<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000072741
<NAME> NORTHEAST UTILITIES AND SUBSIDIARIES
<MULTIPLIER>1,000

                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    4,041,548
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    867,294
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,176,682
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     4,179,422
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              10,264,946
<COMMON>                                       686,188
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      940,405
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            597,505
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               2,094,436
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          137,289
<PREFERRED>                                    136,200
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         2,946,588
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             251,100
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  363,543
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       46,250
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     71,268
<LEASES-CURRENT>                               120,128
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               3,968,482
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               10,264,946
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    3,322,515
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            72,961
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   2,953,885
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   3,065,841
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        256,674
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             (29,888)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 265,781
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       198,346
<NET-INCOME>                                    67,435
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     17,545
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   49,890
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        13,157
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         610,136
<EPS-BASIC>                                     0.38
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.38