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EMPLOYEE BENEFITS (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Postemployment Benefits [Abstract]  
Schedule of Benefit Obligations in Excess of Fair Value of Plan Assets
 
PBOP
 
As of December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
(Millions of Dollars)
Eversource
 
CL&P
 
NSTAR
Electric
 
PSNH
 
Eversource
 
CL&P
 
NSTAR
Electric
 
PSNH
Change in Benefit Obligation:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Benefit Obligation as of Beginning of Year
$
(841.5
)
 
$
(161.7
)
 
$
(246.3
)
 
$
(91.9
)
 
$
(948.6
)
 
$
(178.4
)
 
$
(278.6
)
 
$
(101.1
)
Service Cost
(7.8
)
 
(1.4
)
 
(1.7
)
 
(0.7
)
 
(10.0
)
 
(1.9
)
 
(2.0
)
 
(1.1
)
Interest Cost
(32.7
)
 
(6.3
)
 
(9.5
)
 
(3.4
)
 
(30.7
)
 
(5.8
)
 
(8.7
)
 
(3.4
)
Actuarial Gain/(Loss)
(67.0
)
 
(13.4
)
 
(15.2
)
 
(3.1
)
 
102.5

 
14.4

 
28.4

 
8.6

Benefits Paid
50.0

 
10.8

 
15.4

 
5.6

 
45.3

 
10.1

 
14.5

 
4.9

Employee Transfers

 
(0.7
)
 
(1.0
)
 
0.5

 

 
(0.1
)
 
0.1

 
0.2

Benefit Obligation as of End of Year
$
(899.0
)
 
$
(172.7
)
 
$
(258.3
)
 
$
(93.0
)
 
$
(841.5
)
 
$
(161.7
)
 
$
(246.3
)
 
$
(91.9
)
Change in Plan Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair Value of Plan Assets as of Beginning of Year
$
849.6

 
$
120.6

 
$
379.1

 
$
71.2

 
$
922.2

 
$
135.9

 
$
405.5

 
$
79.0

Actual Return on Plan Assets
127.0

 
17.1

 
57.0

 
10.0

 
(36.6
)
 
(5.2
)
 
(17.4
)
 
(2.9
)
Employer Contributions
9.3

 

 
6.0

 

 
9.3

 

 
5.2

 

Benefits Paid
(50.0
)
 
(10.8
)
 
(15.4
)
 
(5.6
)
 
(45.3
)
 
(10.1
)
 
(14.5
)
 
(4.9
)
Employee Transfers

 
(0.6
)
 
(2.3
)
 
0.4

 

 

 
0.3

 

Fair Value of Plan Assets as of End of Year
$
935.9

 
$
126.3

 
$
424.4

 
$
76.0

 
$
849.6

 
$
120.6

 
$
379.1

 
$
71.2

Funded Status as of December 31st
$
36.9

 
$
(46.4
)
 
$
166.1

 
$
(17.0
)
 
$
8.1

 
$
(41.1
)
 
$
132.8

 
$
(20.7
)

The following tables provide information on the plan benefit obligations, fair values of plan assets, and funded status:  
 
Pension and SERP
 
As of December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
(Millions of Dollars)
Eversource
 
CL&P
 
NSTAR
Electric
 
PSNH
 
Eversource
 
CL&P
 
NSTAR
Electric
 
PSNH
Change in Benefit Obligation:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
Benefit Obligation as of Beginning of Year
$
(5,520.0
)
 
$
(1,160.4
)
 
$
(1,236.5
)
 
$
(610.7
)
 
$
(5,936.5
)
 
$
(1,275.2
)
 
$
(1,351.0
)
 
$
(642.2
)
Service Cost
(67.7
)
 
(18.0
)
 
(14.6
)
 
(7.1
)
 
(84.8
)
 
(21.4
)
 
(17.4
)
 
(11.2
)
Interest Cost
(219.0
)
 
(45.7
)
 
(49.0
)
 
(24.0
)
 
(196.4
)
 
(41.8
)
 
(43.5
)
 
(22.0
)
Actuarial Gain/(Loss)
(815.3
)
 
(176.6
)
 
(181.0
)
 
(84.5
)
 
414.9

 
106.1

 
98.6

 
39.2

Benefits Paid - Pension
273.0

 
60.2

 
67.1

 
30.3

 
261.8

 
59.6

 
66.9

 
26.2

Benefits Paid - Lump Sum
20.0

 

 
12.9

 

 
14.2

 

 
7.1

 

Benefits Paid - SERP
7.3

 
0.3

 
0.1

 
0.4

 
6.8

 
0.3

 
0.3

 
0.2

Employee Transfers

 
8.9

 
3.7

 
3.0

 

 
12.0

 
2.5

 
(0.9
)
Benefit Obligation as of End of Year
$
(6,321.7
)
 
$
(1,331.3
)
 
$
(1,397.3
)
 
$
(692.6
)
 
$
(5,520.0
)
 
$
(1,160.4
)
 
$
(1,236.5
)
 
$
(610.7
)
Change in Pension Plan Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair Value of Pension Plan Assets as of
  Beginning of Year
$
4,573.9

 
$
918.4

 
$
1,222.1

 
$
506.6

 
$
4,739.5

 
$
963.0

 
$
1,260.8

 
$
539.5

Employer Contributions
112.5

 
24.0

 
0.4

 
15.4

 
185.6

 
41.2

 
56.5

 

Actual Return on Pension Plan Assets
575.2

 
112.9

 
150.0

 
62.9

 
(75.2
)
 
(14.2
)
 
(18.7
)
 
(7.6
)
Benefits Paid - Pension
(273.0
)
 
(60.2
)
 
(67.1
)
 
(30.3
)
 
(261.8
)
 
(59.6
)
 
(66.9
)
 
(26.2
)
Benefits Paid - Lump Sum
(20.0
)
 

 
(12.9
)
 

 
(14.2
)
 

 
(7.1
)
 

Employee Transfers

 
(8.9
)
 
(3.7
)
 
(3.0
)
 

 
(12.0
)
 
(2.5
)
 
0.9

Fair Value of Pension Plan Assets as of End of Year
$
4,968.6

 
$
986.2

 
$
1,288.8


$
551.6

 
$
4,573.9

 
$
918.4

 
$
1,222.1

 
$
506.6

Funded Status as of December 31st
$
(1,353.1
)
 
$
(345.1
)
 
$
(108.5
)
 
$
(141.0
)
 
$
(946.1
)
 
$
(242.0
)
 
$
(14.4
)
 
$
(104.1
)

Schedule of Defined Benefit Plans
As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the accumulated benefit obligation for the Pension and SERP Plans is as follows:
(Millions of Dollars)
Eversource
 
CL&P
 
NSTAR Electric
 
PSNH
2019
$
5,963.4

 
$
1,205.4

 
$
1,340.8

 
$
646.7

2018
5,070.8

 
1,031.0

 
1,144.7

 
543.1


Schedule of Assumptions Used
The following actuarial assumptions were used in calculating the Pension, SERP and PBOP Plans' year end funded status:
 
Pension and SERP
 
PBOP
 
As of December 31,
 
As of December 31,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Discount Rate
 
3.04%
3.35%
 
4.22%
4.45%
 
3.26%
3.28%
 
4.38%
4.41%
Compensation/Progression Rate
 
3.50%
4.00%
 
3.50%
4.00%
 
N/A

The following actuarial assumptions were used to calculate Pension, SERP and PBOP expense amounts:
 
Pension and SERP
 
PBOP
 
For the Years Ended December 31,
 
For the Years Ended December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Discount Rate
2.63%
3.55%
 
3.85%
4.62%
 
3.20%
3.90%
 
3.85%
4.65%
 
3.28%
3.94%
 
3.48%
4.64%
Expected Long-Term Rate of Return
8.25%
 
8.25%
 
8.25%
 
8.25%
 
8.25%
 
8.25%
Compensation/Progression Rate
3.50%
4.00%
 
3.50%
4.00%
 
3.50%
 
N/A
 
N/A
 
N/A

Schedule of Net Benefit Costs
The components of net periodic benefit expense/(income) for the Pension, SERP and PBOP Plans, prior to amounts capitalized as Property, Plant and Equipment or deferred as regulatory assets for future recovery, are shown below. The service cost component of net periodic benefit expense/(income), less the capitalized portion, is included in Operations and Maintenance expense on the statements of income.  The remaining components of net periodic benefit expense/(income), less the deferred portion, are included in Other Income, Net on the statements of income.  Pension, SERP and PBOP expense reflected in the statements of cash flows for CL&P, NSTAR Electric and PSNH does not include the intercompany allocations or the corresponding capitalized and deferred portion, as these amounts are cash settled on a short-term basis.
 
Pension and SERP
 
PBOP
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2019
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2019
(Millions of Dollars)
Eversource
 
CL&P
 
NSTAR Electric
 
PSNH
 
Eversource
 
CL&P
 
NSTAR Electric
 
PSNH
Service Cost
$
67.7

 
$
18.0

 
$
14.6

 
$
7.1

 
$
7.8

 
$
1.4

 
$
1.7

 
$
0.7

Interest Cost
219.0

 
45.7

 
49.0

 
24.0

 
32.7

 
6.3

 
9.5

 
3.4

Expected Return on Plan Assets
(367.1
)
 
(73.2
)
 
(97.1
)
 
(40.7
)
 
(66.8
)
 
(9.2
)
 
(30.2
)
 
(5.4
)
Actuarial Loss
143.2

 
26.9

 
44.7

 
10.6

 
8.3

 
1.3

 
3.3

 
0.3

Prior Service Cost/(Credit)
0.9

 

 
0.3

 

 
(23.5
)
 
1.1

 
(16.9
)
 
0.4

Total Net Periodic Benefit Expense/(Income)
$
63.7

 
$
17.4

 
$
11.5

 
$
1.0

 
$
(41.5
)
 
$
0.9

 
$
(32.6
)
 
$
(0.6
)
Intercompany Allocations
N/A

 
$
8.5

 
$
8.0

 
$
2.3

 
N/A

 
$
(0.9
)
 
$
(1.2
)
 
$
(0.4
)
 
Pension and SERP
 
PBOP
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2018
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2018
(Millions of Dollars)
Eversource
 
CL&P
 
NSTAR Electric
 
PSNH
 
Eversource
 
CL&P
 
NSTAR Electric
 
PSNH
Service Cost
$
84.8

 
$
21.4

 
$
17.4

 
$
11.2

 
$
10.0

 
$
1.9

 
$
2.0

 
$
1.1

Interest Cost
196.4

 
41.8

 
43.5

 
22.0

 
30.7

 
5.8

 
8.7

 
3.4

Expected Return on Plan Assets
(391.6
)
 
(79.1
)
 
(104.9
)
 
(43.6
)
 
(72.4
)
 
(10.4
)
 
(32.5
)
 
(6.0
)
Actuarial Loss
145.7

 
29.1

 
41.1

 
11.6

 
10.3

 
1.6

 
2.3

 
0.7

Prior Service Cost/(Credit)
4.3

 
1.1

 
0.2

 
0.4

 
(23.6
)
 
1.1

 
(16.9
)
 
0.5

Total Net Periodic Benefit Expense/(Income)
$
39.6

 
$
14.3

 
$
(2.7
)
 
$
1.6

 
$
(45.0
)
 
$

 
$
(36.4
)
 
$
(0.3
)
Intercompany Allocations
N/A

 
$
6.1

 
$
6.5

 
$
1.9

 
N/A

 
$
(1.0
)
 
$
(1.3
)
 
$
(0.4
)
 
Pension and SERP
 
PBOP
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2017
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2017
(Millions of Dollars)
Eversource
 
CL&P
 
NSTAR Electric
 
PSNH
 
Eversource
 
CL&P
 
NSTAR Electric
 
PSNH
Service Cost
$
71.3

 
$
18.5

 
$
15.5

 
$
9.7

 
$
9.5

 
$
1.9

 
$
1.7

 
$
1.3

Interest Cost
188.0

 
41.6

 
42.7

 
21.2

 
27.1

 
5.3

 
8.7

 
3.0

Expected Return on Plan Assets
(334.1
)
 
(71.7
)
 
(87.6
)
 
(40.0
)
 
(63.7
)
 
(9.7
)
 
(28.6
)
 
(5.5
)
Actuarial Loss
135.2

 
27.7

 
41.1

 
11.6

 
9.1

 
1.0

 
3.4

 
0.6

Prior Service Cost/(Credit)
4.5

 
1.5

 
0.6

 
0.5

 
(21.6
)
 
1.1

 
(17.0
)
 
0.6

Total Net Periodic Benefit Expense/(Income)
$
64.9

 
$
17.6

 
$
12.3

 
$
3.0

 
$
(39.6
)
 
$
(0.4
)
 
$
(31.8
)
 
$

Intercompany Allocations
N/A

 
$
9.8

 
$
9.1

 
$
3.3

 
N/A

 
$
(0.7
)
 
$
(1.1
)
 
$
(0.5
)

Schedule of Amounts Recognized in Regulatory Assets and OCI
The following is a summary of the changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in Regulatory Assets and Other Comprehensive Income (OCI) as well as amounts in Regulatory Assets and OCI that were reclassified as net periodic benefit expense during the years presented:
 
Pension and SERP
 
PBOP
 
Regulatory Assets
 
OCI
 
Regulatory Assets
 
OCI
 
For the Years Ended December 31,
 
For the Years Ended December 31,
(Millions of Dollars)
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Actuarial Losses/(Gains) Arising During the Year
$
591.6

 
$
48.6

 
$
15.4

 
$
0.7

 
$
4.6

 
$
6.4

 
$
2.3

 
$
(1.2
)
Actuarial Losses Reclassified as Net Periodic Benefit Expense
(137.8
)
 
(140.1
)
 
(5.4
)
 
(5.6
)
 
(8.0
)
 
(9.9
)
 
(0.3
)
 
(0.4
)
Actuarial Losses Securitized as Stranded Costs (1)

 
(36.7
)
 

 

 

 
(0.8
)
 

 

Prior Service Cost Arising During the Year

 

 

 

 

 
1.3

 

 

Prior Service (Cost)/Credit Reclassified as Net Periodic Benefit (Expense)/Income
(0.7
)
 
(3.9
)
 
(0.2
)
 
(0.4
)
 
25.1

 
23.6

 
(1.6
)
 

Prior Service Cost Securitized as Stranded Costs (1)

 
(0.1
)
 

 

 

 
(1.3
)
 

 


(1) These amounts were reclassified to securitized regulatory assets in connection with the divestiture of PSNH's generation business. For further information see Note 2, "Regulatory Accounting" to the financial statements.

The following is a summary of the remaining Regulatory Assets and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income amounts that have not been recognized as components of net periodic benefit expense as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, as well as the amounts that are expected to be recognized as components in 2020:
 
Regulatory Assets as of December 31,
 
Expected 2020 Expense/(Income)
 
AOCI as of December 31,
 
Expected 2020 Expense
(Millions of Dollars)
2019
 
2018
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
Pension and SERP
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Actuarial Loss
$
2,261.4

 
$
1,807.6

 
$
190.3

 
$
90.8

 
$
80.8

 
$
7.2

Prior Service Cost
5.6

 
6.3

 
0.9

 
0.9

 
1.1

 
0.2

PBOP
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Actuarial Loss
$
203.9

 
$
207.3

 
$
8.3

 
$
7.0

 
$
5.0

 
$
0.2

Prior Service (Credit)/Cost
(172.5
)
 
(197.6
)
 
(21.4
)
 
1.0

 
2.6

 
0.2


Schedule of Expected Benefit Payments The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, are expected to be paid by the Pension, SERP and PBOP Plans:
(Millions of Dollars)
2020
 
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025 - 2029
Pension and SERP
$
320.1

 
$
328.7

 
$
337.5

 
$
346.5

 
$
352.4

 
$
1,813.1

PBOP
58.1

 
57.9

 
57.3

 
56.8

 
56.2

 
264.7


Schedule of Allocation of Plan Assets
The following table presents, by asset category, the Pension and PBOP Plan assets recorded at fair value on a recurring basis by the level in which they are classified within the fair value hierarchy:  
  
Pension Plan
  
Fair Value Measurements as of December 31,
(Millions of Dollars)
2019
 
2018
Asset Category:
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Uncategorized
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Uncategorized
 
Total
Equity Securities (1)
$
592.6

 
$

 
$
1,349.9

 
$
1,942.5

 
$
443.4

 
$

 
$
1,377.8

 
$
1,821.2

Fixed Income (2)
99.4

 
303.0

 
1,222.8

 
1,625.2

 
85.5

 
160.8

 
1,265.5

 
1,511.8

Private Equity  
16.9

 

 
971.4

 
988.3

 
6.1

 

 
834.0

 
840.1

Real Assets (3)
58.7

 

 
615.0

 
673.7

 
62.9

 

 
569.1

 
632.0

Total
$
767.6

 
$
303.0

 
$
4,159.1

 
$
5,229.7

 
$
597.9

 
$
160.8

 
$
4,046.4

 
$
4,805.1

Less:  401(h) PBOP Assets (4)
 
 
 
 
 
 
(261.1
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(231.2
)
Total Pension Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
4,968.6

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
4,573.9

  
PBOP Plan
  
Fair Value Measurements as of December 31,
(Millions of Dollars)
2019
 
2018
Asset Category:
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Uncategorized
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Uncategorized
 
Total
Equity Securities (1)
$
158.0

 
$

 
$
187.0

 
$
345.0

 
$
91.9

 
$

 
$
210.5

 
$
302.4

Fixed Income (2)
15.8

 
39.6

 
148.1

 
203.5

 
22.0

 
40.3

 
123.0

 
185.3

Private Equity

 

 
26.5

 
26.5

 

 

 
32.7

 
32.7

Real Assets (3)
51.2

 

 
48.6

 
99.8

 
27.5

 

 
70.5

 
98.0

Total
$
225.0

 
$
39.6

 
$
410.2

 
$
674.8

 
$
141.4

 
$
40.3

 
$
436.7

 
$
618.4

Add:  401(h) PBOP Assets (4)
 
 
 
 
 
 
261.1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
231.2

Total PBOP Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
935.9

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
849.6


(1)  
United States, Global, Non-United States and Emerging Markets equity securities that are uncategorized include investments in commingled funds and hedge funds that are overlaid with equity index swaps and futures contracts.

(2)
Fixed Income investments that are uncategorized include investments in commingled funds, fixed income funds that invest in a variety of opportunistic and fixed income strategies, and hedge funds that are overlaid with fixed income futures.  

(3)  
Real assets include real estate funds and hedge funds.

(4)  
The assets of the Pension Plan include a 401(h) account that has been allocated to provide health and welfare postretirement benefits under the PBOP Plan.


These long-term rates of return are based on the assumed rates of return for the target asset allocations as follows:
 
As of December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
Eversource Pension Plan and Tax-Exempt Assets Within PBOP Plan
 
Eversource Pension Plan and Tax-Exempt Assets Within PBOP Plan
 
Target Asset Allocation
 
Assumed Rate of Return
 
Target Asset Allocation
 
Assumed Rate of Return
Equity Securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
United States
15.0
%
 
8.5
%
 
15.0
%
 
8.5
%
Global
10.0
%
 
8.75
%
 
10.0
%
 
8.75
%
Non-United States
8.0
%
 
8.5
%
 
8.0
%
 
8.5
%
Emerging Markets
4.0
%
 
10.0
%
 
4.0
%
 
10.0
%
Debt Securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed Income
13.0
%
 
4.0
%
 
13.0
%
 
4.0
%
Public High Yield Fixed Income
4.0
%
 
6.5
%
 
4.0
%
 
6.5
%
Private Debt
15.0
%
 
9.0
%
 
15.0
%
 
9.0
%
Private Equity
15.0
%
 
12.0
%
 
15.0
%
 
12.0
%
Real Assets
16.0
%
 
7.5
%
 
16.0
%
 
7.5
%

Schedule of Defined Contribution Plans
The total Eversource 401k Plan employer matching contributions, including the K-Vantage contributions, were as follows:
(Millions of Dollars)
Eversource
 
CL&P
 
NSTAR Electric
 
PSNH
2019
$
41.6

 
$
5.5

 
$
10.3

 
$
3.5

2018
38.4

 
5.0

 
9.7

 
3.3

2017
34.5

 
4.6

 
8.5

 
3.7


Schedule of Other Retirement Benefits The liability and expense amounts are as follows:
Eversource
(Millions of Dollars)
As of and For the Years Ended December 31,
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Actuarially-Determined Liability
$
52.0

 
$
49.1

 
$
53.4

Other Retirement Benefits Expense
2.7

 
2.7

 
2.8

 
As of and For the Years Ended December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
(Millions of Dollars)
CL&P
 
NSTAR Electric
 
PSNH
 
CL&P
 
NSTAR Electric
 
PSNH
 
CL&P
 
NSTAR Electric
 
PSNH
Actuarially-Determined
  Liability
$
0.2

 
$
0.1

 
$
1.7

 
$
0.3

 
$
0.1

 
$
1.7

 
$
0.3

 
$
0.1

 
$
1.9

Other Retirement Benefits
  Expense
1.0

 
0.9

 
0.4

 
1.1

 
1.1

 
0.4

 
1.0

 
1.0

 
0.5


Summary of Share Transactions A summary of performance share transactions is as follows:
 
Performance Shares
(Units)
 
Weighted Average
Grant-Date Fair Value
Outstanding as of December 31, 2018
499,564

 
$
56.08

Granted
165,022

 
$
68.33

Shares Issued
(162,959
)
 
$
55.69

Forfeited
(14,720
)
 
$
58.20

Outstanding as of December 31, 2019
486,907

 
$
60.30


A summary of RSU transactions is as follows:
 
RSUs
(Units)
 
Weighted Average
Grant-Date Fair Value
Outstanding as of December 31, 2018
782,365

 
$
50.25

Granted
271,144

 
$
67.91

Shares Issued
(263,219
)
 
$
55.34

Forfeited
(16,127
)
 
$
63.31

Outstanding as of December 31, 2019
774,163

 
$
54.43



Schedule of Compensation Expense and Income Tax Benefit The total compensation expense and associated future income tax benefits recognized by Eversource, CL&P, NSTAR Electric and PSNH for share-based compensation awards were as follows:
Eversource
For the Years Ended December 31,
(Millions of Dollars)
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Compensation Expense
$
27.3

 
$
21.4

 
$
19.7

Future Income Tax Benefit
7.0

 
5.4

 
8.0

 
For the Years Ended December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
(Millions of Dollars)
CL&P
 
NSTAR
Electric
 
PSNH
 
CL&P
 
NSTAR
Electric
 
PSNH
 
CL&P
 
NSTAR
Electric
 
PSNH
Compensation Expense
$
9.8

 
$
9.7

 
$
3.3

 
$
7.8

 
$
7.7

 
$
2.9

 
$
7.0

 
$
7.0

 
$
3.2

Future Income Tax Benefit
2.5

 
2.5

 
0.8

 
2.0

 
1.9

 
0.7

 
2.9

 
2.8

 
1.3