8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

___________________

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):  May 9, 2014 (May 9, 2014)

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Commission File Number	Registrant; State of Incorporation Address; and Telephone Number	I.R.S. Employer Identification No.
1-5324	NORTHEAST UTILITIES (a Massachusetts voluntary association) One Federal Street, Building 111-4 Springfield, Massachusetts 01105 Telephone number:  (413) 785-5871	04-2147929
0-00404	THE CONNECTICUTLIGHT AND POWER COMPANY (a Connecticut corporation) 107 Selden Street Berlin, Connecticut  06037-1616 Telephone:  (860) 665-5000	06-0303850

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Section 7

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Regulation FD

Item 7.01.

Regulation FD Disclosure.

On May 9, 2014, The Connecticut Light and Power Company (“CL&P”), a subsidiary of Northeast Utilities (“NU”), issued a news release announcing that it had filed a Letter of Intent with the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority indicating that it intends to file an application on or about June 9, 2014, to change its base rates effective December 1, 2014.  CL&P is required to file this application pursuant to the comprehensive settlement agreement reached by NU and NSTAR with both the Connecticut Attorney General and the Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel on March 13, 2012, related to the merger of NU and NSTAR.  A copy of the news release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference thereto.

A copy of CL&P’s Letter of Intent is available at the following link:

http://www.dpuc.state.ct.us/dockcurr.nsf/8e6fc37a54110e3e852576190052b64d/6f3abe72e14877ae85257cd3004cea81/$FILE/LOI%20May%209.2014.pdf

The information contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed “filed” with the Securities and Exchange Commission for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, nor shall it be incorporated by reference in any registration statement filed by NU or CL&P under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, unless specified otherwise.

For further information, please see NU’s and CL&P’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Financial Condition and Business Analysis – Regulatory Developments and Rate Matters.”

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)

Exhibits.  

Exhibit Number	Description
99.1	News Release of The Connecticut Light and Power Company, dated May 9, 2014.

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrants have duly caused this report to be signed on their behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	NORTHEAST UTILITIES THE CONNECTICUT LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY (Registrants)
May 9, 2014	By: /S/ GREGORY B. BUTLER Gregory B. Butler Senior Vice President and General Counsel

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number	Description
99.1	News Release of The Connecticut Light and Power Company, dated May 9, 2014.

EX-99

Exhibit 99.1

News Release

CL&P Notifies State of Upcoming Rate Filing

 Company makes significant system investments to achieve best-in-class reliability for customers

BERLIN, Conn. (May 9, 2014)  As Connecticut Light and Power works to improve reliability and service by making targeted investments in the electric system, the company is notifying state regulators that it will soon file for a change in the rates it charges for delivering electricity to customers.  If approved, the 5.9 % increase in the average customer bill would not take effect until December 1, following a comprehensive review by the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA).  The base rate increase is driven primarily by expenditures to replace aging infrastructure and strengthen the system.  

The average CL&P residential customer using 700 kilowatt hours (kWh) a month would see an increase of approximately $6.76 a month.  CL&P has not filed for a distribution rate increase since 2010.  

“Last year, we had our best reliability year in over a decade, thanks to changes we’ve made on the system,” said Bill Herdegen, CL&P President.  “Our targeted investments are helping to build the electric grid of the future – one that is more reliable, more resilient and more efficient.  In addition, we have worked hard to hold the line on rising operating costs, which has resulted in overall savings for our customers.”

A significant driver of the roughly $117 million operating deficiency is the company’s continued capital investment in electric infrastructure to improve reliability and service to customers.  These investments, including new and stronger poles, wires, transformers and substation upgrades, benefit customers by improving public safety, system reliability and overall service quality.  Already, CL&P customers are seeing fewer and shorter power outages, as the system performed at its highest level in 2013 since the year 2000.    

The company’s filing will show that its overall request is lowered by a $36 million reduction in operating and maintenance costs since 2012, representing a direct benefit for CL&P customers.  These savings are the result of efficiency improvements, strong financial management, and merger integration.  

The company’s filing will also implement PURA’s directives regarding the recovery of costs for system resiliency and the catastrophic storms that struck Connecticut in 2011 and 2012. Those storms wiped out power to hundreds of thousands of customers across the state.  Although PURA disallowed a portion of CL&P’s storm costs, it ultimately approved storm recovery over a six-year period beginning on December 1, 2014, with $89.5 million in the first year as part of this rate request.

“Our employees have done a tremendous job improving service and reliability to our customers since the devastating storms of 2011,” Herdegen added.  “We look forward to working with regulators to ensure we continue these higher standards and meet growing customer expectations in today’s digital age.”

CL&P’s current delivery charges are based on cost projections from the 2010 rate case.  Since then, there has been a significant increase in the cost of equipment and materials that are used to maintain and improve power reliability, and there has been an increase in property taxes and other costs incurred to

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upgrade and replace aging infrastructure.  Of the overall requested increase, additional state taxes and  local  taxes  relating to the company’s investments comprise close to $36 million.

In an effort to further drive reliability, the company is also investing in “smart switches” to reduce the number and duration of power outages.  Between July 1, 2012 and the end of 2015, CL&P will invest more  than  $726  million  to  install  and   improve  electric  distribution  facilities serving  the  149  cities and towns within its service territory.  

Connecticut Light & Power (CL&P), a Northeast Utilities company (NYSE: NU), transmits and delivers electricity to 1.2 million customers in 149 cities and towns.  For more information, please visit www.cl-p.com, like us on Facebook (facebook.com/CTLightandPower) and follow us on Twitter @CTLightandPower.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Tricia Taskey Modifica

860-665-4605

tricia.modifica@nu.com

Mitch Gross

860-665-5221

mitchell.gross@nu.com

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