-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Hv6eI7bLePRNSjBAYdLml4TnXJFx8+4DwMo4BFv1XfN6JSVkcIdUaLEjt6vNhI5z
 8mIRpX9jiyUECoex7teRRg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000072741-07-000125.txt : 20070912
<SEC-HEADER>0000072741-07-000125.hdr.sgml : 20070912
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070912143023
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000072741-07-000125
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070904
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070912
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070912

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ROBB JAMES B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001276812

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05324
		FILM NUMBER:		071112970

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8606655000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O NORTHEAST UTILITIES
		STREET 2:		107 SELDEN STREET
		CITY:			BERLIN
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06037

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NORTHEAST UTILITIES
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000072741
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911]
		IRS NUMBER:				042147929
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE FEDERAL STREET
		STREET 2:		BUILDING 111-4
		CITY:			SPRINGFIELD
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01105
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8606655000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		107 SELDEN ST
		CITY:			BERLIN
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06037-1616

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NORTHEAST UTILITIES SYSTEM
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19961121
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>main3.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-09-04</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000072741</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NORTHEAST UTILITIES</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NU</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001276812</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ROBB JAMES B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O NORTHEAST UTILITIES</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>107 SELDEN STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BERLIN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06037</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP-Enterprise Planning &amp; Dev.</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>No securities beneficially owned.</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0.0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James B. Robb</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-09-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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