<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000023426
<NAME> THE CONNECTICUT LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
<MULTIPLIER>1,000
       
                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                 3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                  DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                       MAR-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                          PER-BOOK
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<COMMON>                                               122,229
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<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                       1,297,490
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  155,000
<PREFERRED>                                            116,200
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                 1,816,657
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                     200,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                    0
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<LEASES-CURRENT>                                        12,370
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<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                 23,148
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                       4,102
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                          27,155
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                33,586
<NET-INCOME>                                            (6,431)
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                              3,805
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                          (10,236)
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                 5,989
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                    0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                 (27,570)
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