<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000106170
<NAME>WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY
<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>                             391,075
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                           160,498
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                100,119
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                              648,509
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                              0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                      1,300,201
<COMMON>                                               26,812
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                             171,626
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                    56,979
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                        255,577
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  16,500
<PREFERRED>                                            20,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                  290,559
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                     79,300
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                   0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                              0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                          60,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                               1,500
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                             9,816
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                       22,017
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                        545,092
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                       1,300,201
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                             314,291
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                   17,748
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                            247,287
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                            270,453
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                43,838
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                     (8,921)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                         40,335
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               19,932
<NET-INCOME>                                           20,403
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             2,570
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                          17,833
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                    0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                   0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                (18,046)
<EPS-BASIC>                                            0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                            0.00