<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000106170
<NAME>WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY
<MULTIPLIER>1,000

                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                 YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                 DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                      DEC-31-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                         PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                             402,037
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                           165,522
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 85,173
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                              600,872
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                              0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                      1,253,604
<COMMON>                                               26,812
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                             171,691
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                    38,712
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                        237,375
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  16,500
<PREFERRED>                                            20,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                  290,279
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                    132,400
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                   0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                              0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                               0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                               1,500
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                             8,106
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                       21,866
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                        525,738
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                       1,253,604
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                             414,231
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                    8,943
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                            353,641
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                            372,490
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                41,741
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                    (21,246)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                         30,401
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               27,514
<NET-INCOME>                                            2,887
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             3,298
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                            (411)
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                    0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                              24,255
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                  2,057
<EPS-BASIC>                                            0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                            0.00