<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>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      274,611
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      8,480
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          81,546
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       121,655
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 486,292
<COMMON>                                        10,374
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      121,893
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             63,583
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 194,613
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           148,855
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               8,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    1,673
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 133,151
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  486,292
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      167,758
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            15,432
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     122,697
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     138,129
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         29,629
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                  31
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  29,660
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         6,819
<NET-INCOME>                                    22,841
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   22,841
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         6,943
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        6,409
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          34,677
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.23
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.21