<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000315256
<NAME>PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
<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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<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                 24,642
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                     262,896
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                   734,445
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                   0
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<COMMON>                                         1
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<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>             597,750
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                      100,000
<PREFERRED>                                      0
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<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               0
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<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                871,707
<LEASES-CURRENT>                            42,910
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>             527,360
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>            2,851,212
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                1,110,169
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                        88,063
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                 874,634
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                 954,974
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<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                          10,150
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<NET-INCOME>                                96,902
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                 13,250
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>               83,652
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                    52,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                   57,557
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                     276,680
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                 0.00
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