<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-12-023449.txt : 20120410
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-12-023449.hdr.sgml : 20120410
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20120410183647
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-12-023449
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20120410
FILED AS OF DATE:		20120410
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20120410

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Carmody Christine M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001441845

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05324
		FILM NUMBER:		12752876

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		800 BOYLSTON STREET
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02199

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>4
<SEQUENCE>1
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<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
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    <periodOfReport>2012-04-10</periodOfReport>

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        <issuerName>NORTHEAST UTILITIES</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NU</issuerTradingSymbol>
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            <rptOwnerCik>0001441845</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Carmody Christine M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE FEDERAL STREET, BUILDING 111-4</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SPRINGFIELD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01105</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP - Human Resources</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By 401(k)</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>49381</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>49381</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>28.12</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-04-10</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9840</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-05-03</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-05-03</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>9840</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9840</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>24.74</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-04-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6560</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-01-24</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-01-24</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6560</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-04-10</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>18368</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-01-22</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Shares</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option</value>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>26.90</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-04-10</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15744</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2013-01-28</value>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-01-28</value>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Shares</value>
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    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted share units, received in exchange for 6,825 deferred share units of NSTAR in connection with the merger of NSTAR into Northeast Utilities (the &quot;Merger&quot;).  On the date prior to the effective time of the Merger, the closing price of NSTAR's common shares was $47.65 per share, and the closing price of NU's common shares was $36.79 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Received in exchange for 7,799 common shares of NSTAR pursuant to the Merger.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Received in exchange for 4,183 common shares of NSTAR in connection with the Merger.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Received in exchange for 37,638  phantom shares of NSTAR (deferred compensation obligation).  Each phantom share is payable in one common share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Received in the Merger in exchange for an employee stock option to acquire 7,500 shares of NSTAR for $36.89 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Received in the Merger in exchange for an employee stock option to acquire 5,000 shares of NSTAR for $32.45 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Received in the Merger in exchange for an employee stock option to acquire 14,000 shares of NSTAR for $34.02 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">Received in the Merger in exchange for an employee stock option to acquire 12,000 shares of NSTAR for $35.28 per share.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Richard J. Morrison - Attorney in Fact for Christine M. Carmody</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-04-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
