                     19,272
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                       319,632                    331,757
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                       345,183                    351,029
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                           55,277                     40,089
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                  (652)                     1,439
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                    54,625                     41,528
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          13,652                     10,546
<NET-INCOME>                                      40,973                     30,982
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          858                        858
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                     40,115                     30,124
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          29,025                     30,637
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                         11,705                     11,238
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                            84,536                     70,947
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                          0   <F3>                   0   <F3>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                          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 notes payable
     to associated companies.
<F3> Per share data is not relevant because the Company's common stock is
     wholly-owned by New England Electric System.
</FN>