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>