<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000072741
<NAME> NORTHEAST UTILITIES AND SUBSIDIARIES
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<PERIOD-TYPE>                 3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    4,301,035
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    908,455
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,377,839
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     4,153,679
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              10,741,008
<COMMON>                                       742,731
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    1,102,278
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            642,092
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               2,363,999
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          119,789
<PREFERRED>                                    136,200
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         2,443,989
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             984,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  299,873
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       46,250
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     53,126
<LEASES-CURRENT>                               115,285
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               4,055,395
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               10,741,008
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,382,321
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            54,589
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,184,487
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,246,912
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        135,409
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               2,348
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 145,593
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        66,248
<NET-INCOME>                                    79,345
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      4,758
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   74,587
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        14,312
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         114,106
<EPS-BASIC>                                     0.55
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.55