<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000023426
<NAME> THE CONNECTICUT LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
<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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<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                            459,758
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 601,233
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                             1,364,862
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                               0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                       6,196,822
<COMMON>                                               122,229
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                              640,915
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                    413,407
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                       1,176,551
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  151,250
<PREFERRED>                                            116,200
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                 2,020,874
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                     135,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                    0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                               0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                           25,615
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                3,750
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                            132,123
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                        25,422
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                       2,410,037
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                        6,196,822
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                            1,827,461
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                   (53,369)
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                           1,904,406
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                           1,853,452
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                (25,991)
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                       6,079
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                         (17,497)
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               103,100
<NET-INCOME>                                          (120,597)
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             11,416
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                         (132,013)
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                 5,990
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                    0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                  (3,363)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                             0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                             0.00