COMMON SHARES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements [Abstract]

Schedule of Stock by Class [Text Block]

18.       COMMON SHARES

The following table sets forth the NU common shares and the shares of CL&P, PSNH and WMECO common stock authorized and issued as of December 31, 2011 and 2010and the respective par values:

	Shares
	Authorized					Issued
			As of December 31,			As of December 31,
	Per Share Par Value		2011	2010		2011		2010
NU	$	5	380,000,000		225,000,000		196,052,770		195,781,740
CL&P	$	10	24,500,000		24,500,000		6,035,205		6,035,205
PSNH	$	1	100,000,000		100,000,000		301		301
WMECO	$	25	1,072,471		1,072,471		434,653		434,653

As of December 31, 2011 and 2010,18,894,078and 19,333,659 NU common shares were held as treasury shares, respectively.

On March 4, 2011, NU's shareholders approved an increase in authorized shares from 225,000,000 to 380,000,000 in connection with the consummation of the NU-NSTAR pending merger.