<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
<BOOK-VALUE>                                         PER-BOOK
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<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                        236,591
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<PREFERRED>                                            20,000
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<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                     29,350
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<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                        442,651
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<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                  (16,168)
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<NET-INCOME>                                          (27,460)
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             3,140
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                         (30,600)
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                               15,004
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                              26,046
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                 27,660
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