<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FORM 10-Q
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

<CIK> 0001035675
<NAME> NSTAR
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    2,673,169
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    375,052
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         976,402
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       925,781
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 479,864
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,430,268
<COMMON>                                        54,544
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      937,082
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            395,086
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,386,712
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           49,399
<PREFERRED>                                     43,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,864,875
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             416,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  139,231
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,531,051
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                5,430,268
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,295,456
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            49,087
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,090,013
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,139,100
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        156,356
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               7,870
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 164,226
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        94,199
<NET-INCOME>                                    70,027
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      2,980
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   67,047
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        55,487
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       78,984
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          94,680
<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.19
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.18