<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
<PERIOD-END>                                 SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                      9-MOS
<BOOK-VALUE>                                    PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      1,926,112
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                       74,920
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                           392,532
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                         234,417   <F1>
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                         0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 2,627,981
<COMMON>                                         128,998
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                        376,597
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                              396,358
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                   901,953
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  0
<PREFERRED>                                       39,666
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                             735,953
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               124,375   <F2>
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                              0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                         0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                          0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                              0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                            0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                       0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                   826,034
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  2,627,981
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      1,206,881
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                              75,242
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                       972,952
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     1,048,194
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          158,687
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 3,394
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   162,081
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          41,781
<NET-INCOME>                                     120,300
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        2,055
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    118,245
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         106,746
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                         33,855
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                           183,322
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                          0   <F3>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                          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>