<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000023426
<NAME> THE CONNECTICUT LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
<MULTIPLIER>1,000
       
                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                  DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                       JUN-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                          PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                            3,654,828
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                            538,238
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 334,312
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                             1,184,205
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                               0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                       5,711,583
<COMMON>                                               122,229
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                              664,129
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                    355,312
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                       1,141,670
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  129,072
<PREFERRED>                                            116,200
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                 1,863,193
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                      10,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                    0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                               0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                          140,005
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                3,750
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                            124,327
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                        38,433
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                       2,144,933
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                        5,711,583
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                            1,170,185
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                   (29,742)
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                           1,173,717
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                           1,152,858
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                 17,327
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                     (14,714)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                          11,496
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                68,836
<NET-INCOME>                                           (57,340)
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                              7,320
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                          (64,660)
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                     0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                    0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                 275,534
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                             0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                             0.00