<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-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                         MAR-31-1997
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              3-MOS
<BOOK-VALUE>                            PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>              1,905,405
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>               79,435
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                   358,917
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                 315,763                 <F1>
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                         2,659,520
<COMMON>                                   128,998
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                376,597
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                      409,011
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>           914,606
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                               39,666
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                     647,560
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                         4,475
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>            93,750
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>             53,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                      0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                               0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>           906,463
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>          2,659,520
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                438,048
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                      24,194
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>               363,202
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>               387,396
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                   50,652
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                          (594)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>            50,058
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                  12,113
<NET-INCOME>                              37,945
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                  519
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>             37,426
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                  29,025
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                 10,832
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                    75,370
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0                 <F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0                 <F2>
<FN>
<F1>                                  Total deferred charges includes other assets and accrued Yankee Atomic
                                      costs.
<F2>                                  Per share data is not relevant because the Company's common stock is
                                      wholly-owned by New England Electric System.
</FN>