Allowance for Funds Used During Construction (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Allowance For Funds Used During Construction [Line Items]
Public Utilities Allowance For Funds Used During Construction Capitalized Interest	$ 3.3	$ 2.8	$ 9.8	$ 6.9
Public Utilities Allowance For Funds Used During Construction Additions	6.6	4.6	18.4	11.6
Public Utilities Allowance For Funds Used During Construction Capitalized Total	9.9	7.4	28.2	18.5
Public Utilities Allowance For Funds Used During Construction Rate	7.00%	7.30%	7.30%	7.10%
The Connecticut Light and Power Company [Member]
Allowance For Funds Used During Construction [Line Items]
Public Utilities Allowance For Funds Used During Construction Capitalized Interest	0.8	0.7	2.3	2.0
Public Utilities Allowance For Funds Used During Construction Additions	1.4	1.2	4.1	3.7
Public Utilities Allowance For Funds Used During Construction Capitalized Total	2.2	1.9	6.4	5.7
Public Utilities Allowance For Funds Used During Construction Rate	8.00%	8.10%	8.30%	8.40%
Public Service Company of New Hampshire [Member]
Allowance For Funds Used During Construction [Line Items]
Public Utilities Allowance For Funds Used During Construction Capitalized Interest	2.1	1.8	6.5	4.4
Public Utilities Allowance For Funds Used During Construction Additions	4.2	2.9	12.0	7.1
Public Utilities Allowance For Funds Used During Construction Capitalized Total	6.3	4.7	18.5	11.5
Public Utilities Allowance For Funds Used During Construction Rate	6.70%	6.90%	7.00%	6.70%
Western Massachusetts Electric Company [Member]
Allowance For Funds Used During Construction [Line Items]
Public Utilities Allowance For Funds Used During Construction Capitalized Interest	0.1	0.1	0.3	0.2
Public Utilities Allowance For Funds Used During Construction Additions	0.2	0.2	0.5	0.4
Public Utilities Allowance For Funds Used During Construction Capitalized Total	$ 0.3	$ 0.3	$ 0.8	$ 0.6
Public Utilities Allowance For Funds Used During Construction Rate	6.40%	8.30%	6.70%	5.80%

Name:	nu_AllowanceForFundsUsedDuringConstructionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	nu
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Total value of the public utilities allowance for funds used during construction capitalized portions, including both the equity and debt portions

+ Details

Name:	nu_PublicUtilitiesAllowanceForFundsUsedDuringConstructionCapitalizedTotal
Namespace Prefix:	nu
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The component of the allowance for funds used during construction during the period based on an assumed rate of return on equity funds used in financing the construction of regulated assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 71

-Paragraph 15

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 980

-SubTopic 835

-Section 25

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6501569&loc=d3e55921-110430

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 980

-SubTopic 835

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6501662&loc=d3e56162-110433

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesAllowanceForFundsUsedDuringConstructionCapitalizedCostOfEquity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The component of the allowance for funds used during construction during the period comprised of interest on borrowed funds used in financing the construction of regulated assets, which may be reflected as a reduction of interest expense.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesAllowanceForFundsUsedDuringConstructionCapitalizedInterest
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Disclosure of the effective rate for the period representing (a) total additions to qualifying regulated assets for allowance for funds used during construction, (b) divided by the sum of debt and equity funds used for construction.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 980

-SubTopic 835

-Section 25

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6501569&loc=d3e55921-110430

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 980

-SubTopic 835

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6501662&loc=d3e56162-110433

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesAllowanceForFundsUsedDuringConstructionRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration