<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000023426
<NAME> THE CONNECTICUT LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
<MULTIPLIER>1,000
       
                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                 3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                  DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                       MAR-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                          PER-BOOK
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<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                            526,435
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 377,413
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<OTHER-ASSETS>                                               0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                       5,834,308
<COMMON>                                               122,229
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                              643,728
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                    359,492
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                       1,125,449
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  129,072
<PREFERRED>                                            116,200
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                 1,885,764
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                      20,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                    0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                               0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                          140,005
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                3,750
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                             17,915
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                       141,526
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                       2,254,627
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                        5,834,308
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                              608,961
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                    (8,633)
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                             599,438
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                             594,137
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                 14,824
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                      (6,800)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                          11,356
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                33,772
<NET-INCOME>                                           (22,416)
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                              3,915
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                          (26,331)
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                     0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                    0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                 176,307
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                             0.00
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