FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Preferred Stock Not Subject to Mandatory Redemption	$ 155,570	$ 155,570
Rate Reduction Bonds	518,517	540,122
Carrying Amount
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Preferred Stock Not Subject to Mandatory Redemption	155,600	155,600
Long-Term Debt	14,431,000	14,098,200
Rate Reduction Bonds	561,700	583,300
Fair Value | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Preferred Stock Not Subject to Mandatory Redemption	156,000	162,000
Long-Term Debt	15,177,100	15,170,200
Rate Reduction Bonds	596,000	625,900
CL&P
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Preferred Stock Not Subject to Mandatory Redemption	116,200	116,200
CL&P | Carrying Amount
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Preferred Stock Not Subject to Mandatory Redemption	116,200	116,200
Long-Term Debt	3,518,100	3,518,100
Rate Reduction Bonds	0	0
CL&P | Fair Value | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Preferred Stock Not Subject to Mandatory Redemption	113,800	117,800
Long-Term Debt	3,949,400	4,058,000
Rate Reduction Bonds	0	0
NSTAR Electric
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Preferred Stock Not Subject to Mandatory Redemption	43,000	43,000
NSTAR Electric | Carrying Amount
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Preferred Stock Not Subject to Mandatory Redemption	43,000	43,000
Long-Term Debt	3,642,300	3,342,100
Rate Reduction Bonds	0	0
NSTAR Electric | Fair Value | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Preferred Stock Not Subject to Mandatory Redemption	42,200	44,200
Long-Term Debt	3,901,200	3,659,900
Rate Reduction Bonds	0	0
PSNH
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Rate Reduction Bonds	518,517	540,122
PSNH | Carrying Amount
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Preferred Stock Not Subject to Mandatory Redemption	0	0
Long-Term Debt	951,700	951,600
Rate Reduction Bonds	561,700	583,300
PSNH | Fair Value | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Preferred Stock Not Subject to Mandatory Redemption	0	0
Long-Term Debt	995,800	1,005,700
Rate Reduction Bonds	$ 596,000	$ 625,900