WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE. <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 DEC-31-1996 DEC-31-1995 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1996 JUN-30-1995 JUN-30-1996 JUN-30-1995 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS 6-MOS QTR-2 QTR-2 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK PER-BOOK PER-BOOK PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 1,942,459 0 0 0 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 74,270 0 0 0 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 353,443 0 0 0 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 250,919 <F1> 0 0 0 <OTHER-ASSETS> 0 0 0 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,621,091 0 0 0 <COMMON> 128,998 0 0 0 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 374,820 0 0 0 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 386,242 0 0 0 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 890,060 0 0 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 0 0 <PREFERRED> 45,516 0 0 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 735,900 0 0 0 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 6,950 0 0 0 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 0 0 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 138,825 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> 803,840 0 0 0 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 2,621,091 0 0 0 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 775,461 769,295 375,001 378,177 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 42,039 35,397 16,488 16,125 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 638,517 660,355 318,885 328,598 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 680,556 695,752 335,373 344,723 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 94,905 73,543 39,628 33,454 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 1,226 6,745 1,878 5,306 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 96,131 80,288 41,506 38,760 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 28,390 21,617 14,738 11,071 <NET-INCOME> 67,741 58,671 26,768 27,689 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 1,536 1,717 678 859 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 66,205 56,954 26,090 26,830 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 64,822 61,274 35,797 30,637 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 22,809 23,002 11,104 11,764 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 108,046 58,016 23,510 (12,931) <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <F2> 0 <F2> 0 <F2> 0 <F2> <EPS-DILUTED> 0 <F2> 0 <F2> 0 <F2> 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>