SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                               ------------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


Date of report (Date of earliest event reported)  December 17, 1999


                         Connecticut Energy Corporation
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)


      Connecticut                          1-8369            06-0869582
     (State or Other Jurisdiction         (Commission       (IRS Employer
      of Incorporation)                    File Number)      Identification No.)


      855 Main Street, Bridgeport, Connecticut               06604
     (Address of Principal Executive Offices)               (Zip Code)


      Registrant's telephone number, including area code  (800) 760-7776


                                       None
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)



         Connecticut   Energy   Corporation  and  its   subsidiaries  and  their
representatives  may,  from  time to  time,  make  written  or oral  statements,
including  statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission and in its annual report to shareholders, including its Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1999,  which  constitute or contain
"forward-looking"  information as that term is defined in the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

         All statements other than the financial statements and other statements
of historical facts included in this Form 8-K regarding the Company's  financial
position and strategic  initiatives  and addressing  industry  developments  are
forward-looking  statements.   Where,  in  any  forward-looking  statement,  the
Company,  or its  management,  expresses an  expectation  or belief as to future
results,  such  expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to
have a reasonable  basis,  but there can be no assurance  that the  statement of
expectation or belief will result or be achieved or accomplished.  Factors which
could  cause  actual  results  to differ  materially  from  those  stated in the
forward-looking  statements  may  include,  but are not limited to,  general and
specific  economic,  financial  and  business  conditions;   federal  and  state
regulatory,  legislative and judicial  developments  which affect the Company or
significant groups of its customers;  the impact of competition on the Company's
revenues; fluctuations in weather from normal levels; changes in development and
operating  costs; the availability and cost of natural gas; the availability and
terms of capital; exposure to environmental  liabilities;  the costs and effects
of  unanticipated   legal   proceedings;   the  successful   implementation  and
achievement of internal performance goals; the impact of unusual items resulting
from ongoing evaluations of business  strategies  and asset valuations;  changes
in  business  strategy;  and estimates of future costs or the  effect on  future
operations  as  a  result of events that could result from the Year 2000  issue.

Item 5.  Other Events

A.   On December 17, 1999,  Connecticut  Energy Corporation issued the following
     press release:

              CONNECTICUT ENERGY RECEIVES MERGER APPROVAL FROM DPUC


         BRIDGEPORT, CT, December 17, 1999--The Connecticut Department of Public
Utility Control (DPUC) has approved the merger of Connecticut Energy Corporation
(CNE-NYSE) and Energy East Corporation (NEG-NYSE).

         In September,  Connecticut Energy shareholders  overwhelmingly voted in
favor of the merger.  In order to complete the  transaction,  the companies also
need Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approval.  Energy East applied for
this in August and expects to receive SEC approval in January.  The  transaction
will be closed soon after.

         The transaction is valued at $617 million,  including the assumption of
debt. At closing,  Connecticut  Energy  shareholders will receive $42 per share,
fifty percent payable in stock and fifty percent in cash. Shareholders are being
mailed  an  election  form and will be able to  specify  the  percentage  of the
consideration  they wish to receive in stock and in cash,  subject to proration.

         This transaction, which is expected to be completed in late January, is
the first of Energy  East's  acquisitions.  In addition  to its current  utility
operations  through New York State  Electric and Gas (NYSEG),  and other related
nonutility  operations,  mergers are  underway  with CMP Group  (CTP:NYSE),  CTG
Resources (CTG:  NYSE) and Berkshire  Energy  Resources  (BERK:Nasdaq).  For the
three other pending mergers,  approvals are needed from the  Connecticut,  Maine
and Massachusetts utility regulators. The SEC also needs to accept Energy East's
application to become a registered holding company.  The company has stated that
it anticipates all transactions will be completed in the second quarter of 2000.

         Through  the  Southern  Connecticut  Gas  Company,  Connecticut  Energy
distributes  natural gas to  approximately  158,000  customers in 22 Connecticut
communities.  Through its  subsidiary,  CNE Energy  Services  Group,  Inc.,  the
Company also provides an array of energy  commodities and services to commercial
and industrial  customers  throughout New England.  CNE Development  Corporation
participates  in a natural  gas  purchasing  cooperative,  and CNE  Venture-Tech
invests in ventures that offer technologically  advanced energy-related products
and operates a service bureau.  Further  information on the Company is available
at www.ConnEnergy.com.

         Energy East Corporation [NYSE: NEG] is a super-regional energy services
and  delivery  company in the  Northeast.  Energy East is a leader in  promoting
competition  and is committed to profitably  growing its energy  infrastructure.
Upon completion of its mergers with Connecticut Energy  Corporation,  CMP Group,
CTG Resources and Berkshire  Energy Resources - and including its current energy
delivery  subsidiary,  NYSEG - Energy  East will serve  approximately  2 million
customers (1.4 million  electricity and 600,000 natural gas) in upstate New York
and New England. Energy East's home page on the Internet is www.engyeast.com.

         This  press  release  contains  forward-looking  statements  about  the
companies.  While the company  believes such  statements to be reasonable at the
date of this press  release  and makes them in good  faith,  Connecticut  Energy
cautions that they may vary from actual  results.  Investors  should be aware of
important  factors that could have a material impact on future results,  such as
the availability and terms of capital;  competition for energy services; actions
by  federal  and  state   regulatory   authorities;   legislative  and  judicial
developments  which affect the company or  significant  groups of its customers;
and other uncertainties.



                                   SIGNATURES


         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                        CONNECTICUT ENERGY CORPORATION
                                                  (Registrant)



Date:  December 27, 1999         By:            /s/ Carol A. Forest
       -----------------              -----------------------------------------
                                                    Carol A. Forest
                                      Vice President, Finance, Chief Financial
                                      Officer, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary