<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000023426
<NAME> THE CONNECTICUT LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
<MULTIPLIER>1,000
       
                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                 YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                  DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                       DEC-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                          PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                            3,847,140
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                            370,450
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 626,349
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                             1,400,097
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                               0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                       6,244,036
<COMMON>                                               122,229
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                              639,657
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                    551,410
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                       1,313,296
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  155,000
<PREFERRED>                                            116,200
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                 1,834,405
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                           0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                    0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                               0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                          204,116
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                    0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                            143,347
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                        12,361
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                       2,465,311
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                        6,244,036
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                            2,397,460
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                   (20,334)
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                           2,387,861
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                           2,367,687
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                 29,773
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                      18,029
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                          47,962
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               128,199
<NET-INCOME>                                           (80,237)
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             15,221
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                          (95,458)
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                               138,608
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                              127,198
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                 300,181
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                             0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                             0.00