<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>