DIVIDEND RESTRICTIONS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Equity [Abstract]

DIVIDEND RESTRICTIONS

DIVIDEND RESTRICTIONS

Eversource parent's ability to pay dividends may be affected by certain state statutes, the ability of its subsidiaries to pay common dividends and the leverage restriction tied to its consolidated total debt to total capitalization ratio requirement in its revolving credit agreements.  Pursuant to the joint revolving credit agreement of Eversource, CL&P, PSNH, NSTAR Gas, Yankee Gas and Aquarion Water Company of Connecticut, the joint revolving credit agreement of Eversource and EGMA, and to the NSTAR Electric revolving credit agreement, each company is required to maintain consolidated total indebtedness to total capitalization ratio of no greater than 65 percent at the end of each fiscal quarter. As of December 31, 2020, all companies were in compliance with such covenant and in compliance with all such provisions of the revolving credit agreements that may restrict the payment of dividends as of December 31, 2020.

The Retained Earnings balances subject to dividend restrictions were $4.61 billion for Eversource, $2.17 billion for CL&P, $2.53 billion for NSTAR Electric and $615.0 million for PSNH as of December 31, 2020.

CL&P, NSTAR Electric and PSNH are subject to Section 305 of the Federal Power Act that makes it unlawful for a public utility to make or pay a dividend from any funds "properly included in its capital account." Management believes that this Federal Power Act restriction, as applied to CL&P, NSTAR Electric and PSNH, would not be construed or applied by the FERC to prohibit the payment of dividends from retained earnings for lawful and legitimate business purposes. In addition, certain state statutes may impose additional limitations on such companies and on NSTAR Gas, Yankee Gas, EGMA, Aquarion Water Company of Connecticut, Aquarion Water Company of Massachusetts and Aquarion Water Company of New Hampshire. Such state law restrictions do not restrict the payment of dividends from retained earnings or net income.