CUSIP NO. 644001109         13G





                              UNITED STATES
                  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549


                              SCHEDULE 13G

                Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                            (Amendment No. 1)


                      New England Electric System
                            (Name of Issuer)

                                Common
                     (Title of Class of Securities)

                               644001109
                             (CUSIP Number)



*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a
reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the
subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment
containing information which would alter the disclosures provided
in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall
not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the
liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all
other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

1.    NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
      S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

      Franklin Resources, Inc.
      13-2670991

2.    CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

            (a)
            (b)   X

3.    SEC USE ONLY

4.    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

      Delaware

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:


      5.    SOLE VOTING POWER

            (See Item 4)

      6.    SHARED VOTING POWER

            (See Item 4)

      7.    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

            (See Item 4)

      8.    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

            (See Item 4)

9.    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

      4,597,938

10.   CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES
      CERTAIN SHARES [ ]


11.   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

      7.1%

12.   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

      HC  (See Item 4)

1.    NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
      S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

      Charles B. Johnson
      ###-##-####

2.    CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

            (a)
            (b)   X

3.    SEC USE ONLY

4.    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

      USA

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:


      5.    SOLE VOTING POWER

            (See Item 4)

      6.    SHARED VOTING POWER

            (See Item 4)

      7.    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

            (See Item 4)

      8.    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

            (See Item 4)

9.    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

      4,597,938

10.   CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES
      CERTAIN SHARES [ ]


11.   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

      7.1%

12.   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

      HC  (See Item 4)


1.    NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
      S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

      Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.
      ###-##-####

2.    CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

            (a)
            (b)   X

3.    SEC USE ONLY

4.    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

      USA

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:

      5.    SOLE VOTING POWER

            (See Item 4)

      6.    SHARED VOTING POWER

            (See Item 4)

      7.    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

            (See Item 4)

      8.    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

            (See Item 4)

9.    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

      4,597,938

10.   CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES
      CERTAIN SHARES [ ]


11.   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

      7.1%

12.   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

      HC  (See Item 4)


1.    NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
      S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

      Franklin Advisers, Inc.
      94-2990534

2.    CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

            (a)
            (b)   X

3.    SEC USE ONLY

4.    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

      California

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:


      5.    SOLE VOTING POWER

            4,513,400  (See Item 4)

      6.    SHARED VOTING POWER


      7.    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

            4,513,400  (See Item 4)

      8.    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER


9.    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

      4,513,400

10.   CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES
      CERTAIN SHARES [ ]


11.   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

      7.0%

12.   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

      IA
Item 1.
(a)  Name of Issuer:

     New England Electric System

(b)  Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:

     25 Research Drive
     Westborough, MA  01582

Item 2.
(a)  Name of Person Filing:

     (i)    Franklin Resources, Inc.
     (ii)   Charles B. Johnson
     (iii)  Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.
     (iv)   Franklin Advisers, Inc.


(b)  Address of Principal Business Office:

     (i), (ii), (iii)and (iv):
     777 Mariners Island Blvd.
     San Mateo, CA 94404


(c)  Place of Organization or Citizenship:

     (i): Delaware
     (ii) and (iii): USA
     (iv): California

(d)  Title of Class of Securities:

     Common

(e)  CUSIP Number:

     644001109


Item 3.  The persons filing this Schedule 13G are:

         (i)  Franklin Resources, Inc.
              (g)  Parent Holding Company
         (ii) Charles B. Johnson
              (g)  Principal Shareholder of Parent Holding Company
         (iii)Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.
              (g)  Principal Shareholder of Parent Holding Company
         (iv) Franklin Advisers, Inc.
              (e)  Investment Adviser


Item 4.  Ownership

The securities reported on herein are beneficially owned by one or
more open or closed-end investment companies or other managed
accounts which are advised by direct and indirect investment
advisory subsidiaries (the "Adviser Subsidiaries") of Franklin
Resources, Inc. ("FRI"). Such advisory contracts grant to such
Adviser Subsidiaries all voting and investment power over the
securities owned by such advisory clients.  Therefore, such Adviser
Subsidiaries may be deemed to be, for purposes of Rule 13d-3 under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the beneficial owner of the
securities covered by this statement.

Charles B. Johnson and Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. (the "Principal
Shareholders") each own in excess of 10% of the outstanding Common
Stock of FRI and are the principal shareholders of FRI.  FRI and
the Principal Shareholders may be deemed to be, for purposes of
Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act, the beneficial owner of securities
held by persons and entities advised by FRI or its subsidiaries.
FRI, the Principal Shareholders and each of the Adviser
Subsidiaries disclaim any economic interest or beneficial ownership
in any of the securities covered by this Statement.

FRI, the Principal Shareholders, and each of the Adviser
Subsidiaries are of the view that they are not acting as a "group"
for purposes of Section 13(d) under the 1934 Act and that they are
not otherwise required to attribute to each other the "beneficial
ownership" of securities held by any of them or by any persons or
entities advised by FRI or its subsidiaries.


   (a) Amount Beneficially Owned:

       4,597,938

   (b) Percent of Class:

       7.1%

   (c) Number of Shares as to which such person has:

     (i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote

         Franklin Resources, Inc.:                  0
         Charles B. Johnson:                        0
         Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.:                    0
         Franklin Advisers, Inc:                    4,513,400
         Franklin Management, Inc.:                 84,538

    (ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote

   (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of

         Franklin Resources, Inc.:                  0
         Charles B. Johnson:                        0
         Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.:                    0
         Franklin Advisory Services, Inc.:          4,513,400
         Franklin Management, Inc.:                 84,538

    (iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of

Item 5.  Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class
       If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as
       of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be
       the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class
       of securities, check the following [ ].

         Not Applicable

Item 6.  Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another
Person
       
       The clients of the Adviser Subsidiaries have the right to
       receive dividends and proceeds of the sale of the
       securities reported on in this statement.  One or more
       other series of investment companies registered with the
       SEC or other managed accounts have the right to receive
       dividends from and the proceeds from the sale of such
       securities.

Item 7.  Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which
       Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent
       Holding Company

         Franklin Advisers, Inc.                      3(e)
         Franklin Management, Inc.                    3(e)

Item 8.  Identification and Classification of Members of the Group

         Not Applicable

Item 9.  Notice of Dissolution of Group

         Not Applicable

Item 10. Certification

By signing below, we certify that, to the best of our knowledge and
belief, the securities referred to above were acquired in the
ordinary course of business and were not acquired for the purpose
of and do not have the effect of changing or influencing the
control of the issuer of such securities and were not acquired in
connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such
purposes or effect.

This report shall not be construed as an admission by the persons
filing the report that they are the beneficial owner of any
securities covered by this report.

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of our knowledge and
belief, we certify that the information set forth in this statement
is true, complete and correct.

February 12, 1997

                                   S\CHARLES B. JOHNSON
S\DEBORAH R. GATZEK                S\DEBORAH R. GATZEK



Deborah R. Gatzek                  By: Deborah R. Gatzek
Franklin Resources, Inc.           Attorney in Fact pursuant to
Senior Vice President              Power of Attorney for
& Assistant Secretary              Charles B. Johnson
                                   as attached to this Schedule 13G


S\RUPERT H. JOHNSON, JR.
S\DEBORAH R. GATZEK



By: Deborah R. Gatzek
Attorney in Fact pursuant to
Power of Attorney for Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.
as attached to this Schedule 13G


S\DEBORAH R. GATZEK



Deborah R. Gatzek
Franklin Advisers, Inc.
Vice President
& Assistant Secretary

POWER OF ATTORNEY

CHARLES B. JOHNSON hereby appoints DEBORAH R. GATZEK his true and
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent to execute and file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission any Schedule 13G, any amendments
thereto or any related documentation which may be required to be
filed in his individual capacity as a result of his position as an
officer, director or shareholder of Franklin Resources, Inc. and,
granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing which he
might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorney-in-fact and agent, may lawfully do or cause to
be done by virtue hereof.

S\CHARLES B. JOHNSON


POWER OF ATTORNEY

RUPERT H. JOHNSON, JR. hereby appoints DEBORAH R. GATZEK his true
and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent to execute and file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission any Schedule 13G, any amendments
thereto or any related documentation which may be required to be
filed in his individual capacity as a result of his position as an
officer, director or shareholder of Franklin Resources, Inc. and,
granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing which he
might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorney-in-fact and agent, may lawfully do or cause to
be done by virtue hereof.

S\RUPERT H. JOHNSON, JR.

JOINT FILING AGREEMENT

In accordance with Rule 13d-1 (f)(1) under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, the undersigned hereby agrees to the joint
filing with each other of the attached statement on Schedule 13G
and to all amendments to such statement and that such statement and
all amendments to such statement is made on behalf of each of them.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned hereby execute this agreement
on
February 12, 1997.

                                   S\CHARLES B. JOHNSON
S\DEBORAH R. GATZEK                S\DEBORAH R. GATZEK



Deborah R. Gatzek                  By: Deborah R. Gatzek
Franklin Resources, Inc.           Attorney in Fact pursuant to
Senior Vice President              Power of Attorney for
& Assistant Secretary              Charles B. Johnson
                                   as attached to this Schedule 13G


S\RUPERT H. JOHNSON, JR.
S\DEBORAH R. GATZEK



By: Deborah R. Gatzek
Attorney in Fact pursuant to
Power of Attorney for Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.
as attached to this Schedule 13G


S\DEBORAH R. GATZEK



Deborah R. Gatzek
Franklin Advisers, Inc.
Vice President
& Assistant Secretary