<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000106170
<NAME>WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY
<MULTIPLIER>1,000
       
                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                 YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                 DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                      DEC-31-1997
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<NET-INCOME>                                          (28,676)
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<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                         (31,816)
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