<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-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                         MAR-31-1999
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              3-MOS
<BOOK-VALUE>                                    PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                        467,244
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                       86,963
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                           292,529
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       1,435,354                 <F1>
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                         0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 2,282,090
<COMMON>                                              72,398
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                        232,853
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                              217,839
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                   523,163   <F3>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  0
<PREFERRED>                                        1,567
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                             371,767
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                     0
<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>                 1,385,593
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  2,282,090
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                        167,177
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                              13,100
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                       132,019
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                       145,119
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                           22,058
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 1,537
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                    23,595
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           3,250
<NET-INCOME>                                      20,345
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                           24
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                     20,321
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                               0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                          3,143
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                            18,407
<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.

<F3> Total common stockholders equity includes the unrealized gain on
     securities.
</FN>