<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000072741
<NAME> NORTHEAST UTILITIES
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   QTR-3
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1994
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1994
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    6,590,824
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    382,873
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         769,477
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     2,771,318
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              10,514,492
<COMMON>                                       671,051
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      903,788
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            937,198
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               2,294,833
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          379,000
<PREFERRED>                                    239,700
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         3,833,878
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             146,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  39,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  337,309
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                        1,500
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    164,289
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                77,285
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               2,784,494
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               10,514,492
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    2,744,509
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           216,960
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   2,098,457
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   2,325,380
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        419,129
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              34,124
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 463,216
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       208,825
<NET-INCOME>                                   254,391
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     32,329
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  222,062
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       164,382
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         674,121
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.78
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.00