WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

 




<ARTICLE>  UT
<LEGEND>   THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE
           SHEET AND RELATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME, RETAINED EARNINGS AND CASH FLOWS OF NEW
           ENGLAND POWER COMPANY, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
           FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.


<NUMBER>   3
<CIK>      0000071337
<NAME>     NEW ENGLAND POWER COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER>                                  1,000

                                          
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                    MAR-31-2001
<PERIOD-END>                         SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              6-MOS
<BOOK-VALUE>                            PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                641,928
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>              110,957
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                   349,139
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>               1,981,186            
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                         3,083,210
<COMMON>                                                72,398
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                730,413
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                       32,530
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>           835,358            
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                1,471
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                     371,776
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                       163,500
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                      0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                               0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>         1,711,105
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>          3,083,210
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                331,580
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                      26,929
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>               259,174
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>               286,103
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                   45,477
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                        (3,744)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>            41,733
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                  11,050
<NET-INCOME>                              30,683
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                   47
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>             30,653            
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                  8,442
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                    71,855
<EPS-BASIC>                                    0            
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0            

<F1> Total deferred charges includes regulatory assets, other assets,
     and goodwill, net of amortization.
<F2> Total common stockholders equity includes unrealized gain on
     securities, net.
<F3> Earnings available for common includes preferred stock dividends and gain on redemption of
     preferred stock.
<F4> Per share data is not relevant because the Company's common stock
     is wholly owned by National Grid USA.