<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE
SHEET STATEMENT OF INCOME, STATEMENT OF RETAINED EARNINGS AND STATEMENT OF CASH
FLOWS CONTAINED IN FORM 10-K OF CAMBRIDGE ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY FOR FISCAL YEAR
ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                       97,019
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      9,864
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          38,257
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        66,036
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  80,601
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 291,777
<COMMON>                                         8,665
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       92,395
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                880
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 101,940
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                            27,201
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                      100
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 162,536
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  291,777
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      111,769
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             (795)
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     108,121
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     107,326
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          4,443
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,207
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   5,650
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         6,095
<NET-INCOME>                                     (445)
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    (445)
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         9,532
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                          912
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                           (100)
<EPS-BASIC>                                          0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0