<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000072741
<NAME> NORTHEAST UTILITIES AND SUBSIDIARIES
<MULTIPLIER>1,000
       
                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                 3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    6,142,035
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    892,413
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,067,855
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     2,282,395
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              10,384,698
<COMMON>                                       685,603
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      939,674
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            579,213
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               2,068,680
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          166,039
<PREFERRED>                                    136,200
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         3,218,149
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             225,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  230,962
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       46,250
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     78,107
<LEASES-CURRENT>                               128,405
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               3,951,096
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               10,384,698
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,043,407
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            16,046
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     931,329
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     953,769
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         89,638
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              (2,575)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  93,457
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        69,072
<NET-INCOME>                                    24,385
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      5,941
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   18,444
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       67,459
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         309,969
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.14
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.14