FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements [Abstract]

13. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each of the following financial instruments:

Preferred Stock and Long-Term Debt: The fair value of CL&P's and NSTAR Electric's preferred stock is based upon pricing models that incorporate interest rates and other market factors, valuations or trades of similar securities and cash flow projections. The fair value of long-term debt securities is based upon pricing models that incorporate quoted market prices for those issues or similar issues adjusted for market conditions, credit ratings of the respective companies and treasury benchmark yields. The fair values provided in the tables below are classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Carrying amounts and estimated fair values are as follows:

	As of December 31,
	2015				2014
Eversource	Carrying		Fair		Carrying		Fair
(Millions of Dollars)	Amount		Value		Amount		Value
Preferred Stock Not Subject to Mandatory Redemption	$	155.6	$	157.9	$	155.6	$	153.6
Long-Term Debt		9,034.5		9,425.9		8,814.0		9,451.2

	As of December 31, 2015
	CL&P				NSTAR Electric				PSNH				WMECO
	Carrying		Fair		Carrying		Fair		Carrying		Fair		Carrying		Fair
(Millions of Dollars)	Amount		Value		Amount		Value		Amount		Value		Amount		Value
Preferred Stock Not Subject to Mandatory Redemption	$	116.2	$	114.9	$	43.0	$	43.0	$	-	$	-	$	-	$	-
Long-Term Debt		2,763.7		3,031.6		2,029.8		2,182.4		1,071.0		1,121.2		517.3		551.8

	As of December 31, 2014
	CL&P				NSTAR Electric				PSNH				WMECO
	Carrying		Fair		Carrying		Fair		Carrying		Fair		Carrying		Fair
(Millions of Dollars)	Amount		Value		Amount		Value		Amount		Value		Amount		Value
Preferred Stock Not Subject to Mandatory Redemption	$	116.2	$	112.0	$	43.0	$	41.6	$	-	$	-	$	-	$	-
Long-Term Debt		2,826.2		3,214.5		1,786.2		1,993.5		1,070.0		1,137.9		625.2		689.4

Effective December 31, 2015, the carrying amount of Long-Term Debt includes unamortized debt issuance costs presented as a direct reduction from the carrying amount of the debt liability, in accordance with new accounting guidance. The December 31, 2014 carrying amount of Long-Term Debt was retrospectively adjusted to conform to the current year presentation. See Note 1C, "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Accounting Standards," for further information.

Derivative Instruments: Derivative instruments are carried at fair value. For further information, see Note 4, "Derivative Instruments," to the financial statements.

Other Financial Instruments: Investments in marketable securities are carried at fair value. For further information, see Note 5, "Marketable Securities," to the financial statements. The carrying value of other financial instruments included in current assets and current liabilities on the balance sheets, including cash and cash equivalents and special deposits, approximates their fair value due to their short-term nature.

See Note 1H, "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Fair Value Measurements," for the fair value measurement policy and the fair value hierarchy.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

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