Details on Long Term Debt (Parenthetical) (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 12, 2019
Northern Utilities Inc
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate			4.04%
6.33% Senior Notes, Due May 1, 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	6.33%	6.33%
Debt instrument due date	May 01, 2022	May 01, 2022
3.70% Senior Notes, Due August 1, 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	3.70%	3.70%
Debt instrument due date	Aug. 01, 2026	Aug. 01, 2026
3.43% Senior Notes, Due December 18, 2029
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	3.43%	3.43%
Debt instrument due date	Dec. 18, 2029	Dec. 18, 2029
First Mortgage Bonds 8.49% Senior Secured Notes, Due October 14, 2024 | Unitil Energy Systems Inc
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	8.49%	8.49%
Debt instrument due date	Oct. 14, 2024	Oct. 14, 2024
First Mortgage Bonds 6.96% Senior Secured Notes, Due September 1, 2028 | Unitil Energy Systems Inc
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	6.96%	6.96%
Debt instrument due date	Sep. 01, 2028	Sep. 01, 2028
First Mortgage Bonds 8.00% Senior Secured Notes, Due May 1, 2031 | Unitil Energy Systems Inc
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	8.00%	8.00%
Debt instrument due date	May 01, 2031	May 01, 2031
First Mortgage Bonds 6.32% Senior Secured Notes, Due September 15, 2036 | Unitil Energy Systems Inc
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	6.32%	6.32%
Debt instrument due date	Sep. 15, 2036	Sep. 15, 2036
First Mortgage Bonds 3.58% Senior Secured Notes Due September 15, 2040 | Unitil Energy Systems Inc
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	3.58%	3.58%
Debt instrument due date	Sep. 15, 2040	Sep. 15, 2040
First Mortgage Bonds 4.18% Senior Secured Notes Due November 30, 2048 | Unitil Energy Systems Inc
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	4.18%	4.18%
Debt instrument due date	Nov. 30, 2048	Nov. 30, 2048
6.75% Senior Notes, Due November 30, 2023 | Fitchburg Gas and Electric Light Company
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	6.75%	6.75%
Debt instrument due date	Nov. 30, 2023	Nov. 30, 2023
6.79% Senior Notes, Due October 15, 2025 | Fitchburg Gas and Electric Light Company
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	6.79%	6.79%
Debt instrument due date	Oct. 15, 2025	Oct. 15, 2025
3.52% Senior Notes, Due November 1, 2027 | Fitchburg Gas and Electric Light Company
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	3.52%	3.52%
Debt instrument due date	Nov. 01, 2027	Nov. 01, 2027
3.52% Senior Notes, Due November 1, 2027 | Northern Utilities Inc
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	3.52%	3.52%
Debt instrument due date	Nov. 01, 2027	Nov. 01, 2027
7.37% Senior Notes, Due January 15, 2029 | Fitchburg Gas and Electric Light Company
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	7.37%	7.37%
Debt instrument due date	Jan. 15, 2029	Jan. 15, 2029
5.90% Notes, Due December 15, 2030 | Fitchburg Gas and Electric Light Company
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	5.90%	5.90%
Debt instrument due date	Dec. 15, 2030	Dec. 15, 2030
7.98% Notes, Due June 1, 2031 | Fitchburg Gas and Electric Light Company
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	7.98%	7.98%
Debt instrument due date	Jun. 01, 2031	Jun. 01, 2031
3.78% Senior Notes, Due September 15, 2040 | Fitchburg Gas and Electric Light Company
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	3.78%	3.78%
Debt instrument due date	Sep. 15, 2040	Sep. 15, 2040
3.78% Senior Notes, Due September 15, 2040 | Northern Utilities Inc
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	3.78%	3.78%
Debt instrument due date	Sep. 15, 2040	Sep. 15, 2040
4.32% Senior Notes, Due November 1, 2047 | Fitchburg Gas and Electric Light Company
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	4.32%	4.32%
Debt instrument due date	Nov. 01, 2047	Nov. 01, 2047
4.32% Senior Notes, Due November 1, 2047 | Northern Utilities Inc
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	4.32%	4.32%
Debt instrument due date	Nov. 01, 2047	Nov. 01, 2047
7.72% Senior Notes, Due December 3, 2038 | Northern Utilities Inc
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	7.72%	7.72%
Debt instrument due date	Dec. 03, 2038	Dec. 03, 2038
4.42% Senior Notes, Due October 15, 2044 | Northern Utilities Inc
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	4.42%	4.42%
Debt instrument due date	Oct. 15, 2044	Oct. 15, 2044
4.04% Senior Notes, Due September 12, 2049 | Northern Utilities Inc
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	4.04%	4.04%
Debt instrument due date	Sep. 12, 2049	Sep. 12, 2049
3.72% Senior Notes, Due November 1, 2027 | Granite State Gas Transmission Inc
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	3.72%	3.72%
Debt instrument due date	Nov. 01, 2027	Nov. 01, 2027
2.64% Senior Notes, Due December 18, 2030
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	2.64%	2.64%
Debt instrument due date	Dec. 18, 2030	Dec. 18, 2030