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Pension Benefits and Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements [Abstract]

Schedule Of Net Benefit Costs [Table Text Block]

	Pension and SERP
	For the Year Ended December 31, 2014
					NSTAR
(Millions of Dollars)	NU		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 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)	NU		CL&P		Electric⁽¹⁾		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 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

	Pension and SERP
	For the Year Ended December 31, 2012
					NSTAR
(Millions of Dollars)	NU ⁽²⁾		CL&P		Electric⁽¹⁾		PSNH		WMECO
Service Cost	$	84.3	$	21.8	$	30.3	$	11.8	$	4.1
Interest Cost		198.3		51.2		58.9		24.4		10.5
Expected Return on Plan Assets		(220.9)		(70.6)		(65.6)		(28.2)		(16.4)
Actuarial Loss		172.4		49.6		63.1		16.2		10.7
Prior Service Cost/(Credit)		7.9		3.6		(0.6)		1.5		0.8
Total Net Periodic Benefit Expense	$	242.0	$	55.6	$	86.1	$	25.7	$	9.7
Curtailments and Settlements	$	2.2	$	-	$	-	$	-	$	-
Intercompany Allocations		N/A	$	42.8	$	(12.3)	$	10.1	$	8.1
Capitalized Pension Expense	$	70.6	$	26.8	$	30.7	$	7.9	$	5.1

			PBOP
		For the Year Ended December 31, 2014
						NSTAR
(Millions of Dollars)		NU		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)		NU		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

		PBOP
		For the Year Ended December 31, 2012
(Millions of Dollars)		NU ⁽¹⁾		CL&P		PSNH		WMECO
Service Cost		$	15.7	$	3.0	$	2.0	$	0.6
Interest Cost			49.0		9.2		4.6		2.0
Expected Return on Plan Assets			(39.2)		(9.1)		(4.6)		(2.1)
Actuarial Loss			36.0		7.5		3.6		1.2
Prior Service Credit			(1.4)		-		-		-
Net Transition Obligation Cost			12.2		6.1		2.5		1.3
Total Net Periodic Benefit Expense		$	72.3	$	16.7	$	8.1	$	3.0
Intercompany Allocations			N/A	$	7.9	$	2.0	$	1.5
Capitalized PBOP Expense		$	26.6	$	8.2	$	2.3	$	1.6

⁽¹⁾	NSTAR amounts were included in NU beginning April 10, 2012.

Schedule of Defined Benefit Plans Disclosures [Table Text Block]

The accumulated benefit obligation for the Pension and SERP Plans is as follows:

(Millions of Dollars)		NU		CL&P		NSTAR Electric ⁽¹⁾		PSNH		WMECO
2014		$	5,000.1	$	1,101.4	$	910.4	$	524.5	$	226.4
2013			4,538.8		1,058.0		1,280.6		520.1		220.6

⁽¹⁾	NSTAR Electric amounts do not include the accumulated benefit obligation for the SERP Plan as of December 31, 2013.

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 reclassified as net periodic benefit expense during the years presented:

	Amounts Reclassified To/From
	Regulatory Assets				OCI
	For the Years Ended December 31,
(Millions of Dollars)	2014		2013		2014		2013
Actuarial (Gains)/Losses Arising During the Year	$	797.3	$	(635.2)	$	55.9	$	(28.9)
Actuarial Losses Reclassified as Net Periodic Benefit Expense		(122.8)		(201.2)		(5.6)		(9.4)
Prior Service Cost Reclassified as Net Periodic Benefit Expense		(4.2)		(3.8)		(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, 2014 and 2013, and the amounts that are expected to be recognized as components in 2015:

		Regulatory Assets as of				Expected		AOCI as of			Expected
	December 31,					2015	December 31,				2015
(Millions of Dollars)	2014		2013		Expense		2014		2013		Expense
Actuarial Loss	$	1,811.9	$	1,137.4	$	149.1	$	93.5	$	43.2	$	6.4
Prior Service Cost		13.2		17.4		3.5		0.8		1.0		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 in Regulatory Assets and OCI reclassified as net periodic benefit (expense)/income during the years presented:

		Amounts Reclassified To/From
	Regulatory Assets				OCI
	For the Years Ended December 31,
(Millions of Dollars)	2014		2013		2014		2013
Actuarial Losses/(Gains) Arising During the Year	$	115.1	$	(262.0)	$	0.4	$	(1.9)
Actuarial Losses Reclassified as Net Periodic Benefit Expense		(11.6)		(24.9)		(0.6)		(1.1)
Prior Service Credit Reclassified as Net Periodic Benefit Income		2.8		2.1		-		-

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, 2014 and 2013, and the amounts that are expected to be recognized as components in 2015:

		Regulatory Assets as of			Expected			AOCI as of			Expected
	December 31,				2015			December 31,			2015
(Millions of Dollars)	2014		2013		Expense		2014		2013		Expense
Actuarial Loss	$	192.7	$	89.2	$	6.9	$	6.0	$	6.2	$	0.3
Prior Service Credit		(1.8)		(4.6)		(0.5)		-		-		-

Schedule of Assumptions Used [Table Text Block]

	Pension and SERP
	As of December 31,
	2014		2013
Discount Rate	4.20	%	4.85	%	-	5.03	%
Compensation/Progression Rate	3.50	%	3.50	%	-	4.00	%

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

	Pension and SERP
	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2014					2013					2012
Discount Rate	4.85	%	-	5.03	%	4.13	%	-	4.24	%	4.52	%	-	5.03	%
Expected Long-Term Rate of Return	8.25 %					8.25 %					7.30	%	-	8.25	%
Compensation/Progression Rate	3.50	%	-	4.00	%	3.50	%	-	4.00	%	3.50	%	-	4.00	%

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

	PBOP
	As of December 31,
	2014		2013
Discount Rate	4.22	%	4.78	%	-	5.10	%
Health Care Cost Trend Rate	6.50	%	7.00 %

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

	PBOP
	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2014					2013					2012
Discount Rate	4.78	%	-	5.10	%	4.04	%	-	4.35	%	4.58	%	-	4.84	%
Expected Long-Term Rate of Return	8.25 %					8.25 %					7.30	%	-	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	$	111.2	$	(88.4)
Effect on Total Service and Interest Cost Components		5.3		(4.4)

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)	2015		2016			2017	2018		2019		2020-2024
Pension and SERP	$	244.5	$	253.6	$	268.9	$	273.4	$	285.4	$	1,591.1
PBOP		58.7		59.7		60.6		61.3		62.0		318.8

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

	Pension and SERP
NU	As of December 31,
(Millions of Dollars)	2014		2013
Change in Benefit Obligation
Benefit Obligation as of Beginning of Year	$	(4,676.5)	$	(5,022.8)
Service Cost		(79.9)		(102.3)
Interest Cost		(225.7)		(206.7)
Actuarial Gain/(Loss)		(739.6)		433.6
Benefits Paid - Pension		230.3		216.6
Benefits Paid - SERP		5.2		5.1
Benefit Obligation as of End of Year	$	(5,486.2)	$	(4,676.5)
Change in Pension Plan Assets
Fair Value of Plan Assets as of Beginning of Year	$	3,985.9	$	3,411.3
Employer Contributions		171.6		284.7
Actual Return on Plan Assets		199.3		506.5
Benefits Paid		(230.3)		(216.6)
Fair Value of Plan Assets as of End of Year	$	4,126.5	$	3,985.9
Funded Status as of December 31^st	$	(1,359.7)	$	(690.6)

	Pension and SERP
	As of December 31, 2014								As of December 31, 2013
			NSTAR								NSTAR
(Millions of Dollars)	CL&P		Electric		PSNH		WMECO		CL&P		Electric ⁽¹⁾		PSNH		WMECO
Change in Benefit Obligation
Benefit Obligation as of Beginning of Year	$	(1,083.4)	$	(1,353.3)	$	(529.0)	$	(223.9)	$	(1,178.0)	$	(1,430.0)	$	(576.0)	$	(243.1)
Decrease due to transfer of employees		26.4		479.9		32.2		6.2		-		-		-		-
Service Cost		(20.2)		(13.6)		(9.7)		(3.5)		(24.9)		(33.1)		(13.1)		(4.7)
Interest Cost		(50.5)		(41.3)		(23.8)		(10.3)		(48.3)		(58.0)		(23.6)		(10.0)
Actuarial Gain/(Loss)		(161.0)		(107.0)		(73.3)		(29.8)		110.7		96.6		62.4		22.4
Benefits Paid - Pension		58.3		52.4		22.8		11.9		56.6		71.2		21.1		11.5
Benefits Paid - SERP		0.3		0.3		0.1		-		0.5		-		0.2		-
Benefit Obligation as of End of Year	$	(1,230.1)	$	(982.6)	$	(580.7)	$	(249.4)	$	(1,083.4)	$	(1,353.3)	$	(529.0)	$	(223.9)
Change in Pension Plan Assets
Fair Value of Plan Assets as of Beginning of Year	$	1,016.3	$	1,235.3	$	528.6	$	240.4	$	937.6	$	1,069.1	$	386.6	$	218.5
Decrease due to transfer of employees		(26.4)		(441.4)		(32.2)		(6.2)		-		-		-		-
Employer Contributions		-		101.0		-		-		-		82.0		108.3		-
Actual Return on Plan Assets		49.2		36.5		24.8		11.7		135.3		155.4		54.8		33.4
Benefits Paid		(58.3)		(52.4)		(22.8)		(11.9)		(56.6)		(71.2)		(21.1)		(11.5)
Fair Value of Plan Assets as of End of Year	$	980.8	$	879.0	$	498.4	$	234.0	$	1,016.3	$	1,235.3	$	528.6	$	240.4
Funded Status as of December 31^st	$	(249.3)	$	(103.6)	$	(82.3)	$	(15.4)	$	(67.1)	$	(118.0)	$	(0.4)	$	16.5

	PBOP
NU	As of December 31,
(Millions of Dollars)	2014		2013
Change in Benefit Obligation
Benefit Obligation as of Beginning of Year	$	(1,038.0)	$	(1,233.3)
Service Cost		(12.5)		(16.9)
Interest Cost		(49.5)		(47.2)
Actuarial Gain/(Loss)		(95.5)		200.9
Benefits Paid		47.6		58.5
Benefit Obligation as of End of Year	$	(1,147.9)	$	(1,038.0)
Change in PBOP Plan Assets
Fair Value of Plan Assets as of Beginning of Year	$	826.5	$	709.1
Actual Return on Plan Assets		43.7		118.3
Employer Contributions		40.0		57.6
Benefits Paid		(47.6)		(58.5)
Fair Value of Plan Assets as of End of Year	$	862.6	$	826.5
Funded Status as of December 31^st	$	(285.3)	$	(211.5)

	PBOP
	As of December 31,
	2014								2013
			NSTAR
(Millions of Dollars)	CL&P		Electric		PSNH		WMECO			CL&P		PSNH		WMECO
Change in Benefit Obligation
Benefit Obligation as of Beginning of Year	$	(180.4)	$	-	$	(93.5)	$	(38.7)		$	(196.8)	$	(100.2)	$	(42.5)
Decrease/(Increase) due to transfer of employees		3.7		(395.5)		4.3		1.0			-		-		-
Service Cost		(2.2)		(3.1)		(1.3)		(0.4)			(3.4)		(2.3)		(0.7)
Interest Cost		(8.1)		(19.4)		(4.3)		(1.7)			(7.9)		(4.0)		(1.7)
Actuarial Gain/(Loss)		3.5		(68.6)		(1.1)		1.3			13.3		7.2		3.3
Benefits Paid		9.6		17.9		4.1		1.9			14.4		5.8		2.9
Benefit Obligation as of End of Year	$	(173.9)	$	(468.7)	$	(91.8)	$	(36.6)		$	(180.4)	$	(93.5)	$	(38.7)
Change in PBOP Plan Assets
Fair Value of Plan Assets as of Beginning of Year	$	151.3	$	-	$	81.8	$	35.3		$	132.2	$	69.5	$	31.0
(Decrease)/Increase due to transfer of employees		(3.2)		316.7		(3.1)		(1.0)			-		-		-
Actual Return on Plan Assets		6.3		18.4		3.8		1.6			24.8		13.4		6.0
Employer Contributions		4.2		19.3		2.5		0.4			8.7		4.7		1.2
Benefits Paid		(9.6)		(17.9)		(4.1)		(1.9)			(14.4)		(5.8)		(2.9)
Fair Value of Plan Assets as of End of Year	$	149.0	$	336.5	$	80.9	$	34.4		$	151.3	$	81.8	$	35.3
Funded Status as of December 31^st	$	(24.9)	$	(132.2)	$	(10.9)	$	(2.2)		$	(29.1)	$	(11.7)	$	(3.4)

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

		NU Pension Plans
		Equity		Private		Fixed		Real Estate and		Hedge
(Millions of Dollars)		Securities		Equity		Income		Other Assets		Funds		Total
Balance as of January 1, 2013		$	322.7	$	267.9	$	315.1	$	235.4	$	418.9	$	1,560.0
Transfer Between Categories			-		-		32.5		-		(32.5)		-
Actual Return/(Loss) on Plan Assets:
	Relating to Assets Still Held as of Year End		20.6		15.4		55.3		12.9		33.4		137.6
	Relating to Assets Distributed During the Year		12.2		13.7		(1.0)		6.2		-		31.1
Purchases, Sales and Settlements			(100.0)		3.3		187.6		34.0		(2.9)		122.0
Balance as of December 31, 2013		$	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

		NU PBOP Plans
		Equity		Private		Fixed		Real Estate and		Hedge
(Millions of Dollars)		Securities		Equity		Income		Other Assets		Funds		Total
Balance as of January 1, 2013		$	36.3	$	11.3	$	32.1	$	26.7	$	39.6	$	146.0
Actual Return/(Loss) on Plan Assets:
	Relating to Assets Still Held as of Year End		20.8		1.5		4.1		3.9		5.4		35.7
	Relating to Assets Distributed During the Year		-		0.2		-		(0.1)		-		0.1
Purchases, Sales and Settlements			12.0		4.9		15.3		3.4		12.0		47.6
Balance as of December 31, 2013		$	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

Schedule of Allocation of Plan Assets [Table Text Block]

		As of December 31, 2014 and 2013
		Pension and Tax-Exempt PBOP Plans
		Target Asset Allocation	Assumed Rate of Return
Equity Securities:
	United States	24%	9%
	International	10%	9%
	Emerging Markets	6%	10%
	Private Equity	10%	13%
Debt Securities:
	Fixed Income	15%	5%
	High Yield Fixed Income	9%	7.5%
	Emerging Markets Debt	6%	7.5%
Real Estate and Other Assets		9%	7.5%
Hedge Funds		11%	7%

		NU Pension Plans
		Fair Value Measurements as of December 31,
(Millions of Dollars)		2014								2013
Asset Category:		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Equity Securities ⁽¹⁾		$	414.7	$	1,035.0	$	292.2	$	1,741.9	$	326.8	$	1,172.1	$	255.5	$	1,754.4
Private Equity			18.8		-		367.9		386.7		96.4		-		300.3		396.7
Fixed Income ⁽²⁾			10.2		561.4		722.0		1,293.6		11.6		605.1		589.5		1,206.2
Real Estate and Other Assets			-		132.0		265.8		397.8		-		88.2		288.5		376.7
Hedge Funds			-		20.0		475.0		495.0		-		-		416.9		416.9
Total Master Trust Assets		$	443.7	$	1,748.4	$	2,122.9	$	4,315.0	$	434.8	$	1,865.4	$	1,850.7	$	4,150.9
	Less: 401(h) PBOP Assets ⁽³⁾								(188.5)								(165.0)
Total Pension Assets								$	4,126.5							$	3,985.9

		NU PBOP Plans
		Fair Value Measurements as of December 31,
(Millions of Dollars)		2014								2013
Asset Category:		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Cash and Cash Equivalents		$	-	$	-	$	-	$	-	$	11.1	$	-	$	-	$	11.1
Equity Securities ⁽¹⁾			104.1		172.8		75.1		352.0		110.3		176.8		69.1		356.2
Private Equity			-		-		24.9		24.9		-		-		17.9		17.9
Fixed Income ⁽²⁾			16.1		110.0		78.3		204.4		-		119.7		51.5		171.2
Real Estate and Other Assets					19.4		15.0		34.4		-		14.2		33.9		48.1
Hedge Funds					-		58.4		58.4		-		-		57.0		57.0
Total		$	120.2	$	302.2	$	251.7	$	674.1	$	121.4	$	310.7	$	229.4	$	661.5
	Add: 401(h) PBOP Assets ⁽³⁾								188.5								165.0
Total PBOP Assets								$	862.6							$	826.5