<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>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      273,479
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      7,379
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          73,053
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       122,286
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 476,197
<COMMON>                                        10,348
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      121,855
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             50,306
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 180,549
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           150,007
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              29,800
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    1,321
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 114,520
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  476,197
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       61,594
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             3,515
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      48,783
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      52,298
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          9,296
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 168
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   9,464
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         3,369
<NET-INCOME>                                     6,095
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    6,095
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         3,474
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        3,213
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                             716
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.60
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.59