<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> SEP-30-1997 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 1,896,786 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 81,175 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 355,370 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 464,623 <F1> <OTHER-ASSETS> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,797,954 <COMMON> 128,998 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 376,597 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 408,559 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 914,183 <F3> <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 39,666 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 647,666 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 1,475 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 96,475 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 53,000 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LEASES-CURRENT> 0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 1,045,489 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 2,797,954 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 1,277,871 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 68,468 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 1,064,188 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 1,132,656 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 145,215 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 101 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 145,316 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 35,837 <NET-INCOME> 109,479 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 1,556 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 107,923 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 99,974 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 31,599 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 173,833 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <F2> <EPS-DILUTED> 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. <F3> Total common stockholders equity is reflected net of unrealized gain on securities. </FN>