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REGULATORY ACCOUNTING
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2021
Regulated Operations [Abstract]  
REGULATORY ACCOUNTING REGULATORY ACCOUNTING
Eversource's utility companies are subject to rate regulation that is based on cost recovery and meets the criteria for application of accounting guidance for rate-regulated operations, which considers the effect of regulation on the timing of the recognition of certain revenues and expenses. The regulated companies' financial statements reflect the effects of the rate-making process.  The rates charged to the customers of Eversource's regulated companies are designed to collect each company's costs to provide service, plus a return on investment.

The application of accounting guidance for rate-regulated enterprises results in recording regulatory assets and liabilities. Regulatory assets represent the deferral of incurred costs that are probable of future recovery in customer rates. Regulatory assets are amortized as the incurred costs are recovered through customer rates. Regulatory liabilities represent either revenues received from customers to fund expected costs that have not yet been incurred or probable future refunds to customers.

Management believes it is probable that each of the regulated companies will recover its respective investments in long-lived assets and the regulatory assets that have been recorded.  If management were to determine that it could no longer apply the accounting guidance applicable to rate-regulated enterprises, or if management could not conclude it is probable that costs would be recovered from customers in future rates, the applicable costs would be charged to net income in the period in which the determination is made.

Regulatory Assets:  The components of regulatory assets were as follows:
 As of March 31, 2021As of December 31, 2020
(Millions of Dollars)EversourceCL&PNSTAR
Electric		PSNHEversourceCL&PNSTAR
Electric		PSNH
Benefit Costs$2,733.6 $618.5 $674.2 $262.3 $2,794.2 $632.3 $690.0 $267.6 
Income Taxes, Net751.7 459.1 111.4 17.4 747.1 458.9 110.4 15.2 
Securitized Stranded Costs511.3 — — 511.3 522.1 — — 522.1 
Storm Restoration Costs, Net789.5 529.8 184.3 75.4 765.6 515.1 186.4 64.1 
Regulatory Tracker Mechanisms856.1 284.3 360.5 87.5 850.5 246.6 332.2 95.3 
Derivative Liabilities293.4 293.1 — — 296.3 293.1 — — 
Goodwill-related310.5 — 266.5 — 314.7 — 270.2 — 
Asset Retirement Obligations114.9 32.6 53.8 3.9 118.4 32.1 58.6 3.9 
Other Regulatory Assets151.6 32.6 53.7 19.4 161.0 33.7 56.1 20.9 
Total Regulatory Assets6,512.6 2,250.0 1,704.4 977.2 6,569.9 2,211.8 1,703.9 989.1 
Less:  Current Portion1,081.1 386.1 430.4 107.3 1,076.6 345.6 399.9 115.9 
Total Long-Term Regulatory Assets$5,431.5 $1,863.9 $1,274.0 $869.9 $5,493.3 $1,866.2 $1,304.0 $873.2 

Regulatory Costs in Long-Term Assets:  Eversource's regulated companies had $215.5 million (including $98.0 million for CL&P, $66.5 million for NSTAR Electric and $3.7 million for PSNH) and $196.9 million (including $84.1 million for CL&P, $69.8 million for NSTAR Electric and $4.3 million for PSNH) of additional regulatory costs as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, that were included in long-term assets on the balance sheets.  These amounts represent incurred costs for which recovery has not yet been specifically approved by the applicable regulatory agency.  However, based on regulatory policies or past precedent on similar costs, management believes it is probable that these costs will ultimately be approved and recovered from customers in rates.

As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, these regulatory costs included net incremental COVID-19 related costs deferred of $33.8 million and $24.0 million at Eversource, respectively, of which $27.3 million and $15.8 million, respectively, related to non-tracked uncollectible expense and the remainder related to facilities and fleet cleaning, sanitizing costs and supplies for personal protective equipment. Net incremental COVID-19 related costs deferred at CL&P, NSTAR Electric and PSNH totaled $8.8 million, $13.6 million and $0.6 million, respectively, as of March 31, 2021, and $4.7 million, $11.9 million and $1.1 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2020, and primarily related to non-tracked uncollectible expense deferred.

Regulatory Liabilities:  The components of regulatory liabilities were as follows:
 As of March 31, 2021As of December 31, 2020
(Millions of Dollars)EversourceCL&PNSTAR
Electric		PSNHEversourceCL&PNSTAR
Electric		PSNH
EDIT due to Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017$2,762.3 $1,008.1 $1,037.3 $366.5 $2,778.6 $1,010.7 $1,044.0 $371.5 
Cost of Removal644.2 105.1 372.1 16.4 624.8 98.4 363.6 12.9 
Benefit Costs79.1 — 68.7 — 83.6 — 72.5 — 
Regulatory Tracker Mechanisms467.0 175.2 165.2 40.4 366.5 148.9 139.7 47.8 
AFUDC - Transmission77.8 44.3 33.5 — 76.8 44.6 32.2 — 
Other Regulatory Liabilities353.4 73.3 70.1 11.2 309.9 39.5 63.2 9.8 
Total Regulatory Liabilities4,383.8 1,406.0 1,746.9 434.5 4,240.2 1,342.1 1,715.2 442.0 
Less:  Current Portion520.8 202.4 190.5 48.0 389.4 137.2 164.8 58.8 
Total Long-Term Regulatory Liabilities$3,863.0 $1,203.6 $1,556.4 $386.5 $3,850.8 $1,204.9 $1,550.4 $383.2 
Recent Regulatory Developments:

CL&P Tropical Storm Isaias Costs: On August 4, 2020, Tropical Storm Isaias caused catastrophic damage to our electric distribution system, which resulted in significant numbers and durations of customer outages, primarily in Connecticut. In terms of customer outages, this storm was one of the worst in CL&P’s history. PURA will investigate the prudence of costs incurred by CL&P to restore service in response to Tropical Storm Isaias. That investigation is expected to occur either in a separate proceeding not yet initiated or as part of CL&P’s next rate review proceeding. Tropical Storm Isaias resulted in deferred storm restoration costs of approximately $231 million at CL&P and $249 million at Eversource as of March 31, 2021. The estimated cost of restoration will change as additional cost information becomes available and final storm costs are deferred or capitalized. Although PURA found that CL&P’s performance in its preparation for and response to Tropical Storm Isaias fell below applicable performance standards in certain instances, CL&P believes it will be able to present credible evidence in a future proceeding demonstrating there is no reasonably close causal connection between the alleged sub-standard performance and the storm costs incurred. While some amount of storm costs may be disallowed by PURA in a future proceeding, any such amount cannot be estimated at this time. CL&P continues to believe that these storm restoration costs associated with Tropical Storm Isaias were prudently incurred and meet the criteria for cost recovery; and as a result, management does not expect the storm costs to have a material impact on the financial position or results of operations of Eversource or CL&P.

CL&P Tropical Storm Isaias Response Investigation: On April 28, 2021, PURA issued a final decision on CL&P’s compliance with its emergency response plan that concluded CL&P failed to comply with certain applicable storm performance standards and was imprudent in certain instances. See Note 9G, “Commitments and Contingencies - CL&P Tropical Storm Isaias Response Investigation,” for an estimated assessment by PURA accrued and recorded within current regulatory liabilities on CL&P’s balance sheet and for further information.