<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000072741
<NAME> NORTHEAST UTILITIES AND SUBSIDIARIES
<MULTIPLIER>1,000
       
                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    6,610,224
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    706,411
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         957,936
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     2,179,750
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              10,454,321
<COMMON>                                       683,711
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      935,294
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            753,452
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               2,209,681
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          249,500
<PREFERRED>                                    136,200
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         3,591,516
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             145,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  275,083
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       26,500
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    188,666
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                19,893
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               3,449,506
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               10,454,321
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,878,691
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             6,393
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,778,798
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,786,398
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         92,293
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              11,444
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 104,944
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       136,072
<NET-INCOME>                                   (31,128)
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     15,806
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  (46,934)
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        32,134
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         152,474
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (0.36)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.00