<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000023426
<NAME> THE CONNECTICUT LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
<MULTIPLIER>1,000
       
                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                  DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                       JUN-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                          PER-BOOK
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<COMMON>                                               122,229
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<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                       1,230,014
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  155,000
<PREFERRED>                                            116,200
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                 2,018,462
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                     100,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                    0
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<LEASES-CURRENT>                                        12,407
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<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                   (29,220)
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<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                (10,439)
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                       6,605
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                          (3,420)
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<NET-INCOME>                                           (70,520)
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<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                          (78,131)
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                 5,989
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                    0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                 (26,020)
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