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

Preferred Stock, Long-Term Debt and Rate Reduction Bonds: The fair value of CL&P'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 fixed-rate long-term debt securities and RRBs 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. Adjustable rate securities are assumed to have a fair value equal to their carrying value. Carrying amounts and estimated fair values are as follows:

		As of December 31, 2011
		NU				CL&P				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	$	105.1	$	116.2	$	105.1	$	-	$	-	$	-	$	-
Long-Term Debt			4,950.7		5,517.0		2,587.8		2,987.1		999.5		1,075.2		501.1		539.8
Rate Reduction Bonds			112.3		116.8		-		-		85.4		88.8		26.9		28.1

		As of December 31, 2010
		NU				CL&P				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	$	93.7	$	116.2	$	93.7	$	-	$	-	$	-	$	-
Long-Term Debt			4,692.4		5,043.8		2,587.5		2,816.7		837.3		871.4		401.0		417.0
Rate Reduction Bonds			181.6		193.3		-		-		138.2		146.9		43.3		46.4

Derivative Instruments: NU, including CL&P, PSNH and WMECO, holds various derivative instruments that are carried at fair value. For further information, see Note 4, "Derivative Instruments," to the consolidated financial statements.

Other Financial Instruments: Investments in marketable securities are carried at fair value on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. For further information, see Note 1I, "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Fair Value Measurements," and Note 5, "Marketable Securities," to the consolidated financial statements.

The carrying value of other financial instruments included in current assets and current liabilities, including cash and cash equivalents and special deposits, approximates their fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments.

- 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.

+ References

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+ Details