SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM DEBT	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements [Abstract]
Debt Disclosure	6. SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM DEBT Credit Agreements and Commercial Paper Programs: Effective July 23, 2014, NU parent, CL&P, PSNH, WMECO, NSTAR Gas and Yankee Gas extended the expiration date of their joint $1.45 billion revolving credit facility for one additional year to September 6, 2019. The revolving credit facility is to be used primarily to backstop NU parent's $1.45 billion commercial paper program. The commercial paper program allows NU parent to issue commercial paper as a form of short-term debt. As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, NU had $964.5 million and $1.01 billion, respectively, in short-term borrowings outstanding under the NU parent commercial paper program, leaving $485.5 million and $435.5 million of available borrowing capacity as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. The weighted-average interest rate on these borrowings as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 was 0.25 percent and 0.24 percent, respectively, which is generally based on A2/P2 rated commercial paper. As of September 30, 2014, there were intercompany loans from NU of $105.4 million to CL&P, $153.3 million to PSNH and $13.2 million to WMECO. As of December 31, 2013, there were intercompany loans from NU of $287.3 million to CL&P and $86.5 million to PSNH. Effective July 23, 2014, NSTAR Electric extended the expiration date of its $450 million revolving credit facility for one additional year to September 6, 2019. This facility serves to backstop NSTAR Electric's existing $450 million commercial paper program. As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, NSTAR Electric had $159.5 million and $103.5 million, respectively, in short-term borrowings outstanding under its commercial paper program, leaving $290.5 million and $346.5 million of available borrowing capacity as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. The weighted-average interest rate on these borrowings as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 was 0.16 percent and 0.13 percent, respectively, which is generally based on A2/P1 rated commercial paper. Amounts outstanding under the commercial paper programs are generally included in Notes Payable for NU and NSTAR Electric and classified in current liabilities on the balance sheets as all borrowings are outstanding for no more than 364 days at one time. Intercompany loans from NU to CL&P, PSNH and WMECO are included in Notes Payable to NU Parent and classified in current liabilities on the balance sheets. Long-Term Debt: On January 2, 2014, Yankee Gas issued $100 million of 4.82 percent Series L First Mortgage Bonds, due to mature in 2044. The proceeds, net of issuance costs, were used to repay the $75 million 4.80 percent Series G First Mortgage Bonds that matured on January 1, 2014 and to pay $25 million in short-term borrowings. As the debt issuance refinanced short-term debt, the short-term debt was classified as Long-Term Debt on NU's balance sheet as of December 31, 2013. On March 7, 2014, NSTAR Electric issued $300 million of 4.40 percent debentures, due to mature in 2044. The proceeds, net of issuance costs, were used to repay the $300 million of 4.875 percent debentures that matured on April 15, 2014. On April 24, 2014, CL&P issued $250 million of 4.30 percent 2014 Series A First Mortgage Bonds, due to mature in 2044. The proceeds, net of issuance costs, were used to repay short-term borrowings. On July 15, 2014, PSNH repaid at maturity the $50 million of 5.25 percent Series L First Mortgage Bonds using short-term borrowings. On September 15, 2014, CL&P repaid at maturity the $150 million of 4.80 percent 2004 Series A First Mortgage Bonds. On October 14, 2014, PSNH issued $75 million of first mortgage bonds at a yield of 3.144 percent that will mature on November 1, 2023. The first mortgage bonds are part of the same series of PSNH's existing 3.50 percent Series S First Mortgage Bonds that were initially issued in November 2013. As a result, the aggregate principal amount of PSNH's outstanding Series S First Mortgage Bonds totals $325 million. The proceeds, net of issuance costs, were used to repay short-term borrowings. As the debt issuance refinanced short-term debt, the short-term debt was classified as Long-Term Debt on NU's balance sheet as of September 30, 2014. On August 27, 2014, PURA approved CL&P's request to extend the authorization period for issuance of up to $366.4 million in long-term debt from December 31, 2014 to December 31, 2015.

SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM DEBT

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements [Abstract]

6. SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM DEBT

Credit Agreements and Commercial Paper Programs: Effective July 23, 2014, NU parent, CL&P, PSNH, WMECO, NSTAR Gas and Yankee Gas extended the expiration date of their joint $1.45 billion revolving credit facility for one additional year to September 6, 2019. The revolving credit facility is to be used primarily to backstop NU parent's $1.45 billion commercial paper program. The commercial paper program allows NU parent to issue commercial paper as a form of short-term debt. As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, NU had $964.5 million and $1.01 billion, respectively, in short-term borrowings outstanding under the NU parent commercial paper program, leaving $485.5 million and $435.5 million of available borrowing capacity as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. The weighted-average interest rate on these borrowings as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 was 0.25 percent and 0.24 percent, respectively, which is generally based on A2/P2 rated commercial paper. As of September 30, 2014, there were intercompany loans from NU of $105.4 million to CL&P, $153.3 million to PSNH and $13.2 million to WMECO. As of December 31, 2013, there were intercompany loans from NU of $287.3 million to CL&P and $86.5 million to PSNH.

Effective July 23, 2014, NSTAR Electric extended the expiration date of its $450 million revolving credit facility for one additional year to September 6, 2019. This facility serves to backstop NSTAR Electric's existing $450 million commercial paper program. As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, NSTAR Electric had $159.5 million and $103.5 million, respectively, in short-term borrowings outstanding under its commercial paper program, leaving $290.5 million and $346.5 million of available borrowing capacity as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. The weighted-average interest rate on these borrowings as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 was 0.16 percent and 0.13 percent, respectively, which is generally based on A2/P1 rated commercial paper.

Amounts outstanding under the commercial paper programs are generally included in Notes Payable for NU and NSTAR Electric and classified in current liabilities on the balance sheets as all borrowings are outstanding for no more than 364 days at one time. Intercompany loans from NU to CL&P, PSNH and WMECO are included in Notes Payable to NU Parent and classified in current liabilities on the balance sheets.

Long-Term Debt: On January 2, 2014, Yankee Gas issued $100 million of 4.82 percent Series L First Mortgage Bonds, due to mature in 2044. The proceeds, net of issuance costs, were used to repay the $75 million 4.80 percent Series G First Mortgage Bonds that matured on January 1, 2014 and to pay $25 million in short-term borrowings. As the debt issuance refinanced short-term debt, the short-term debt was classified as Long-Term Debt on NU's balance sheet as of December 31, 2013.

On March 7, 2014, NSTAR Electric issued $300 million of 4.40 percent debentures, due to mature in 2044. The proceeds, net of issuance costs, were used to repay the $300 million of 4.875 percent debentures that matured on April 15, 2014.

On April 24, 2014, CL&P issued $250 million of 4.30 percent 2014 Series A First Mortgage Bonds, due to mature in 2044. The proceeds, net of issuance costs, were used to repay short-term borrowings.

On July 15, 2014, PSNH repaid at maturity the $50 million of 5.25 percent Series L First Mortgage Bonds using short-term borrowings.

On September 15, 2014, CL&P repaid at maturity the $150 million of 4.80 percent 2004 Series A First Mortgage Bonds.

On October 14, 2014, PSNH issued $75 million of first mortgage bonds at a yield of 3.144 percent that will mature on November 1, 2023. The first mortgage bonds are part of the same series of PSNH's existing 3.50 percent Series S First Mortgage Bonds that were initially issued in November 2013. As a result, the aggregate principal amount of PSNH's outstanding Series S First Mortgage Bonds totals $325 million. The proceeds, net of issuance costs, were used to repay short-term borrowings. As the debt issuance refinanced short-term debt, the short-term debt was classified as Long-Term Debt on NU's balance sheet as of September 30, 2014.

On August 27, 2014, PURA approved CL&P's request to extend the authorization period for issuance of up to $366.4 million in long-term debt from December 31, 2014 to December 31, 2015.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for information about short-term and long-term debt arrangements, which includes amounts of borrowings under each line of credit, note payable, commercial paper issue, bonds indenture, debenture issue, own-share lending arrangements and any other contractual agreement to repay funds, and about the underlying arrangements, rationale for a classification as long-term, including repayment terms, interest rates, collateral provided, restrictions on use of assets and activities, whether or not in compliance with debt covenants, and other matters important to users of the financial statements, such as the effects of refinancing and noncompliance with debt covenants.

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