SHORT TERM DEBT	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements [Abstract]
Short Term Debt Text Block	8. SHORT-TERM DEBT Limits: The amount of short-term borrowings that may be incurred by CL&P, NSTAR Electric and WMECO is subject to periodic approval by the FERC. On July 31, 2013, the FERC granted authorization to allow CL&P and WMECO to incur total short-term borrowings up to a maximum of $600 million and $300 million, respectively, effective January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2015. On May 16, 2012, the FERC granted authorization to allow NSTAR Electric to issue total short-term debt securities in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $655 million outstanding at any one time, effective October 23, 2012 through October 23, 2014. As a result of the NHPUC having jurisdiction over PSNH's short-term debt, PSNH is not currently required to obtain FERC approval for its short-term borrowings. PSNH is authorized by regulation of the NHPUC to incur short-term borrowings up to 10 percent of net fixed plant plus an additional $60 million until further ordered by the NHPUC. As of December 31, 2013, PSNH's short-term debt authorization under the 10 percent of net fixed plant test plus $60 million totaled approximately $293 million. CL&P's certificate of incorporation contains preferred stock provisions restricting the amount of unsecured debt that CL&P may incur, including limiting unsecured indebtedness with a maturity of less than 10 years to 10 percent of total capitalization. In November 2003, CL&P obtained from its preferred stockholders a waiver of such 10 percent limit for a ten-year period expiring in March 2014, provided that all unsecured indebtedness does not exceed 20 percent of total capitalization. As of December 31, 2013, CL&P had $776.9 million of unsecured debt capacity available under this authorization. Yankee Gas and NSTAR Gas are not required to obtain approval from any state or federal authority to incur short-term debt. Credit Agreements and Commercial Paper Programs: NU parent, CL&P, PSNH, WMECO, NSTAR Gas and Yankee Gas are parties to a five-year revolving credit facility. The revolving credit facility is to be used primarily to backstop the commercial paper program at NU, which commenced July 25, 2012. The commercial paper program allows NU parent to issue commercial paper as a form of short-term debt. On September 6, 2013, the $1.15 billion revolving credit facility dated July 25, 2012 was amended to increase the aggregate principal amount available thereunder by $300 million to $1.45 billion, to extend the expiration date from July 25, 2017 to September 6, 2018, and to increase CL&P's borrowing sublimit from $300 million to $600 million. PSNH and WMECO each have borrowing sublimits of $300 million. On September 6, 2013, NU parent's $1.15 billion commercial paper program was increased by $300 million to $1.45 billion. NSTAR Electric has a five-year $450 million revolving credit facility. This facility serves to backstop NSTAR Electric's existing $450 million commercial paper program. On September 6, 2013, NSTAR Electric amended its revolving credit facility dated July 25, 2012 to extend the expiration date from July 25, 2017 to September 6, 2018. On September 6, 2013, the CL&P five-year $300 million revolving credit facility was terminated. As of December 31, 2012, CL&P had $89 million in borrowings outstanding under this credit agreement with a weighted average interest rate of 3.325 percent. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, NU had approximately $1.01 billion and $1.15 billion, respectively, in short-term borrowings outstanding under the commercial paper program, leaving $435.5 million of available borrowing capacity as of December 31, 2013. The weighted-average interest rate on these borrowings as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 was 0.24 percent and 0.46 percent, respectively, which is generally based on money market rates. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, NSTAR Electric had $103.5 million and $276 million, respectively, in short-term borrowings outstanding under its commercial paper program, leaving $346.5 million and $174 million of available borrowing capacity as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The weighted-average interest rate on these borrowings as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 was 0.13 percent and 0.31 percent, respectively, which is generally based on money market rates. Amounts outstanding under the commercial paper programs for NU and NSTAR Electric are generally included in Notes Payable and classified in current liabilities on the balance sheets as all borrowings are outstanding for no more than 364 days at one time. On January 2, 2014, Yankee Gas issued $100 million of Series L First Mortgage Bonds. A portion of the proceeds was used to pay short-term borrowings outstanding under the NU commercial paper program. As a result and in accordance with applicable accounting guidance, $25 million of the NU commercial paper program borrowings have been classified as Long-Term Debt as of December 31, 2013. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, there were intercompany loans from NU of $287.3 million and $405.1 million to CL&P, $86.5 million and $63.3 million to PSNH, and zero and $31.9 million to WMECO, respectively. Intercompany loans from NU to CL&P, PSNH and WMECO are included in Notes Payable to Affiliated Companies and generally classified in current liabilities on the CL&P, PSNH and WMECO balance sheets. On January 15, 2013, CL&P issued $400 million of Series A First and Refunding Mortgage Bonds. The proceeds, net of issuance costs, were used to pay short-term borrowings outstanding under the CL&P credit agreement of $89 million and the NU commercial paper program of $305.8 million. As a result and in accordance with applicable accounting guidance, these amounts were classified as Long-Term Debt on the balance sheet as of December 31, 2012. Intercompany loans from NU to CL&P, PSNH and WMECO are eliminated in consolidation in NU's balance sheets. Under the credit facilities, NU and its subsidiaries must comply with certain financial and non-financial covenants, including a consolidated debt to total capitalization ratio. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, NU and its subsidiaries were in compliance with these covenants. If NU or its subsidiaries were not in compliance with these covenants, an event of default would occur requiring all outstanding borrowings by such borrower to be repaid and additional borrowings by such borrower would not be permitted under its respective credit facility. Working Capital: Each of NU, CL&P, NSTAR Electric, PSNH and WMECO use its available capital resources to fund its respective construction expenditures, meet debt requirements, pay operating costs, including storm-related costs, pay dividends and fund other corporate obligations, such as pension contributions. The current growth in NU's transmission construction expenditures utilizes a significant amount of cash for projects that have a long-term return on investment and recovery period. In addition, NU's Regulated companies recover its electric and natural gas distribution construction expenditures as the related project costs are depreciated over the life of the assets. This impacts the timing of the revenue stream designed to fully recover the total investment plus a return on the equity portion of the cost and related financing costs. These factors have resulted in current liabilities exceeding current assets by approximately $1.2 billion, $398 million and $339 million at NU, CL&P and NSTAR Electric, respectively, as of December 31, 2013. As of December 31, 2013, $501.7 million of NU's obligations classified as current liabilities relates to long-term debt that will be paid in the next 12 months, consisting of $150 million for CL&P, $301.7 million for NSTAR Electric and $50 million for PSNH. In addition, $31.7 million relates to the amortization of the purchase accounting fair value adjustment that will be amortized in the next twelve months. NU, with its strong credit ratings, has several options available in the financial markets to repay or refinance these maturities with the issuance of new long-term debt. NU, CL&P, NSTAR Electric, PSNH and WMECO will reduce their short-term borrowings with cash received from operating cash flows or with the issuance of new long-term debt, determined considering capital requirements and maintenance of NU's credit rating and profile. Management expects the future operating cash flows of NU, CL&P, NSTAR Electric, PSNH and WMECO, along with the access to financial markets, will be sufficient to meet any future operating requirements and capital investment forecasted opportunities.

SHORT TERM DEBT

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements [Abstract]

8. SHORT-TERM DEBT

Limits: The amount of short-term borrowings that may be incurred by CL&P, NSTAR Electric and WMECO is subject to periodic approval by the FERC. On July 31, 2013, the FERC granted authorization to allow CL&P and WMECO to incur total short-term borrowings up to a maximum of $600 million and $300 million, respectively, effective January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2015. On May 16, 2012, the FERC granted authorization to allow NSTAR Electric to issue total short-term debt securities in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $655 million outstanding at any one time, effective October 23, 2012 through October 23, 2014. As a result of the NHPUC having jurisdiction over PSNH's short-term debt, PSNH is not currently required to obtain FERC approval for its short-term borrowings.

PSNH is authorized by regulation of the NHPUC to incur short-term borrowings up to 10 percent of net fixed plant plus an additional $60 million until further ordered by the NHPUC. As of December 31, 2013, PSNH's short-term debt authorization under the 10 percent of net fixed plant test plus $60 million totaled approximately $293 million.

CL&P's certificate of incorporation contains preferred stock provisions restricting the amount of unsecured debt that CL&P may incur, including limiting unsecured indebtedness with a maturity of less than 10 years to 10 percent of total capitalization. In November 2003, CL&P obtained from its preferred stockholders a waiver of such 10 percent limit for a ten-year period expiring in March 2014, provided that all unsecured indebtedness does not exceed 20 percent of total capitalization. As of December 31, 2013, CL&P had $776.9 million of unsecured debt capacity available under this authorization.

Yankee Gas and NSTAR Gas are not required to obtain approval from any state or federal authority to incur short-term debt.

Credit Agreements and Commercial Paper Programs: NU parent, CL&P, PSNH, WMECO, NSTAR Gas and Yankee Gas are parties to a five-year revolving credit facility. The revolving credit facility is to be used primarily to backstop the commercial paper program at NU, which commenced July 25, 2012. The commercial paper program allows NU parent to issue commercial paper as a form of short-term debt. On September 6, 2013, the $1.15 billion revolving credit facility dated July 25, 2012 was amended to increase the aggregate principal amount available thereunder by $300 million to $1.45 billion, to extend the expiration date from July 25, 2017 to September 6, 2018, and to increase CL&P's borrowing sublimit from $300 million to $600 million. PSNH and WMECO each have borrowing sublimits of $300 million. On September 6, 2013, NU parent's $1.15 billion commercial paper program was increased by $300 million to $1.45 billion.

NSTAR Electric has a five-year $450 million revolving credit facility. This facility serves to backstop NSTAR Electric's existing $450 million commercial paper program. On September 6, 2013, NSTAR Electric amended its revolving credit facility dated July 25, 2012 to extend the expiration date from July 25, 2017 to September 6, 2018.

On September 6, 2013, the CL&P five-year $300 million revolving credit facility was terminated. As of December 31, 2012, CL&P had $89 million in borrowings outstanding under this credit agreement with a weighted average interest rate of 3.325 percent.

As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, NU had approximately $1.01 billion and $1.15 billion, respectively, in short-term borrowings outstanding under the commercial paper program, leaving $435.5 million of available borrowing capacity as of December 31, 2013. The weighted-average interest rate on these borrowings as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 was 0.24 percent and 0.46 percent, respectively, which is generally based on money market rates. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, NSTAR Electric had $103.5 million and $276 million, respectively, in short-term borrowings outstanding under its commercial paper program, leaving $346.5 million and $174 million of available borrowing capacity as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The weighted-average interest rate on these borrowings as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 was 0.13 percent and 0.31 percent, respectively, which is generally based on money market rates.

Amounts outstanding under the commercial paper programs for NU and NSTAR Electric are generally included in Notes Payable and classified in current liabilities on the balance sheets as all borrowings are outstanding for no more than 364 days at one time. On January 2, 2014, Yankee Gas issued $100 million of Series L First Mortgage Bonds. A portion of the proceeds was used to pay short-term borrowings outstanding under the NU commercial paper program. As a result and in accordance with applicable accounting guidance, $25 million of the NU commercial paper program borrowings have been classified as Long-Term Debt as of December 31, 2013.

As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, there were intercompany loans from NU of $287.3 million and $405.1 million to CL&P, $86.5 million and $63.3 million to PSNH, and zero and $31.9 million to WMECO, respectively. Intercompany loans from NU to CL&P, PSNH and WMECO are included in Notes Payable to Affiliated Companies and generally classified in current liabilities on the CL&P, PSNH and WMECO balance sheets. On January 15, 2013, CL&P issued $400 million of Series A First and Refunding Mortgage Bonds. The proceeds, net of issuance costs, were used to pay short-term borrowings outstanding under the CL&P credit agreement of $89 million and the NU commercial paper program of $305.8 million. As a result and in accordance with applicable accounting guidance, these amounts were classified as Long-Term Debt on the balance sheet as of December 31, 2012.

Intercompany loans from NU to CL&P, PSNH and WMECO are eliminated in consolidation in NU's balance sheets.

Under the credit facilities, NU and its subsidiaries must comply with certain financial and non-financial covenants, including a consolidated debt to total capitalization ratio. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, NU and its subsidiaries were in compliance with these covenants. If NU or its subsidiaries were not in compliance with these covenants, an event of default would occur requiring all outstanding borrowings by such borrower to be repaid and additional borrowings by such borrower would not be permitted under its respective credit facility.

Working Capital: Each of NU, CL&P, NSTAR Electric, PSNH and WMECO use its available capital resources to fund its respective construction expenditures, meet debt requirements, pay operating costs, including storm-related costs, pay dividends and fund other corporate obligations, such as pension contributions. The current growth in NU's transmission construction expenditures utilizes a significant amount of cash for projects that have a long-term return on investment and recovery period. In addition, NU's Regulated companies recover its electric and natural gas distribution construction expenditures as the related project costs are depreciated over the life of the assets. This impacts the timing of the revenue stream designed to fully recover the total investment plus a return on the equity portion of the cost and related financing costs. These factors have resulted in current liabilities exceeding current assets by approximately $1.2 billion, $398 million and $339 million at NU, CL&P and NSTAR Electric, respectively, as of December 31, 2013.

As of December 31, 2013, $501.7 million of NU's obligations classified as current liabilities relates to long-term debt that will be paid in the next 12 months, consisting of $150 million for CL&P, $301.7 million for NSTAR Electric and $50 million for PSNH. In addition, $31.7 million relates to the amortization of the purchase accounting fair value adjustment that will be amortized in the next twelve months. NU, with its strong credit ratings, has several options available in the financial markets to repay or refinance these maturities with the issuance of new long-term debt. NU, CL&P, NSTAR Electric, PSNH and WMECO will reduce their short-term borrowings with cash received from operating cash flows or with the issuance of new long-term debt, determined considering capital requirements and maintenance of NU's credit rating and profile. Management expects the future operating cash flows of NU, CL&P, NSTAR Electric, PSNH and WMECO, along with the access to financial markets, will be sufficient to meet any future operating requirements and capital investment forecasted opportunities.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for short-term debt.

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