<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000072741
<NAME> NORTHEAST UTILITIES AND SUBSIDIARIES
<MULTIPLIER>1,000
<PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 4,296,561
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 985,664
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,360,565
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 3,922,590
<OTHER-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 10,565,380
<COMMON> 743,480
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 1,094,996
<RETAINED-EARNINGS> 691,164
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 2,413,785
15,000
136,200
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 2,042,929
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 1,127,338
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 513,400
26,500
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 50,619
<LEASES-CURRENT> 113,101
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 4,010,653
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 10,565,380
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 4,379,241
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 126,468
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 3,857,527
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 4,028,979
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 350,262
<OTHER-INCOME-NET> (7,635)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 387,611
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 223,852
<NET-INCOME> 163,759
11,423
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 152,336
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 42,990
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 416,428
<EPS-BASIC> 1.08
<EPS-DILUTED> 1.08