<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000315256
<NAME>PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
<MULTIPLIER>1,000
       
                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                      DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                           SEP-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                              PER-BOOK
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<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                   484,836
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                   0
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<COMMON>                                         1
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<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                        164,278
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>             587,164
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                      100,000
<PREFERRED>                                      0
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<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               0
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<LEASES-CURRENT>                            39,882
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<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>            2,837,870
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                  828,156
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                        72,956
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                 629,486
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<NET-INCOME>                                83,177
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                  9,938
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>               73,239
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                    52,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                     247,917
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                 0.00
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