<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000106170
<NAME>WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER>1,000
       
                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                 YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                      DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                           DEC-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                              PER-BOOK
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<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                         97,045
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<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                       21,000
<PREFERRED>                                 20,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                       334,742
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                          47,400
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                        0
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<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                  421,337
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                         4,927
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                 389,319
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                 395,314
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<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                           2,953
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>              30,044
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<NET-INCOME>                                 3,922
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                  5,305
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>               (1,383)
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<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                   24,094
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                      68,512
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