<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000072741
<NAME> NORTHEAST UTILITIES AND SUBSIDIARIES
<MULTIPLIER>1,000
       
                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                 3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    6,672,859
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    659,054
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,107,231
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     2,230,362
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              10,669,506
<COMMON>                                       680,260
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      935,784
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            817,890
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               2,266,065
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          274,500
<PREFERRED>                                    136,200
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         3,574,119
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             226,250
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  315,338
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       26,500
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    189,128
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                19,832
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               3,473,705
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               10,669,506
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      975,368
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            27,317
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     862,391
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     889,239
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         86,129
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               7,508
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  93,168
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        67,760
<NET-INCOME>                                    25,408
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      7,903
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   17,505
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        32,135
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          47,168
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.14
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.00