<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000106170
<NAME>WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY
<MULTIPLIER>1,000
       
                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                 YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                 DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                      DEC-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                         PER-BOOK
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<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                     50,900
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<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                      (89)
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<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                       (206)
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<NET-INCOME>                                           (9,579)
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<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                         (12,605)
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