COMMON SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Equity [Abstract]

COMMON SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS

COMMON SHARES

The following table sets forth the Eversource parent common shares and the shares of common stock of CL&P, NSTAR Electric and PSNH that were authorized and issued, as well as the respective per share par values:  

	Shares
	Par Value		Authorized as of December 31,		Issued as of December 31,
			2023	2022	2023	2022
Eversource	$	5	410,000,000	380,000,000	359,984,073	359,984,073
CL&P	$	10	24,500,000	24,500,000	6,035,205	6,035,205
NSTAR Electric	$	1	100,000,000	100,000,000	200	200
PSNH	$	1	100,000,000	100,000,000	301	301

Common Share Issuances and 2022 Equity Distribution Agreement: On May 11, 2022, Eversource entered into an equity distribution agreement pursuant to which it may offer and sell up to $1.2 billion of its common shares from time to time through an “at-the-market” (ATM) equity offering program. Eversource may issue and sell its common shares through its sales agents during the term of this agreement. Shares may be offered in transactions on the New York Stock Exchange, in the over-the-counter market, through negotiated transactions or otherwise. Sales may be made at either market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. In 2023, no shares were issued under this agreement. In 2022, Eversource issued 2,165,671 common shares, which resulted in proceeds of $197.1 million, net of issuance costs. Eversource used the net proceeds received for general corporate purposes.

Treasury Shares: As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, there were 10,443,807 and 11,540,218 Eversource common shares held as treasury shares, respectively.  As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, there were 349,540,266 and 348,443,855 Eversource common shares outstanding, respectively.

Acquisition of The Torrington Water Company: On October 3, 2022, Aquarion acquired The Torrington Water Company (TWC) following the receipt of all required approvals. The acquisition was structured as a stock-for-stock exchange, and Eversource issued 925,264 treasury shares at closing for a purchase price of $72.1 million.

Acquisition of New England Service Company: On December 1, 2021, Aquarion acquired New England Service Company (NESC), pursuant to a definitive agreement entered into on April 8, 2021. The acquisition was structured as a stock-for-stock merger and Eversource issued 462,517 treasury shares at closing for a purchase price of $38.1 million.

Eversource issues treasury shares to satisfy awards under the Company's incentive plans, shares issued under the dividend reinvestment and share purchase plan, and matching contributions under the Eversource 401k Plan. Eversource also issued treasury shares for its December 2021 and October 2022 water business acquisitions. The issuance of treasury shares represents a non-cash transaction, as the treasury shares were used to fulfill Eversource's obligations that require the issuance of common shares.

On May 3, 2023, shareholders voted to increase the authorized common shares from 380,000,000 shares to 410,000,000 shares.

COMMON SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS

Dividends on the preferred stock of CL&P and NSTAR Electric totaled $7.5 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.  These dividends were presented as Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests on the Eversource statements of income. Noncontrolling Interest – Preferred Stock of Subsidiaries on the Eversource balance sheets totaled $155.6 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.  On the Eversource balance sheets, Common Shareholders' Equity was fully attributable to Eversource parent and Noncontrolling Interest – Preferred Stock of Subsidiaries was fully attributable to the noncontrolling interest.

For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, there was no change in ownership of the common equity of CL&P and NSTAR Electric.