<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-12-022606.txt : 20120719
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-12-022606.hdr.sgml : 20120719
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20120719150428
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-12-022606
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20120717
FILED AS OF DATE:		20120719
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20120719

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SHIVERY CHARLES W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001054818

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05324
		FILM NUMBER:		12969911

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

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>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-07-17</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001054818</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SHIVERY CHARLES W</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>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Non-Exec Chmn of Bd; Trustee</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares, $5.00 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-07-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1921</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>774711</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>2339</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By 401(k) Plan Trustee</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>9800</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9800</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted share units all of which vest on January 10, 2013, unless the Reporting Person's service as a Trustee terminates for any reason other than cause on a date prior to January 10, 2013, in which case the RSUs will vest (i) in their entirety for Trustees age 65 and over on such date, or (ii) prorated for service as a Trustee in the nine months preceding January 10, 2013 for any person who ceases to be Trustee prior to attaining the age of 65 on such date (and the balance of the unvested RSUs will be forfeited).  The RSUs will be forfeited if the Reporting Person's service as a Trustee terminates for cause.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes restricted share units and dividend equivalents thereon. Of the total shares owned, the reporting person holds 1,500 of these shares with his spouse.</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">Reporting Person's deferred compensation under the Northeast Utilities Deferred Compensation Plan for Executives, a non-qualified deferred compensation plan, that is 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>/s/ Jeffrey C. Miller, authorized signatory for Mr. Shivery</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-07-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
