COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

A. Environmental Matters

General: Eversource, CL&P, NSTAR Electric and PSNH are subject to environmental laws and regulations intended to mitigate or remove the effect of past operations and improve or maintain the quality of the environment. These laws and regulations require the removal or the remedy of the effect on the environment of the disposal or release of certain specified hazardous substances at current and former operating sites. Eversource, CL&P, NSTAR Electric and PSNH have an active environmental auditing and training program and each believes it is substantially in compliance with all enacted laws and regulations.

Environmental reserves are accrued when assessments indicate it is probable that a liability has been incurred and an amount can be reasonably estimated. The approach used estimates the liability based on the most likely action plan from a variety of available remediation options, including no action required or several different remedies ranging from establishing institutional controls to full site remediation and monitoring. These liabilities are estimated on an undiscounted basis and do not assume that the amounts are recoverable from insurance companies or other third parties. The environmental reserves include sites at different stages of discovery and remediation and do not include any unasserted claims.

These reserve estimates are subjective in nature as they take into consideration several different remediation options at each specific site. The reliability and precision of these estimates can be affected by several factors, including new information concerning either the level of contamination at the site, the extent of Eversource's, CL&P's, NSTAR Electric's and PSNH's responsibility for remediation or the extent of remediation required, recently enacted laws and regulations or changes in cost estimates due to certain economic factors. It is possible that new information or future developments could require a reassessment of the potential exposure to required environmental remediation. As this information becomes available, management will continue to assess the potential exposure and adjust the reserves accordingly.

The amounts recorded as environmental reserves are included in Other Current Liabilities and Other Long-Term Liabilities on the balance sheets and represent management's best estimate of the liability for environmental costs, and take into consideration site assessment, remediation and long-term monitoring costs. The environmental reserves also take into account recurring costs of managing hazardous substances and pollutants, mandated expenditures to remediate contaminated sites and any other infrequent and non-recurring clean-up costs. A reconciliation of the activity in the environmental reserves is as follows:



(Millions of Dollars)	Eversource			CL&P			NSTAR Electric			PSNH
Balance as of January 1, 2017	$	65.8		$	4.9		$	3.8		$	5.3
Additions	6.2			0.5			1.8			1.0
Payments/Reductions	(17.1		)	(0.7		)	(2.9		)	(0.6		)
Balance as of December 31, 2017	54.9			4.7			2.7			5.7
Additions	23.5			1.9			9.7			—
Payments/Reductions	(13.7		)	(1.2		)	(1.5		)	(0.3		)
Balance as of December 31, 2018	$	64.7		$	5.4		$	10.9		$	5.4

The number of environmental sites for which remediation or long-term monitoring, preliminary site work or site assessment is being performed are as follows:



	Eversource	CL&P	NSTAR Electric	PSNH
2018	60	15	16	9
2017	59	14	15	10

The increase in the reserve balance was due primarily to the addition of environmental sites at NSTAR Electric and changes in cost estimates at certain MGP sites at our natural gas companies under investigation for which additional remediation will be required.

Included in the Eversource number of sites and reserve amounts above are former MGP sites that were operated several decades ago and manufactured gas from coal and other processes, which resulted in certain by-products remaining in the environment that may pose a potential risk to human health and the environment, for which Eversource may have potential liability. The reserve balances related to these former MGP sites were $50.1 million and $49.0 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and related primarily to the natural gas business segment.

As of December 31, 2018, for 7 environmental sites (2 for CL&P) that are included in the Company's reserve for environmental costs, the information known and the nature of the remediation options allow for the Company to estimate the range of losses for environmental costs. As of December 31, 2018, $23.8 million (including $0.7 million for CL&P) had been accrued as a liability for these sites, which represents the low end of the range of the liabilities for environmental costs. Management believes that additional losses of up to approximately $20 million ($1 million at CL&P) may be incurred in executing current remediation plans for these sites.

As of December 31, 2018, for 12 environmental sites (4 for CL&P and 3 for NSTAR Electric) that are included in the Company's reserve for environmental costs, management cannot reasonably estimate the exposure to loss in excess of the reserve, or range of loss, as these sites are under investigation and/or there is significant uncertainty as to what remedial actions, if any, the Company may be required to undertake. As of December 31, 2018, $11.1 million (including $1.9 million for CL&P and $1.9 million for NSTAR Electric) had been accrued as a liability for these sites. As of December 31, 2018, for the remaining 41 environmental sites (including 9 for CL&P, 13 for NSTAR Electric and 9 for PSNH) that are included in the Company's reserve for environmental costs, the $29.8 million accrual (including $2.8 million for CL&P, $9.0 million for NSTAR Electric and $5.4 million for PSNH) represents management's best estimate of the probable liability and no additional loss is anticipated at this time.

Environmental Rate Recovery: PSNH, NSTAR Gas and Yankee Gas have rate recovery mechanisms for MGP related environmental costs, therefore, changes in their respective environmental reserves do not impact Net Income. Effective with the May 2018 distribution rate case settlement, CL&P is allowed to defer certain environmental costs for future recovery. NSTAR Electric does not have a separate environmental cost recovery regulatory mechanism.

Long-Term Contractual Arrangements

Estimated Future Annual Costs: The estimated future annual costs of significant executed, non-cancelable, long-term contractual arrangements in effect as of December 31, 2018 are as follows:



Eversource
(Millions of Dollars)	2019		2020		2021		2022		2023		Thereafter		Total
Purchased Power and Capacity	$	68.3	$	73.5	$	69.1	$	72.9	$	74.1	$	142.9	$	500.8
Renewable Energy	262.4		261.0		238.9		240.5		217.2		1,662.0		2,882.0
Peaker CfDs	11.9		22.6		21.9		15.3		17.5		43.5		132.7
Natural Gas Procurement	243.8		227.7		183.6		149.2		135.1		1,039.7		1,979.1
Transmission Support Commitments	22.8		23.1		15.2		16.2		17.8		17.8		112.9
Total	$	609.2	$	607.9	$	528.7	$	494.1	$	461.7	$	2,905.9	$	5,607.5



CL&P
(Millions of Dollars)	2019		2020		2021		2022		2023		Thereafter		Total
Purchased Power and Capacity	$	57.0	$	69.7	$	65.3	$	69.1	$	70.4	$	123.9	$	455.4
Renewable Energy	102.0		103.8		104.0		104.9		105.5		785.3		1,305.5
Peaker CfDs	11.9		22.6		21.9		15.3		17.5		43.5		132.7
Transmission Support Commitments	9.0		9.1		6.0		6.4		7.0		7.0		44.5
Total	$	179.9	$	205.2	$	197.2	$	195.7	$	200.4	$	959.7	$	1,938.1



NSTAR Electric
(Millions of Dollars)	2019		2020		2021		2022		2023		Thereafter		Total
Purchased Power and Capacity	$	5.5	$	3.1	$	3.1	$	3.1	$	3.0	$	19.0	$	36.8
Renewable Energy	94.7		93.1		88.6		88.8		63.9		435.1		864.2
Transmission Support Commitments	9.0		9.1		6.0		6.3		7.0		7.0		44.4
Total	$	109.2	$	105.3	$	97.7	$	98.2	$	73.9	$	461.1	$	945.4



PSNH
(Millions of Dollars)	2019		2020		2021		2022		2023		Thereafter		Total
Purchased Power and Capacity	$	5.8	$	0.7	$	0.7	$	0.7	$	0.7	$	—	$	8.6
Renewable Energy	65.7		64.1		46.3		46.8		47.8		441.6		712.3
Transmission Support Commitments	4.8		4.9		3.2		3.5		3.8		3.8		24.0
Total	$	76.3	$	69.7	$	50.2	$	51.0	$	52.3	$	445.4	$	744.9

Purchased Power and Capacity: CL&P, NSTAR Electric and PSNH have various IPP contracts or purchase obligations for electricity. Such contracts extend through 2024 for CL&P, 2031 for NSTAR Electric and 2023 for PSNH.

In addition, CL&P, along with UI, has four capacity CfDs for a total of approximately 787 MW of capacity consisting of three generation units and one demand response project. The capacity CfDs extend through 2026 and obligate both CL&P and UI to make or receive payments on a monthly basis to or from the generation facilities based on the difference between a set contractual capacity price and the capacity market prices received by the generation facilities in the ISO-NE capacity markets. CL&P has a sharing agreement with UI, whereby UI shares 20 percent of the costs and benefits of these contracts. CL&P's portion of the costs and benefits of these contracts will be paid by, or refunded to, CL&P's customers.

The contractual obligations table above does not include CL&P's, NSTAR Electric's or PSNH's standard/basic service contracts, the amounts of which vary with customers' energy needs.

Renewable Energy: Renewable energy contracts include non-cancellable commitments under contracts of CL&P, NSTAR Electric and PSNH for the purchase of energy and capacity from renewable energy facilities. Such contracts extend through 2039 for CL&P, 2038 for NSTAR Electric and 2033 for PSNH.

The contractual obligations table above does not include long-term commitments signed by CL&P and NSTAR Electric, as required by the PURA and DPU, respectively, for the purchase of renewable energy and related products that are contingent on the future construction of energy facilities. The table also excludes certain CL&P long-term commitments required by regulation that have not yet been executed such as the selection of certain nuclear power-generating facilities awarded under the Act Concerning Zero Carbon Solicitation and Procurement.

Peaker CfDs: In 2008, CL&P entered into three CfDs with developers of peaking generation units approved by PURA (Peaker CfDs). These units have a total of approximately 500 MW of peaking capacity. As directed by PURA, CL&P and UI have entered into a sharing agreement, whereby CL&P is responsible for 80 percent and UI for 20 percent of the net costs or benefits of these CfDs. The Peaker CfDs pay the generation facility owner the difference between capacity, forward reserve and energy market revenues and a cost-of-service payment stream for 30 years. The ultimate cost or benefit to CL&P under these contracts will depend on the costs of plant operation and the prices that the projects receive for capacity and other products in the ISO-NE markets. CL&P's portion of the amounts paid or received under the Peaker CfDs will be recoverable from, or refunded to, CL&P's customers.

Natural Gas Procurement: In the normal course of business, Eversource's natural gas distribution businesses have long-term contracts for the purchase, transportation and storage of natural gas as part of its portfolio of supplies. These contracts extend through 2034.

Transmission Support Commitments: Along with other New England utilities, CL&P, NSTAR Electric and PSNH entered into agreements in 1985 to support transmission and terminal facilities that were built to import electricity from the Hydro-Québec system in Canada. CL&P, NSTAR Electric and PSNH are obligated to pay, over a 30-year period ending in 2020, their proportionate shares of the annual operation and maintenance expenses and capital costs of those facilities.

The total costs incurred under these agreements were as follows:



Eversource	For the Years Ended December 31,
(Millions of Dollars)	2018		2017		2016
Purchased Power and Capacity	$	72.0	$	103.9	$	152.5
Renewable Energy	218.5		235.5		210.9
Peaker CfDs	20.9		38.7		47.7
Natural Gas Procurement	432.4		377.0		323.9
Transmission Support Commitments	23.4		19.8		15.9
Coal, Wood and Other ⁽¹⁾	—		47.7		55.7



	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2018						2017						2016
(Millions of Dollars)	CL&P		NSTAR Electric		PSNH		CL&P		NSTAR Electric		PSNH		CL&P		NSTAR Electric		PSNH
Purchased Power and Capacity	$	49.4	$	4.4	$	18.2	$	81.0	$	4.0	$	18.9	$	132.7	$	0.7	$	19.1
Renewable Energy	63.2		89.8		65.5		51.0		123.7		60.8		42.1		101.1		67.7
Peaker CfDs	20.9		—		—		38.7		—		—		47.7		—		—
Transmission Support Commitments	9.2		9.2		5.0		7.8		7.8		4.2		6.3		6.2		3.4
Coal, Wood and Other ⁽¹⁾	—		—		—		—		—		47.7		—		—		55.7

⁽¹⁾ PSNH previously entered into various arrangements for the purchase of coal, wood and the transportation services for fuel supply for its electric generating assets. On January 10, 2018, Eversource and PSNH completed the sale of PSNH's thermal generation assets. On August 26, 2018, Eversource and PSNH completed the sale of PSNH's hydroelectric generation assets. Upon sale, the remaining future contractual obligations were transferred to the respective buyers. See Note 13, "Generation Asset Sale," for further information.

Spent Nuclear Fuel Obligations - Yankee Companies

CL&P, NSTAR Electric and PSNH have plant closure and fuel storage cost obligations to the Yankee Companies, which have each completed the physical decommissioning of their respective nuclear facilities and are now engaged in the long-term storage of their spent fuel. The Yankee Companies have collected these costs through wholesale, FERC-approved rates charged under power purchase agreements with several New England utilities, including CL&P, NSTAR Electric and PSNH. These companies in turn recover these costs from their customers through state regulatory commission-approved retail rates. The Yankee Companies have collected amounts that management believes are adequate to recover the remaining plant closure and fuel storage cost estimates for the respective plants. Management believes CL&P and NSTAR Electric will recover their shares of these obligations from their customers. PSNH has recovered its total share of these costs from its customers.

Spent Nuclear Fuel Litigation:

The Yankee Companies have filed complaints against the DOE in the Court of Federal Claims seeking monetary damages resulting from the DOE's failure to provide for a permanent facility to store spent nuclear fuel pursuant to the terms of the 1983 spent fuel and high level waste disposal contracts between the Yankee Companies and the DOE. The court had previously awarded the Yankee Companies damages for Phase I, II and III of litigation resulting from the DOE's failure to meet its contractual obligations. These Phases covered damages incurred in the years 1998 through 2012, and the awarded damages have been received by the Yankee Companies with certain amounts of the damages refunded to their customers.

DOE Phase III Damages - In August 2013, the Yankee Companies each filed subsequent lawsuits against the DOE seeking recovery of actual damages incurred in the years 2009 through 2012 ("DOE Phase III"). On March 25, 2016, the court issued its decision and awarded CYAPC, YAEC and MYAPC damages of $32.6 million, $19.6 million and $24.6 million, respectively. The decision became final on July 18, 2016, and the Yankee Companies received the awards from the DOE on October 14, 2016. The Yankee Companies received FERC approval of their proposed distribution of certain amounts of the awarded damages proceeds to member companies, including CL&P, NSTAR Electric and PSNH, which CYAPC and MYAPC made in December 2016. MYAPC also refunded $56.5 million from its spent nuclear fuel trust, a portion of which was also refunded to the Eversource utility subsidiaries. In total, Eversource received $26.1 million, of which CL&P, NSTAR Electric and PSNH received $13.6 million, $8.6 million and $3.9 million, respectively. These amounts have been refunded to the customers of the respective Eversource utility subsidiaries.

DOE Phase IV Damages - On May 22, 2017, each of the Yankee Companies filed subsequent lawsuits against the DOE in the Court of Federal

Claims seeking monetary damages totaling approximately $100 million for CYAPC, YAEC and MYAPC, resulting from the DOE's failure to begin accepting spent nuclear fuel for disposal covering the years from 2013 to 2016 (“DOE Phase IV”). On February 21, 2019, the Yankee Companies received a partial summary judgment and partial final judgment in their favor for the undisputed amount of monetary damages, which is the vast majority of the damages being sought. The DOE Phase IV trial for the remaining amount of damages is expected to begin in 2019.

Guarantees and Indemnifications

In the normal course of business, Eversource parent provides credit assurances on behalf of its subsidiaries, including CL&P, NSTAR Electric and PSNH, in the form of guarantees.

Eversource parent issued a guaranty on behalf of its subsidiary, NPT, under which, beginning at the time the Northern Pass Transmission line goes into commercial operation, Eversource parent will guarantee the financial obligations of NPT under the TSA with HQ in an amount not to exceed $25 million. Eversource parent's obligations under the guaranty expire upon the full, final and indefeasible payment of the guaranteed obligations. Eversource parent has also entered into a guaranty on behalf of NPT under which Eversource parent will guarantee NPT's obligations under a facility with a financial institution pursuant to which NPT may request letters of credit in an aggregate amount of up to approximately $14 million.

Management does not anticipate a material impact to net income or cash flows as a result of these various guarantees and indemnifications. The following table summarizes Eversource parent's exposure to guarantees and indemnifications of its subsidiaries to external parties, as of December 31, 2018:



Company	Description	Maximum Exposure (in millions)		Expiration Dates
On behalf of subsidiaries:
Eversource Gas Transmission LLC	Access Northeast Project Capital Contributions Guaranty ⁽¹⁾	$	184.9	2021
Various	Surety Bonds⁽²⁾	41.9		2019 - 2021
Rocky River Realty Company and Eversource Service	Lease Payments for Real Estate	6.3		2019 - 2024
Bay State Wind LLC	Real Estate Purchase	2.5		2019

⁽¹⁾ Eversource parent issued a declining balance guaranty on behalf of its subsidiary, Eversource Gas Transmission LLC, to guarantee the payment of the subsidiary's authorized capital contributions for its investment in the Access Northeast project. The guaranty decreases as authorized capital contributions are made. The guaranty will expire upon the earlier of the full performance of the guaranteed obligations or December 31, 2021.

⁽²⁾ Surety bond expiration dates reflect termination dates, the majority of which will be renewed or extended. Certain surety bonds contain credit ratings triggers that would require Eversource parent to post collateral in the event that the unsecured debt credit ratings of Eversource parent are downgraded.

As described in Note 1K, "Investments," Eversource parent issued a guaranty on behalf of its subsidiary, Eversource Investment LLC. Eversource parent will guarantee, as a primary obligor, the financial obligations, primarily all post-Closing payment obligations of Eversource Investment LLC, under the Sale and Purchase Agreement and an Irrevocable Equity Commitment Letter with Ørsted in an amount not to exceed $127.6 million. Eversource parent's obligations under the guaranty expire upon the full, final and indefeasible payment of the guaranteed obligations.

FERC ROE Complaints

Four separate complaints have been filed at the FERC by combinations of New England state attorneys general, state regulatory commissions, consumer advocates, consumer groups, municipal parties and other parties (collectively the "Complainants"). In each of the first three complaints, filed on October 1, 2011, December 27, 2012, and July 31, 2014, respectively, the Complainants challenged the NETOs' base ROE of 11.14 percent that had been utilized since 2005 and sought an order to reduce it prospectively from the date of the final FERC order and for the separate 15-month complaint periods. In the fourth complaint, filed April 29, 2016, the Complainants challenged the NETOs' base ROE billed of 10.57 percent and the maximum ROE for transmission incentive ("incentive cap") of 11.74 percent, asserting that these ROEs were unjust and unreasonable.

The ROE originally billed during the period October 1, 2011 (beginning of the first complaint period) through October 15, 2014 consisted of a base ROE of 11.14 percent and incentives up to 13.1 percent. On October 16, 2014, the FERC set the base ROE at 10.57 percent and the incentive cap at 11.74 percent for the first complaint period. This was also effective for all prospective billings to customers beginning October 16, 2014. This FERC order was vacated on April 14, 2017 by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (the "Court").

All amounts associated with the first complaint period have been refunded, which totaled $38.9 million (pre-tax and excluding interest) at Eversource and reflected both the base ROE and incentive cap prescribed by the FERC order. The refund consisted of $22.4 million for CL&P, $13.7 million for NSTAR Electric and $2.8 million for PSNH.

Eversource has recorded a reserve of $39.1 million (pre-tax and excluding interest) for the second complaint period as of December 31, 2018. This reserve represents the difference between the billed rates during the second complaint period and a 10.57 percent base ROE and 11.74 percent incentive cap. The reserve consisted of $21.4 million for CL&P, $14.6 million for NSTAR Electric and $3.1 million for PSNH as of December 31, 2018.

On October 16, 2018, FERC issued an order on all four complaints describing how it intends to address the issues that were remanded by the Court. FERC proposed a new framework to determine (1) whether an existing ROE is unjust and unreasonable and, if so, (2) how to calculate a replacement ROE. The parties to these proceedings were directed to submit briefs on this new proposed framework and how they would apply the proposed framework in each of the four complaint proceedings. Initial briefs were filed by the NETOs, Complainants and FERC Trial Staff on January 11, 2019. The NETOs' brief was supportive of the overall ROE methodology determined in the October 16, 2018 order providing the FERC does not change the proposed methodology or alter its implementation in a manner that has a material impact on the results. Reply briefs will be filed on March 8, 2019.

The FERC order included illustrative calculations for the first complaint using FERC's proposed frameworks with financial data from that complaint. Those preliminary calculations indicated that for the first complaint period, for the NETOs that FERC concludes are of average financial risk, (1) a preliminary range of presumptively just and reasonable base ROEs is 9.60 percent to 10.99 percent; (2) the pre-existing base ROE of 11.14 percent is therefore unjust and unreasonable; (3) the preliminary just and reasonable base ROE is 10.41 percent; and (4) the preliminary incentive cap on total ROE is 13.08 percent.

If the results of these illustrative calculations were included in a final FERC order for each of the complaint periods, then a 10.41 percent base ROE and a 13.08 percent incentive cap would not have a significant impact on our financial statements for all of the complaint periods.

Although the order provided illustrative calculations, FERC stated that these calculations are merely preliminary. The FERC's preliminary calculations are not binding and do not represent what we believe to be the most likely outcome of a final FERC order, as changes to the methodology by FERC are possible as a result of the parties' arguments and calculations in the briefing process. Until FERC issues a final decision on each of these four complaints, there is significant uncertainty, and at this time, the Company cannot reasonably estimate a range of gain or loss for any of the four complaint proceedings. The October 16, 2018 FERC order or the January 11, 2019 briefs did not provide a reasonable basis for a change to the reserve or recognized ROEs for any of the complaint periods.

Eversource, CL&P, NSTAR Electric and PSNH currently record revenues at the 10.57 percent base ROE and incentive cap at 11.74 percent established in the October 16, 2014 FERC order.

The average impact of a 10 basis point change to the base ROE for each of the 15-month complaint periods would affect Eversource's after-tax earnings by approximately $3 million.

F. Eversource and NSTAR Electric Boston Harbor Civil Action

On July 15, 2016, the United States Attorney on behalf of the United States Army Corps of Engineers filed a civil action in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts under provisions of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 and the Clean Water Act against NSTAR Electric, Harbor Electric Energy Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NSTAR Electric ("HEEC"), and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (together with NSTAR Electric and HEEC, the "Defendants"). The action alleged that the Defendants failed to comply with certain permitting requirements related to the placement of the HEEC-owned electric distribution cable beneath Boston Harbor. The action sought an order to compel HEEC to comply with cable depth requirements in the United States Army Corps of Engineers' permit or alternatively to remove the electric distribution cable and cease unauthorized work in U.S. waterways. The action also sought civil penalties and other costs.

The parties reached a settlement pursuant to which HEEC agreed to install a new 115kV distribution cable across Boston Harbor to Deer Island, utilizing a different route, and remove portions of the existing cable. Upon the installation and completion of the new cable and the removal of the portions of the existing cable, all issues surrounding the current permit from the United States Army Corps of Engineers are expected to be resolved, and such litigation is expected to be dismissed with prejudice.

In 2017, as a result of the settlement, NSTAR Electric expensed $4.9 million (pre-tax) of previously incurred capitalized costs associated with engineering work performed on the existing cable that will no longer be used. In addition, NSTAR Electric agreed to provide a rate base credit of $17.5 million to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority for the new cable. This negotiated credit resulted in the initial $17.5 million of construction costs on the new cable being expensed as incurred, all of which was fully expensed by the end of 2018. Construction of the new cable is underway and is expected to be completed in 2019.

G. Litigation and Legal Proceedings

Eversource, including CL&P, NSTAR Electric and PSNH, are involved in legal, tax and regulatory proceedings regarding matters arising in the ordinary course of business, which involve management's assessment to determine the probability of whether a loss will occur and, if probable, its best estimate of probable loss. The Company records and discloses losses when these losses are probable and reasonably estimable, and discloses matters when losses are probable but not estimable or when losses are reasonably possible. Legal costs related to the defense of loss contingencies are expensed as incurred.