Exhibit 99.1

                          CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                           18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
                           AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Western Massachusetts Electric
Company (the registrant) on Form 10-Q for the period ending March 31, 2003 as
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Report), we, Cheryl W.
Grise, Chief Executive Officer of the registrant, and John H. Forsgren,
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the registrant,
certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Sec. 906 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

1)    The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

2)   The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material
respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the registrant.

/s/ Cheryl W. Grise
    (Signature)
    Cheryl W. Grise
    Chief Executive Officer

/s/ John H. Forsgren
    (Signature)
    John H. Forsgren
    Executive Vice President and
    Chief Financial Officer

May 9, 2003


A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been
provided to the registrant and will be retained by the registrant and
furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.