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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation Basis of Presentation
The consolidated financial statements of Eversource, NSTAR Electric and PSNH include the accounts of each of their respective subsidiaries. Intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.  The accompanying consolidated financial statements of Eversource, NSTAR Electric and PSNH and the financial statements of CL&P are herein collectively referred to as the "financial statements."  

The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Eversource consolidates the operations of CYAPC and YAEC, both of which are inactive regional nuclear generation companies engaged in the long-term storage of their spent nuclear fuel. Eversource consolidates CYAPC and YAEC because CL&P's, NSTAR Electric's and PSNH's combined ownership and voting interests in each of these entities is greater than 50 percent.  Intercompany transactions between CL&P, NSTAR Electric, PSNH and the CYAPC and YAEC companies have been eliminated in consolidation of the Eversource financial statements.  

Eversource's consolidated financial information includes the results of Aquarion and its subsidiaries beginning from the date of the acquisition on December 4, 2017.

Eversource holds several equity ownership interests that are not consolidated and are accounted for under the equity method.

In accordance with accounting guidance on noncontrolling interests in consolidated financial statements, the Preferred Stock of CL&P and the Preferred Stock of NSTAR Electric, which are not owned by Eversource or its consolidated subsidiaries and are not subject to mandatory redemption, have been presented as noncontrolling interests in the financial statements of Eversource.  The Preferred Stock of CL&P and the Preferred Stock of NSTAR Electric are considered to be temporary equity and have been classified between liabilities and permanent shareholders' equity on the balance sheets of Eversource, CL&P and NSTAR Electric due to a provision in the preferred stock agreements of both CL&P and NSTAR Electric that grant preferred stockholders the right to elect a majority of the CL&P and NSTAR Electric Boards of Directors, respectively, should certain conditions exist, such as if preferred dividends are in arrears for a specified amount of time.  The Net Income reported in the statements of income and cash flows represents net income prior to apportionment to noncontrolling interests, which is represented by dividends on preferred stock of CL&P and NSTAR Electric.

Eversource's utility subsidiaries' electric, natural gas and water distribution and transmission businesses are subject to rate-regulation that is based on cost recovery and meets the criteria for application of accounting guidance for entities with rate-regulated operations, which considers the effect of regulation on the differences in the timing of the recognition of certain revenues and expenses from those of other businesses and industries.  See Note 2, "Regulatory Accounting," for further information.

Certain reclassifications of prior year data were made in the accompanying financial statements to conform to the current year presentation.

The Eversource and PSNH 2018 statements of cash flows, the 2018 supplemental cash flow information footnote, and the 2018 segment footnote were revised to correct an error in the presentation of non-cash capital additions.  The impact of this revision on the statement of cash flows is an increase to operating cash inflows in Accounts Payable of $46.6 million and a corresponding increase to investing cash outflows in Investments in Property, Plant and Equipment for the year ended December 31, 2018.  This revision is not deemed material, individually or in the aggregate, to the previously issued financial statements.

Accounting Standards Accounting Standards
Accounting Standards Issued but Not Yet Effective: In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326), which provides a new model for recognizing credit losses on financial instruments based on an estimate of current expected credit losses. Under the new guidance, immediate recognition of credit losses expected over the life of a financial instrument is required. The standard is effective January 1, 2020. The Company assessed the impacts of this standard on the accounting for credit losses on its financial instruments, including accounts receivable, and does not expect a material impact on the financial statements of Eversource, CL&P, NSTAR Electric or PSNH.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740) - Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, which eliminates certain exceptions to the general principles of current income tax guidance in ASC 740, Income Taxes, and simplifies and improves consistency in application of that income tax guidance through clarifications of, and amendments to, ASC 740. The guidance is effective in the first quarter of 2021.  The Company is evaluating the impact of this standard on the financial statements of Eversource, CL&P, NSTAR Electric and PSNH.

Accounting Standards Recently Adopted: On January 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which amended existing lease accounting guidance. The Company applied the Topic 842 lease criteria to new leases and lease renewals entered into effective on or after January 1, 2019.  The ASU required balance sheet recognition of leases deemed to be operating leases as well as additional disclosure requirements.  The recognition, measurement and presentation of expenses and cash flows were not significantly changed.

The Company utilized the modified retrospective transition method allowed in ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842) - Targeted Improvements, which allowed the Company to adopt the new leases standard as of January 1, 2019, with prior periods presented in the financial statements continuing to follow existing lease accounting guidance under Topic 840 (Leases) in the accounting literature.  Implementation of ASU 2018-11 had no effect on retained earnings, and the requirements of the new lease standard (Topic 842) are reflected in the 2019 financial statements and footnotes.

The Company elected the practical expedient package whereby it did not need to reassess whether or not an existing contract is or contains a lease or whether a lease is an operating or capital lease, and it did not need to reassess initial direct costs for leases. Election of this practical expedient allowed us to carry forward our historical lease classifications. The Company elected the practical expedient to not reevaluate land easements existing at adoption if they were not previously accounted for as leases. The Company also elected to use the discount rate as of the January 1, 2019 implementation date to discount its operating lease liabilities. The Company did not elect the hindsight practical expedient to determine the lease term for existing leases.

The Company determined the impact the ASUs had on its financial statements by reviewing its lease population and identifying lease data needed for the disclosure requirements. The Company implemented a new lease accounting system in 2019 to ensure ongoing compliance with the ASU’s requirements. Adoption of the new standard resulted in the recording of operating lease liabilities and right-of-use assets on the balance sheet upon transition at January 1, 2019 of $58.0 million at Eversource, $25.3 million at NSTAR Electric, $0.6 million at CL&P, and $0.6 million at PSNH. Implementation of the new guidance did not have an impact on each company’s results of operations or cash flows.

Cash Cash
Cash includes cash on hand.  At the end of each reporting period, any overdraft amounts are reclassified from Cash to Accounts Payable on the balance sheets.
Provision for Uncollectible Accounts Provision for Uncollectible Accounts
Eversource, including CL&P, NSTAR Electric and PSNH, presents its receivables at estimated net realizable value by maintaining a provision for uncollectible accounts.  This provision is determined based upon a variety of judgments and factors, including the application of an estimated uncollectible percentage to each receivable aging category.  The estimate is based upon historical collection and write-off experience and management's assessment of collectability from customers.  Management continuously assesses the collectability of receivables and adjusts collectability estimates based on actual experience.  Receivable balances are written off against the provision for uncollectible accounts when the customer accounts are terminated and these balances are deemed to be uncollectible.

The PURA allows CL&P and Yankee Gas to accelerate the recovery of accounts receivable balances attributable to qualified customers under financial or medical duress (uncollectible hardship accounts receivable) outstanding for greater than 180 days and 90 days, respectively.  The DPU allows NSTAR Electric and NSTAR Gas to recover in rates, amounts associated with certain uncollectible hardship accounts receivable.  These uncollectible hardship customer account balances are included in Regulatory Assets or Other Long-Term Assets on the balance sheets.  
Transfer of Energy Efficiency Loans Transfer of Energy Efficiency LoansIn 2018, CL&P transferred $41.3 million of its energy efficiency customer loan portfolio to two outside lenders in order to make additional loans to customers.  CL&P remains the servicer of the loans and will transmit customer payments to the lenders.  Under a three-year agreement with the lenders, additional energy efficiency loans will also be transferred with a maximum amount outstanding under this program of $55 million.  The transaction did not qualify as a sale for accounting purposes, and the amounts of the loans are included in Accounts Receivable, Net and Other Long-Term Assets, and are offset by Other Current Liabilities and Other Long-Term Liabilities on CL&P’s balance sheet.
Fuel, Materials, Supplies and REC Inventory Fuel, Materials, Supplies and REC InventoryFuel, Materials, Supplies and REC Inventory include natural gas inventory, materials and supplies purchased primarily for construction or operation and maintenance purposes, and RECs.  Inventory is valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value. RECs are purchased from suppliers of renewable sources of generation and are used to meet state mandated Renewable Portfolio Standards requirements.  
Fair Value Measurements Fair Value Measurements
Fair value measurement guidance is applied to derivative contracts that are not elected or designated as "normal purchases" or "normal sales" (normal) and to the marketable securities held in trusts.  Fair value measurement guidance is also applied to valuations of the investments used to calculate the funded status of pension and PBOP plans, the nonrecurring fair value measurements of nonfinancial assets such as goodwill, long-lived assets and AROs. We also applied this guidance in the valuation of our basis differences in our equity method offshore wind investments (see Note 6, "Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates," for further information). The fair value measurement guidance was also applied in estimating the fair value of preferred stock, long-term debt and RRBs.

Fair Value Hierarchy:  In measuring fair value, Eversource uses observable market data when available in order to minimize the use of unobservable inputs.  Inputs used in fair value measurements are categorized into three fair value hierarchy levels for disclosure purposes.  The entire fair value measurement is categorized based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.  Eversource evaluates the classification of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a quarterly basis, and Eversource's policy is to recognize transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy as of the end of the reporting period.  The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:


Level 1 - Inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reporting date.  Active markets are those in which transactions for the asset or liability occur in sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.  

Level 2 - Inputs are quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable.

Level 3 - Quoted market prices are not available.  Fair value is derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or assumptions are unobservable.  Where possible, valuation techniques incorporate observable market inputs that can be validated to external sources such as industry exchanges, including prices of energy and energy-related products.  

Uncategorized - Investments that are measured at net asset value are not categorized within the fair value hierarchy.

Derivative Accounting Derivative Accounting
Many of the electric and natural gas companies' contracts for the purchase and sale of energy or energy-related products are derivatives.  The accounting treatment for energy contracts entered into varies and depends on the intended use of the particular contract and on whether or not the contract is a derivative.  

The application of derivative accounting is complex and requires management judgment in the following respects: identification of derivatives and embedded derivatives, election and designation of a contract as normal, and determination of the fair value of derivative contracts.  All of these judgments can have a significant impact on the financial statements.  The judgment applied in the election of a contract as normal (and resulting accrual accounting) includes the conclusion that it is probable at the inception of the contract and throughout its term that it will result in physical delivery of the underlying product and that the quantities will be used or sold by the business in the normal course of business.  If facts and circumstances change and management can no longer support this conclusion, then a contract cannot be considered normal, accrual accounting is terminated, and fair value accounting is applied prospectively.  

The fair value of derivative contracts is based upon the contract terms and conditions and the underlying market price or fair value per unit.  When quantities are not specified in the contract, the Company determines whether the contract has a determinable quantity by using amounts referenced in default provisions and other relevant sections of the contract.  The fair value of derivative assets and liabilities with the same counterparty are offset and recorded as a net derivative asset or liability on the balance sheets.  

Regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities are recorded to offset the fair values of derivative contracts related to energy and energy-related products, as contract settlements are recovered from, or refunded to, customers in future rates. All changes in the fair value of derivative contracts are recorded as regulatory assets or liabilities and do not impact net income.
Allowance for Funds Used During Construction Allowance for Funds Used During Construction
AFUDC represents the cost of borrowed and equity funds used to finance construction and is included in the cost of the electric, natural gas and water companies' utility plant on the balance sheet.  The portion of AFUDC attributable to borrowed funds is recorded as a reduction of Interest Expense, and the AFUDC related to equity funds is recorded as Other Income, Net on the statements of income.  AFUDC costs are recovered from customers over the service life of the related plant in the form of increased revenue collected as a result of higher depreciation expense.

The average AFUDC rate is based on a FERC-prescribed formula using the cost of a company's short-term financings and capitalization (preferred stock, long-term debt and common equity), as appropriate.  The average rate is applied to average eligible CWIP amounts to calculate AFUDC.
Other Taxes Other TaxesEversource's companies that serve customers in Connecticut collect gross receipts taxes levied by the state of Connecticut from their customers.
As agents for state and local governments, Eversource's companies that serve customers in Connecticut and Massachusetts collect certain sales taxes that are recorded on a net basis with no impact on the statements of income.  

Separate from above were amounts recorded as Taxes Other Than Income Taxes related to the remittance to the State of Connecticut of energy efficiency funds collected from customers in Operating Revenues. These amounts were $21.4 million and $46.8 million in 2019 and 2018, respectively. Energy efficiency funds collected from customers after July 1, 2019 are no longer subject to remittance to the State of Connecticut. These amounts were recorded separately, with collections in Operating Revenues and with payments in Taxes Other Than Income Taxes on the Eversource and CL&P statements of income.

Related Parties Related Parties
Eversource Service, Eversource's service company, provides centralized accounting, administrative, engineering, financial, information technology, legal, operational, planning, purchasing, tax, and other services to Eversource's companies.  The Rocky River Realty Company, Renewable Properties, Inc. and Properties, Inc., three other Eversource subsidiaries, construct, acquire or lease some of the property and facilities used by Eversource's companies.

As of both December 31, 2019 and 2018, CL&P, NSTAR Electric and PSNH had long-term receivables from Eversource Service in the amounts of $25.0 million, $5.5 million and $3.8 million, respectively, which were included in Other Long-Term Assets on the balance sheets. These amounts related to the funding of investments held in trust by Eversource Service in connection with certain postretirement benefits for CL&P, NSTAR Electric and PSNH employees and have been eliminated in consolidation on the Eversource financial statements.  

Included in the CL&P, NSTAR Electric and PSNH balance sheets as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 were Accounts Receivable from Affiliated Companies and Accounts Payable to Affiliated Companies relating to transactions between CL&P, NSTAR Electric and PSNH and other subsidiaries that are wholly-owned by Eversource.  These amounts have been eliminated in consolidation on the Eversource financial statements.