<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000315256
<NAME>PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
<MULTIPLIER>1,000
       
                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                      DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                           SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                              PER-BOOK
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<COMMON>                                         1
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