8-K

               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                   WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549-1004

                            FORM 8-K

                         CURRENT REPORT

             Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                 Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) December 16, 2003
                       -------------------
                  Commission File Number 1-5324
                             ------

                       NORTHEAST UTILITIES
                      --------------------
     (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

           MASSACHUSETTS                           04-2147929
     ----------------------                     ---------------
(State or other jurisdiction of       (I.R.S. Employer incorporation or
         organization)                      Identification No.)

            174 BRUSH HILL AVENUE, WEST SPRINGFIELD,
       MASSACHUSETTS                                 01090-0010
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(Address of principal executive offices)             (Zip Code)

                         (413) 785-5871
      (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                         Not Applicable
                         --------------
  (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS

     On December, 16, 2003, Northeast Utilities ("NU") announced that
Michael G. Morris, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of
NU, has been named president and chief executive officer of American
Electric Power, Inc., effective January 1, 2004.  NU's Board of
Trustees has named Elizabeth T. Kennan, Lead Trustee, as interim
Chairman of the Board, and Charles W. Shivery, President - Competitive
Group, as interim President, effective in each case January 1, 2004.
An executive search committee will conduct a search for a new chief
executive officer.  For further information concerning this matter, see
Exhibit 99.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

Exhibit 99     Northeast Utilities News Release dated December 16,
               2003.


                   [SIGNATURE PAGE TO FOLLOW]


                            SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange
Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                         NORTHEAST UTILITIES
                          (Registrant)


                         By:  /s/ Randy A. Shoop
                              Name:  Randy A. Shoop
                              Title: Assistant Treasurer - Finance




Date:  December 16, 2003

EX-99

Exhibit 99

News Release

CONTACT:       Deborah L. Beauchamp (Media)    Jeff Kotkin (Investors)
Office:        (860) 665-5423                  (860) 665-5154
After Hours:   1-800-286-2000                  1-800-286-2000

                     NU Announces Interim Leadership

     BERLIN, Connecticut, December 16, 2003 - The Northeast Utilities
(NYSE: NU) Board of Trustees today announced interim leadership
positions effective January 1, 2004 and the formation of an executive
search committee to select a new chief executive officer.

     Charles W. Shivery is appointed interim NU President, with
responsibility for all aspects of the company.  NU Lead Trustee
Elizabeth T. Kennan is appointed interim Chairman of the NU Board.

     Shivery, 58, is currently president of NU's Competitive Group,
responsible for the strategic growth and performance of NU's competitive
energy businesses which includes Select Energy, Select Energy Services,
Northeast Generation Services Company, and Northeast Generation Company.
This group provides electricity, natural gas, related energy supply and
services, as well as specialized generation services primarily in the
11 states region from Maine to Maryland.

     Shivery joined NU in 2002, having retired earlier that year as
co-president of the Constellation Energy Group, parent company of
Baltimore Gas & Electric (BG&E) and other energy-related businesses.
He has held numerous senior management positions at Constellation
including: chairman, president and chief executive officer of
Constellation Power Source; chairman and chief executive officer
of Constellation Energy Source; president and director of Constellation
Energy Solutions; director of Orion Power Holdings; and vice president,
chief financial officer and secretary of BG&E.  He joined BG&E in 1972
after four years in the U.S. Navy.

     Kennan, 65, has served as Lead NU Trustee for seven years.  She
led the search for Mike Morris who today announced his departure as NU
chairman, president and chief executive officer to join American
Electric Power Company as president and chief executive officer. Kennan
is President Emeritus of Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts.

     "These interim positions will enable a deliberate selection process
to proceed as the NU Board of Trustees fulfills its obligation to
employees, shareholders and customers to appoint a senior leader," said
Kennan.  "We made tremendous strides under Mike's leadership, and will
now continue with the same momentum as we fulfill our customer
commitment to provide safe and reliable energy services."

     John H. Forsgren, 57, will continue in his role as vice chairman
of the Board, executive vice president and Chief Financial Officer.
Cheryl Grise', 51, will remain as President of the Utility Group and
Chief Executive Officer of its principal operating subsidiaries.

Northeast Utilities (NYSE: NU) is a Fortune 500 diversified energy
company located in Connecticut with operations throughout the Northeast.
Through its competitive and regulated subsidiaries, NU provides Energy
for a Changing World, with a full range of energy products and services
to millions of residential and business customers from Maine to
Maryland. From delivering electricity and natural gas, to marketing
energy commodities, to operating and maintaining power plant facilities,
NU is committed to safety, reliability and expanding consumers' energy
options.  For more information on Northeast Utilities and its
subsidiaries, visit the NU family of Web sites at www.nu.com.

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