COMMON SHARES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements [Abstract]

Schedule of Stock by Class [Text Block]

17.       COMMON SHARES

The following table sets forth the NU common shares and the shares of CL&P, NSTAR Electric, PSNH and WMECO common stock authorized and issued as of December 31, 2012 and 2011and the respective par values:

	Shares
	Authorized					Issued
	Per Share		As of December 31,			As of December 31,
	Par Value		2012	2011		2012		2011
NU	$	5	380,000,000		380,000,000		332,509,383		196,052,770
CL&P	$	10	24,500,000		24,500,000		6,035,205		6,035,205
NSTAR Electric	$	1	100,000,000		100,000,000		100		100
PSNH	$	1	100,000,000		100,000,000		301		301
WMECO	$	25	1,072,471		1,072,471		434,653		434,653

As a result of the merger with NSTAR on April 10, 2012, NU issued approximately 136 million common shares to the NSTAR shareholders.

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011,18,455,749and 18,894,078 NU common shares were held as treasury shares, respectively.