<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000023426
<NAME> THE CONNECTICUT LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
<MULTIPLIER>1,000
       
                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                 3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                  DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                       MAR-31-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                          PER-BOOK
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<COMMON>                                               122,229
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<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                         980,378
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                   99,539
<PREFERRED>                                            116,200
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                 1,796,166
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                     165,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                    0
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<LEASES-CURRENT>                                       100,520
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<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                 20,412
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                      (2,267)
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<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                36,078
<NET-INCOME>                                           (13,705)
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                              3,225
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                          (16,930)
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                     0
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