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MARKETABLE SECURITIES (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]      
Fair Value Of Securities Under Fair Value Option $ 85.1nu_FairValueOfSecuritiesUnderFairValueOption $ 57.2nu_FairValueOfSecuritiesUnderFairValueOption  
Fair Value, Option, Changes in Fair Value, Gain (Loss) 1.9us-gaap_FairValueOptionChangesInFairValueGainLoss1 10.2us-gaap_FairValueOptionChangesInFairValueGainLoss1 5.9us-gaap_FairValueOptionChangesInFairValueGainLoss1
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]      
Marketable Securities, Restricted 450.8us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesRestrictedNoncurrent 424.0us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesRestrictedNoncurrent  
Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities Fair Value Abstract      
Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After Five Through Ten Years Fair Value 67.7us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterFiveThroughTenYearsFairValue    
Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After Ten Years Fair Value 108.4us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterTenYearsFairValue    
Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After One Year Through Five Years Fair Value 89.1us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterOneThroughFiveYearsFairValue    
Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities Within One Year Fair Value 55.0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesWithinOneYearFairValue    
Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities Fair Value 320.2us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities    
Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities Amortized Cost Abstract      
Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After One Through Five Years Amortized Cost 88.8us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterOneThroughFiveYearsAmortizedCost    
Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities Within One Year Amortized Cost 55.0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesWithinOneYearAmortizedCost    
Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After Ten Years Amortized Cost 103.2us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterTenYearsAmortizedCost    
Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After Five Through Ten Years Amortized Cost 66.0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterFiveThroughTenYearsAmortizedCost    
Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities Amortized Cost 313.0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis    
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Abstract      
Investments Fair Value Disclosure 639.2us-gaap_InvestmentsFairValueDisclosure 580.9us-gaap_InvestmentsFairValueDisclosure  
Western Massachusetts Electric Company [Member]      
Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities Fair Value Abstract      
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Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After Ten Years Fair Value 2.9us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterTenYearsFairValue
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Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After One Year Through Five Years Fair Value 25.8us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterOneThroughFiveYearsFairValue
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Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities Within One Year Fair Value 28.7us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesWithinOneYearFairValue
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Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities Fair Value 58.1us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
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Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities Amortized Cost Abstract      
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Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities Amortized Cost 58.2us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis
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Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Abstract      
Investments Fair Value Disclosure 58.1us-gaap_InvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
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Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member | Western Massachusetts Electric Company [Member]      
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Abstract      
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Fair Value Inputs Level 2 [Member]      
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Abstract      
Investments Fair Value Disclosure 295.3us-gaap_InvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
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Fair Value Inputs Level 2 [Member] | Western Massachusetts Electric Company [Member]      
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Abstract      
Investments Fair Value Disclosure 53.8us-gaap_InvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
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Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Abstract      
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Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Abstract      
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Corporate Bond Securities Member | Fair Value Inputs Level 2 [Member]      
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Abstract      
Investments Fair Value Disclosure 49.1us-gaap_InvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
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Corporate Bond Securities Member | Fair Value Inputs Level 2 [Member] | Western Massachusetts Electric Company [Member]      
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Abstract      
Investments Fair Value Disclosure 14.7us-gaap_InvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
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Asset Backed Securities Member | Fair Value Inputs Level 2 [Member]      
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Abstract      
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Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Abstract      
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Municipal Bonds Member | Fair Value Inputs Level 2 [Member]      
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Abstract      
Investments Fair Value Disclosure 116.3us-gaap_InvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
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Municipal Bonds Member | Fair Value Inputs Level 2 [Member] | Western Massachusetts Electric Company [Member]      
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Abstract      
Investments Fair Value Disclosure 13.0us-gaap_InvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
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Other Debt Securities Member | Fair Value Inputs Level 2 [Member]      
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Abstract      
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Other Debt Securities Member | Fair Value Inputs Level 2 [Member] | Western Massachusetts Electric Company [Member]      
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Abstract      
Investments Fair Value Disclosure 11.6us-gaap_InvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
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Cash And Cash Equivalents Member | Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member      
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Abstract      
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Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Abstract      
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Mutual Funds [Member] | Fair Value Inputs Level 1 Member      
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Abstract      
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Debt Securities      
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]      
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Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost 313.0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
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Debt Securities | Western Massachusetts Electric Company [Member]      
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]      
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Equity Securities      
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]      
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