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Pension Benefits and Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements [Abstract]

Schedule Of Net Benefit Costs [Table Text Block]

	Pension and SERP
	For the Year Ended December 31, 2015
					NSTAR
(Millions of Dollars)	Eversource ⁽¹⁾		CL&P		Electric		PSNH ⁽¹⁾		WMECO
Service Cost	$	91.4	$	24.7	$	14.9	$	12.1	$	4.3
Interest Cost		227.0		51.1		40.2		24.3		10.4
Expected Return on Pension Plan Assets		(335.9)		(78.9)		(70.0)		(40.4)		(18.9)
Actuarial Loss		148.5		32.2		35.8		11.6		6.4
Prior Service Cost/(Credit)		3.7		1.5		(0.1)		0.5		0.3
Total Net Periodic Benefit Expense	$	134.7	$	30.6	$	20.8	$	8.1	$	2.5
Intercompany Allocations		N/A	$	22.5	$	13.6	$	6.7	$	4.4
Capitalized Pension Expense	$	41.0	$	18.8	$	11.4	$	3.5	$	1.9

	Pension and SERP
	For the Year Ended December 31, 2014
					NSTAR
(Millions of Dollars)	Eversource		CL&P		Electric		PSNH		WMECO
Service Cost	$	79.9	$	20.2	$	13.6	$	9.7	$	3.5
Interest Cost		225.7		50.5		41.3		23.8		10.3
Expected Return on Pension Plan Assets		(310.8)		(75.4)		(63.0)		(38.1)		(17.9)
Actuarial Loss		128.4		33.7		23.5		11.6		6.9
Prior Service Cost		4.4		1.8		-		0.7		0.4
Total Net Periodic Benefit Expense	$	127.6	$	30.8	$	15.4	$	7.7	$	3.2
Intercompany Allocations		N/A	$	26.7	$	10.4	$	7.6	$	5.1
Capitalized Pension Expense	$	35.2	$	17.6	$	7.9	$	3.0	$	2.4

	Pension and SERP
	For the Year Ended December 31, 2013
					NSTAR
(Millions of Dollars)	Eversource		CL&P		Electric⁽²⁾		PSNH		WMECO
Service Cost	$	102.3	$	24.9	$	33.1	$	13.1	$	4.7
Interest Cost		206.7		48.3		58.0		23.6		10.0
Expected Return on Pension Plan Assets		(278.1)		(73.8)		(84.4)		(35.4)		(17.4)
Actuarial Loss		210.5		55.9		58.1		21.6		11.8
Prior Service Cost/(Credit)		4.0		1.8		(0.3)		0.7		0.4
Total Net Periodic Benefit Expense	$	245.4	$	57.1	$	64.5	$	23.6	$	9.5
Intercompany Allocations		N/A	$	44.9	$	(8.4)	$	10.5	$	8.0
Capitalized Pension Expense	$	73.2	$	28.0	$	28.9	$	7.3	$	5.2

		PBOP
	For the Year Ended December 31, 2015
					NSTAR
(Millions of Dollars)	Eversource		CL&P		Electric		PSNH		WMECO
Service Cost	$	16.3	$	2.1	$	5.4	$	1.4	$	0.4
Interest Cost		47.2		7.2		19.0		3.9		1.5
Expected Return on Plan Assets		(67.4)		(11.1)		(27.3)		(6.0)		(2.5)
Actuarial Loss		6.8		0.7		2.3		0.5		-
Prior Service Credit		(0.5)		-		(0.2)		-		-
Total Net Periodic Benefit Expense/(Income)	$	2.4	$	(1.1)	$	(0.8)	$	(0.2)	$	(0.6)
Intercompany Allocations		N/A	$	1.9	$	0.8	$	0.4	$	0.3
Capitalized PBOP Expense/(Income)	$	0.1	$	(0.2)	$	(0.2)	$	0.2	$	(0.2)

	PBOP
	For the Year Ended December 31, 2014
					NSTAR
(Millions of Dollars)	Eversource		CL&P		Electric		PSNH		WMECO
Service Cost	$	12.5	$	2.2	$	3.1	$	1.3	$	0.4
Interest Cost		49.5		8.1		19.4		4.3		1.7
Expected Return on Plan Assets		(63.3)		(10.5)		(25.9)		(5.4)		(2.3)
Actuarial Loss/(Gain)		12.2		4.2		(0.5)		2.2		0.5
Prior Service Credit		(2.8)		-		(1.9)		-		-
Total Net Periodic Benefit Expense/(Income)	$	8.1	$	4.0	$	(5.8)	$	2.4	$	0.3
Intercompany Allocations		N/A	$	3.8	$	0.8	$	1.0	$	0.7
Capitalized PBOP Expense/(Income)	$	1.4	$	1.8	$	(2.3)	$	0.8	$	0.2

	PBOP
	For the Year Ended December 31, 2013
(Millions of Dollars)	Eversource		CL&P		PSNH		WMECO
Service Cost	$	16.9	$	3.4	$	2.3	$	0.7
Interest Cost		47.2		7.9		4.0		1.7
Expected Return on Plan Assets		(55.4)		(10.1)		(5.2)		(2.3)
Actuarial Loss		26.0		7.4		3.6		1.1
Prior Service Credit		(2.1)		-		-		-
Total Net Periodic Benefit Expense	$	32.6	$	8.6	$	4.7	$	1.2
Intercompany Allocations		N/A	$	7.1	$	1.6	$	1.3
Capitalized PBOP Expense	$	8.8	$	3.9	$	1.3	$	0.6

Schedule of Defined Benefit Plans Disclosures [Table Text Block]

As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the accumulated benefit obligation for the Pension and SERP Plans is as follows:

(Millions of Dollars)	Eversource		CL&P		NSTAR Electric		PSNH		WMECO
2015	$	4,733.2	$	1,062.7	$	888.8	$	506.4	$	222.3
2014		5,000.1		1,101.4		910.4		524.5		226.4

The following actuarial assumptions were used in calculating the Pension and SERP Plans' year end funded status:

Schedule of Amounts Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block]

The following is a summary of the changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in Regulatory Assets and Other Comprehensive Income (OCI) as well as amounts in Regulatory Assets and OCI that were reclassified as net periodic benefit expense during the years presented:

	Regulatory Assets				OCI
	For the Years Ended December 31,
(Millions of Dollars)	2015		2014		2015		2014
Actuarial (Gains)/Losses Arising During the Year	$	(2.0)	$	797.3	$	(6.2)	$	55.9
Actuarial Losses Reclassified as Net Periodic Benefit Expense		(142.3)		(122.8)		(6.2)		(5.6)
Prior Service Cost Reclassified as Net Periodic Benefit Expense		(3.5)		(4.2)		(0.2)		(0.2)

The following is a summary of the remaining Regulatory Assets and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss amounts that have not been recognized as components of net periodic benefit expense as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, as well as the amounts that are expected to be recognized as components in 2016:

	Regulatory Assets as of				Expected		AOCI as of				Expected
	December 31,				2016		December 31,				2016
(Millions of Dollars)	2015		2014		Expense		2015		2014		Expense
Actuarial Loss	$	1,667.6	$	1,811.9	$	120.6	$	81.1	$	93.5	$	5.4
Prior Service Cost		9.7		13.2		3.4		0.6		0.8		0.2

The following is a summary of the changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in Regulatory Assets and OCI as well as amounts recognized in Regulatory Assets and OCI that were reclassified as net periodic benefit (expense)/income during the years presented:

	Regulatory Assets				OCI
	For the Years Ended December 31,
(Millions of Dollars)	2015		2014		2015		2014
Actuarial (Gains)/Losses Arising During the Year	$	(34.1)	$	115.1	$	0.7	$	0.4
Actuarial Losses Reclassified as Net Periodic Benefit Expense		(6.4)		(11.6)		(0.4)		(0.6)
Prior Service Credit Reclassified as Net Periodic Benefit Income		0.5		2.8		-		-

The following is a summary of the remaining Regulatory Assets and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss amounts that have not been recognized as components of net periodic benefit expense as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, as well as the amounts that are expected to be recognized as components in 2016:

		Regulatory Assets as of			Expected			AOCI as of			Expected
	December 31,				2016			December 31,			2016
(Millions of Dollars)	2015		2014		Expense		2015		2014		Expense
Actuarial Loss	$	152.2	$	192.7	$	4.0	$	6.3	$	6.0	$	0.4
Prior Service Credit		(1.3)		(1.8)		(0.2)		-		-		-

Schedule of Assumptions Used [Table Text Block]

	Pension and SERP
	As of December 31,
	2015					2014
Discount Rate	4.21	%	-	4.60	%	4.20	%
Compensation/Progression Rate	3.50%					3.50	%

The following actuarial assumptions were used to calculate Pension and SERP expense amounts:

	Pension and SERP
	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2015	2014					2013
Discount Rate	4.20%	4.85	%	-	5.03	%	4.13	%	-	4.24	%
Expected Long-Term Rate of Return	8.25 %	8.25 %					8.25%
Compensation/Progression Rate	3.50 %	3.50	%	-	4.00	%	3.50	%	-	4.00	%

The following actuarial assumptions were used in calculating the PBOP Plan's year end funded status:

	PBOP
	As of December 31,
	2015		2014
Discount Rate	4.62	%	4.22	%
Health Care Cost Trend Rate	6.25	%	6.50	%

The following actuarial assumptions were used to calculate PBOP expense amounts:

	PBOP
	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2015		2014					2013
Discount Rate	4.22	%	4.78	%	-	5.10	%	4.04	%	-	4.35	%
Expected Long-Term Rate of Return	8.25	%	8.25 %					8.25%

Schedule of Effect of One-Percentage-Point Change in Assumed Health Care Cost Trend Rates [Table Text Block]

	One Percentage		One Percentage
(Millions of Dollars)	Point Increase		Point Decrease
Effect on PBOP Obligation	$	115.3	$	(90.8)
Effect on Total Service and Interest Cost Components		8.5		(6.3)

Schedule of Expected Benefit Payments [Table Text Block]

Estimated Future Benefit Payments: The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, are expected to be paid by the Pension, SERP and PBOP Plans:

(Millions of Dollars)	2016		2017		2018		2019		2020		2021-2025
Pension and SERP	$	253.5	$	272.9	$	273.9	$	283.7	$	292.7	$	1,604.3
PBOP		60.8		61.2		61.4		61.8		62.4		315.4

Schedule of Benefit Obligations in Excess of Fair Value of Plan Assets [Table Text Block]

	Pension and SERP
Eversource	As of December 31,
(Millions of Dollars)	2015		2014
Change in Benefit Obligation
Benefit Obligation as of Beginning of Year	$	(5,486.2)	$	(4,676.5)
Service Cost		(91.4)		(79.9)
Interest Cost		(227.0)		(225.7)
Actuarial Gain/(Loss)		331.5		(739.6)
Benefits Paid - Pension		238.5		230.3
Benefits Paid - Lump Sum		149.5		-
Benefits Paid - SERP		5.0		5.2
Benefit Obligation as of End of Year	$	(5,080.1)	$	(5,486.2)
Change in Pension Plan Assets
Fair Value of Pension Plan Assets as of Beginning of Year	$	4,126.5	$	3,985.9
Employer Contributions		154.6		171.6
Actual Return on Pension Plan Assets		12.3		199.3
Benefits Paid		(238.5)		(230.3)
Benefits Paid - Lump Sum		(149.5)		-
Fair Value of Pension Plan Assets as of End of Year	$	3,905.4	$	4,126.5
Funded Status as of December 31^st	$	(1,174.7)	$	(1,359.7)

	Pension and SERP
	As of December 31, 2015								As of December 31, 2014
			NSTAR								NSTAR
(Millions of Dollars)	CL&P		Electric		PSNH		WMECO		CL&P		Electric		PSNH		WMECO
Change in Benefit Obligation
Benefit Obligation as of Beginning of Year	$	(1,230.1)	$	(982.6)	$	(580.7)	$	(249.4)	$	(1,083.4)	$	(1,353.3)	$	(529.0)	$	(223.9)
Change due to transfer of employees		(4.6)		6.2		(1.9)		(1.3)		26.4		479.9		32.2		6.2
Service Cost		(24.7)		(14.9)		(12.1)		(4.3)		(20.2)		(13.6)		(9.7)		(3.5)
Interest Cost		(51.1)		(40.2)		(24.3)		(10.4)		(50.5)		(41.3)		(23.8)		(10.3)
Actuarial Gain/(Loss)		77.8		34.1		38.9		12.6		(161.0)		(107.0)		(73.3)		(29.8)
Benefits Paid - Pension		60.2		47.6		23.2		12.7		58.3		52.4		22.8		11.9
Benefits Paid - Lump Sum		14.5		-		9.1		2.5		-		-		-		-
Benefits Paid - SERP		0.4		0.1		0.2		-		0.3		0.3		0.1		-
Benefit Obligation as of End of Year	$	(1,157.6)	$	(949.7)	$	(547.6)	$	(237.6)	$	(1,230.1)	$	(982.6)	$	(580.7)	$	(249.4)
Change in Pension Plan Assets
Fair Value of Pension Plan Assets as of Beginning of Year	$	980.8	$	879.0	$	498.4	$	234.0	$	1,016.3	$	1,235.3	$	528.6	$	240.4
Change due to transfer of employees		4.6		(6.2)		1.9		1.3		(26.4)		(441.4)		(32.2)		(6.2)
Employer Contributions		-		5.0		1.0		-		-		101.0		-		-
Actual Return on Pension Plan Assets		2.8		2.7		1.5		0.7		49.2		36.5		24.8		11.7
Benefits Paid		(60.2)		(47.6)		(23.2)		(12.7)		(58.3)		(52.4)		(22.8)		(11.9)
Benefits Paid - Lump Sum		(14.5)		-		(9.1)		(2.5)		-		-		-		-
Fair Value of Pension Plan Assets as of End of Year	$	913.5	$	832.9	$	470.5	$	220.8	$	980.8	$	879.0	$	498.4	$	234.0
Funded Status as of December 31^st	$	(244.1)	$	(116.8)	$	(77.1)	$	(16.8)	$	(249.3)	$	(103.6)	$	(82.3)	$	(15.4)

	PBOP
Eversource	As of December 31,
(Millions of Dollars)	2015		2014
Change in Benefit Obligation
Benefit Obligation as of Beginning of Year	$	(1,147.9)	$	(1,038.0)
Service Cost		(16.3)		(12.5)
Interest Cost		(47.2)		(49.5)
Actuarial Gain/(Loss)		106.0		(95.5)
Benefits Paid		54.0		47.6
Benefit Obligation as of End of Year	$	(1,051.4)	$	(1,147.9)
Change in Plan Assets
Fair Value of Plan Assets as of Beginning of Year	$	862.6	$	826.5
Actual Return on Plan Assets		(4.3)		43.7
Employer Contributions		7.9		40.0
Benefits Paid		(54.0)		(47.6)
Fair Value of Plan Assets as of End of Year	$	812.2	$	862.6
Funded Status as of December 31^st	$	(239.2)	$	(285.3)

	PBOP
	As of December 31,
	2015								2014
			NSTAR								NSTAR
(Millions of Dollars)	CL&P		Electric		PSNH		WMECO		CL&P		Electric		PSNH		WMECO
Change in Benefit Obligation
Benefit Obligation as of Beginning of Year	$	(173.9)	$	(468.7)	$	(91.8)	$	(36.6)	$	(180.4)	$	-	$	(93.5)	$	(38.7)
Change due to transfer of employees		0.1		2.3		(0.3)		-		3.7		(395.5)		4.3		1.0
Service Cost		(2.1)		(5.4)		(1.4)		(0.4)		(2.2)		(3.1)		(1.3)		(0.4)
Interest Cost		(7.2)		(19.0)		(3.9)		(1.5)		(8.1)		(19.4)		(4.3)		(1.7)
Actuarial Gain/(Loss)		7.2		59.1		3.6		1.5		3.5		(68.6)		(1.1)		1.3
Benefits Paid		11.9		18.9		5.3		2.6		9.6		17.9		4.1		1.9
Benefit Obligation as of End of Year	$	(164.0)	$	(412.8)	$	(88.5)	$	(34.4)	$	(173.9)	$	(468.7)	$	(91.8)	$	(36.6)
Change in Plan Assets
Fair Value of Plan Assets as of Beginning of Year	$	149.0	$	336.5	$	80.9	$	34.4	$	151.3	$	-	$	81.8	$	35.3
Change due to transfer of employees		-		0.6		0.2		-		(3.2)		316.7		(3.1)		(1.0)
Actual Return on Plan Assets		(0.4)		(2.8)		-		(0.1)		6.3		18.4		3.8		1.6
Employer Contributions		-		4.9		-		-		4.2		19.3		2.5		0.4
Benefits Paid		(11.9)		(18.9)		(5.3)		(2.6)		(9.6)		(17.9)		(4.1)		(1.9)
Fair Value of Plan Assets as of End of Year	$	136.7	$	320.3	$	75.8	$	31.7	$	149.0	$	336.5	$	80.9	$	34.4
Funded Status as of December 31^st	$	(27.3)	$	(92.5)	$	(12.7)	$	(2.7)	$	(24.9)	$	(132.2)	$	(10.9)	$	(2.2)

Schedule of Effect of Significant Unobservable Inputs, Changes in Plan Assets [Table Text Block]

		Pension Plan
		Equity		Private		Fixed		Real Estate and		Hedge
(Millions of Dollars)		Securities		Equity		Income		Other Assets		Funds		Total
Balance as of January 1, 2014		$	255.5	$	300.3	$	589.5	$	288.5	$	416.9	$	1,850.7
Actual Return/(Loss) on Plan Assets:
	Relating to Assets Still Held as of Year End		(2.3)		14.0		45.2		(3.6)		23.5		76.8
	Relating to Assets Distributed During the Year		-		13.9		(6.2)		28.3		(15.2)		20.8
Purchases, Sales and Settlements			39.0		39.7		93.5		(47.4)		49.8		174.6
Balance as of December 31, 2014		$	292.2	$	367.9	$	722.0	$	265.8	$	475.0	$	2,122.9
	Transfer Between Categories		76.5		-		-		-		(76.5)		-
Actual Return/(Loss) on Plan Assets:
	Relating to Assets Still Held as of Year End		5.3		24.4		(6.7)		(7.1)		-		15.9
	Relating to Assets Distributed During the Year		-		27.3		17.0		24.8		(0.9)		68.2
Purchases, Sales and Settlements			(68.8)		45.1		52.5		(23.2)		(106.8)		(101.2)
Balance as of December 31, 2015		$	305.2	$	464.7	$	784.8	$	260.3	$	290.8	$	2,105.8

		PBOP Plan
		Equity		Private		Fixed		Real Estate and		Hedge
(Millions of Dollars)		Securities		Equity		Income		Other Assets		Funds		Total
Balance as of January 1, 2014		$	69.1	$	17.9	$	51.5	$	33.9	$	57.0	$	229.4
Actual Return/(Loss) on Plan Assets:
	Relating to Assets Still Held as of Year End		6.0		1.3		1.9		(2.8)		1.4		7.8
	Relating to Assets Distributed During the Year		-		0.1		-		(2.2)		-		(2.1)
Purchases, Sales and Settlements			-		5.6		24.9		(13.9)		-		16.6
Balance as of December 31, 2014		$	75.1	$	24.9	$	78.3	$	15.0	$	58.4	$	251.7
Actual Return/(Loss) on Plan Assets:
	Relating to Assets Still Held as of Year End		(2.0)		2.6		2.1		0.3		(1.5)		1.5
	Relating to Assets Distributed During the Year		-		-		(0.3)		-		-		(0.3)
Purchases, Sales and Settlements			4.7		5.4		1.5		5.1		(4.7)		12.0
Balance as of December 31, 2015		$	77.8	$	32.9	$	81.6	$	20.4	$	52.2	$	264.9

Schedule of Allocation of Plan Assets [Table Text Block]

		As of December 31, 2015		As of December 31, 2014
		Pension Plan and Tax-Exempt Assets Within PBOP Plan		Pension Plan and Tax-Exempt Assets Within PBOP Plan
		Target Asset Allocation	Assumed Rate of Return	Target Asset Allocation	Assumed Rate of Return
Equity Securities:
	United States	22%	8.5%	24%	9%
	International	13%	8.5%	10%	9%
	Emerging Markets	5%	10%	6%	10%
	Private Equity	12%	12%	10%	13%
Debt Securities:
	Fixed Income	12%	4.5%	15%	5%
	High Yield Fixed Income	13%	8.5%	9%	7.5%
	Emerging Markets Debt	5%	7.5%	6%	7.5%
Real Estate and Other Assets		10%	7.5%	9%	7.5%
Hedge Funds		8%	7%	11%	7%

		Pension Plan
		Fair Value Measurements as of December 31,
(Millions of Dollars)		2015								2014
Asset Category:		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Equity Securities ⁽¹⁾		$	396.5	$	985.7	$	305.2	$	1,687.4	$	414.7	$	1,035.0	$	292.2	$	1,741.9
Private Equity			7.6		-		464.7		472.3		18.8		-		367.9		386.7
Fixed Income ⁽²⁾			-		432.0		784.8		1,216.8		10.2		561.4		722.0		1,293.6
Real Estate and Other Assets			-		117.5		260.3		377.8		-		132.0		265.8		397.8
Hedge Funds			-		49.7		290.8		340.5		-		20.0		475.0		495.0
Total		$	404.1	$	1,584.9	$	2,105.8	$	4,094.8	$	443.7	$	1,748.4	$	2,122.9	$	4,315.0
	Less: 401(h) PBOP Assets ⁽³⁾								(189.4)								(188.5)
Total Pension Assets								$	3,905.4							$	4,126.5

		PBOP Plan
		Fair Value Measurements as of December 31,
(Millions of Dollars)		2015								2014
Asset Category:		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Equity Securities ⁽¹⁾		$	109.7	$	121.6	$	77.8	$	309.1	$	104.1	$	172.8	$	75.1	$	352.0
Private Equity			-		-		32.9		32.9		-		-		24.9		24.9
Fixed Income ⁽²⁾			9.7		99.9		81.6		191.2		16.1		110.0		78.3		204.4
Real Estate and Other Assets			-		17.0		20.4		37.4		-		19.4		15.0		34.4
Hedge Funds			-		-		52.2		52.2		-		-		58.4		58.4
Total		$	119.4	$	238.5	$	264.9	$	622.8	$	120.2	$	302.2	$	251.7	$	674.1
	Add: 401(h) PBOP Assets ⁽³⁾								189.4								188.5
Total PBOP Assets								$	812.2							$	862.6