<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-12-029546.txt : 20121102
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-12-029546.hdr.sgml : 20121102
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20121102150208
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-12-029546
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20121005
FILED AS OF DATE:		20121102
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20121102

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JUDGE JAMES J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001214396

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05324
		FILM NUMBER:		121176521

	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/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4a.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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    <periodOfReport>2012-10-05</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2012-10-19</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

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

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            <rptOwnerName>JUDGE JAMES J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O NORTHEAST UTILITIES</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE FEDERAL STREET, BUILDING 111-4</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SPRINGFIELD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01105</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
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            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>EVP &amp; CFO</officerTitle>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                <value>Common Shares, $5.00 par value</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>401k Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
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            <securityTitle>
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                </transactionShares>
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                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>30445</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
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                    <value>D</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>30445</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>75790</value>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Shares</value>
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                <value>2012-10-31</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1906</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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                    <value>Common Shares, $5.00 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>73884</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The disposition of Common Shares, which shares were held in reporting person's accounts at State Street Bank and Trust Company pursuant to the terms of the NSTAR Deferred Compensation Plan, was effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by the reporting person on September 4, 2012.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This report is made to correct a report on Form 4 filed on October 19, 2012 that incorrectly reported 34,581 shares as having all been sold on October 17, 2012.  The correct dates of the dispositions of the 34,581 shares are as follows:  October 5, 2012 (1,958 shares); October 9, 2012 (272 shares); October 17, 2012 (30,445 shares); and October 31, 2012 (1,906 shares).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Phantom shares held in the NSTAR Deferred Compensation Plan.  Each phantom share represents the right to receive the cash value of one 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/ Richard J. Morrison, attorney-in-fact for Mr. Judge</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-11-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
