<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-12-019271.txt : 20120605
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-12-019271.hdr.sgml : 20120605
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20120605152709
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-12-019271
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20120601
FILED AS OF DATE:		20120605
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20120605

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BUTH JAY S.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001425286

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05324
		FILM NUMBER:		12888918

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NORTHEAST UTILITIES
		STREET 2:		56 PROSPECT STREET
		CITY:			HARTFORD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06103

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	Buth Jay
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20080128

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
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0305</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-06-01</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001425286</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BUTH JAY S.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O NORTHEAST UTILITIES</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>56 PROSPECT STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HARTFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06103</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>VP, Controller, Chief Acct Off</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares, $5.00 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-06-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>330</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>36.01</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15598</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares, $5.00 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>439</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>401k Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Shares, $5.00 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>143</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>143</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Reduction of restricted share units on distribution to satisfy tax withholding obligations.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes restricted share units and dividend equivalents thereon.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Shares held in trust under the Northeast Utilities Service Company 401k Plan, a qualified plan, according to information supplied by the plan's recordkeeper.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Matching contributions on reporting person's deferred compensation under the Northeast Utilities Deferred Compensation Plan for Executives, a non-qualified deferred compensation plan, that are nominally invested as common shares.  Each phantom share represents the right to receive the cash value of one NU common share upon a distribution event, following vesting. Additional phantom shares are issued upon the automatic reinvestment of dividend-equivalents exempt from the line item reporting under SEC Rule 16a-11.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jay S. Buth</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-06-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
