<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000023426
<NAME> THE CONNECTICUT LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
<MULTIPLIER>1,000
       
                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                 YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                    DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                         DEC-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                            PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                              3,737,113
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                              493,848
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   519,799
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                               1,330,463
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                         6,081,223
<COMMON>                                                 122,229
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                641,333
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                      385,823
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                         1,149,385
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    151,250
<PREFERRED>                                              116,200
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                   2,023,316
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                        96,300
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                 0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                             20,011
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                  3,750
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                               18,042
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                         140,076
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                         2,362,893
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                          6,081,223
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                              2,465,587
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                     (70,429)
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                             2,540,842
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                             2,477,986
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                  (12,399)
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                        (5,484)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                           (10,310)
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 134,067
<NET-INCOME>                                            (144,377)
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                               15,221
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                           (159,598)
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                   5,989
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                132,127
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                    72,793
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                               0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                               0.00