<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME, BALANCE SHEETS AND STATEMENTS OF CASH
FLOWS OF CONNECTICUT ENERGY CORPORATION AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      274,092
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      4,383
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          60,241
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       104,893
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 443,609
<COMMON>                                        10,268
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      119,454
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             52,513
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 180,820
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           134,073
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              15,183
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                      454
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 113,079
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  443,609
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      215,282
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            12,604
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     172,714
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     185,318
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         29,964
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 259
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  30,223
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         9,826
<NET-INCOME>                                    20,397
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   20,397
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        10,181
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        9,091
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          22,305
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.04
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.03