<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000315256
<NAME>PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
<MULTIPLIER>1,000
       
                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                 YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                      DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                           DEC-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                              PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                1,670,670
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                 29,735
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                     328,735
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                   652,455
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                   0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           2,681,595
<COMMON>                                         1
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                  424,250
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                        252,912
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>             678,167
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                       50,000
<PREFERRED>                                      0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                       516,485
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                        0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                   0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                   25,000
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                703,411
<LEASES-CURRENT>                           138,812
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>             569,720
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>            2,681,595
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                1,087,247
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                        72,552
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                 890,969
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                 956,048
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                    131,199
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                          11,871
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>             135,597
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                    43,911
<NET-INCOME>                                91,686
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                  9,275
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>               82,411
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                   43,317
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                     216,642
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                 0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                 0.00