<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-13-019306.txt : 20130604
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-13-019306.hdr.sgml : 20130604
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20130604154349
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-13-019306
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20130603
FILED AS OF DATE:		20130604
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20130604

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

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:		13891147

	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
</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>2013-06-03</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>2013-06-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>358</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>41.67</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15385</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>580</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>401k Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Disposition of restricted share units to satisfy tax withholding obligations upon settlement.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes shares and 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 record keeper.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Richard J. Morrison, attorney-in-fact for Mr. Buth</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-06-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>doc1.txt
<DESCRIPTION>POWER OF ATTORNEY (PUBLIC): EXHIBIT 24
<TEXT>
EXHIBIT 24

POWER OF ATTORNEY

     Know all by these presents, that the undersigned hereby constitutes
and appoints each of Gregory B. Butler, Richard J. Morrison, Kerry J
Tomasevich, and Matthew Benson, signing singly, as his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact to:

     (1)     Obtain necessary EDGAR access codes and execute for and on
behalf of the undersigned Forms 144 under the Securities Act of 1933
and Rule 144 promulgated thereunder, and Forms 3, 4 and 5 in accordance
with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules
thereunder;

     (2)     Do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the
undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to complete the
execution of any such Form 144 and Form 3, 4 and 5 and the timely
filing of such form with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission and any other authority; and

     (3)     Take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection
with the foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact, may
be of benefit to, in the best interest of, or legally required by, the
undersigned, it being understood that the documents executed by
such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this
Power of Attorney shall be in such form and shall contain such terms
and conditions as such attorney-in-fact may approve in his discretion.

     The undersigned hereby grants to each such attorney-in-fact full
power and authority to do and perform all and every act and thing
whatsoever requisite, necessary and proper to be done in the exercise
of any of the rights and powers herein granted, as fully to all intents and
purposes as such attorney-in-fact might or could do if personally present,
with full power of substitution or revocation, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that such attorney-in-fact, or his substitute or substitutes,
shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power of attorney
and the rights and powers herein granted.  The undersigned acknowledges
that the foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such capacity at the
request of the undersigned, are not assuming any of the undersigned's
responsibilities to comply with Rule 144 of the Securities Act of 1933
and/or Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney
to be executed as of April  2 , 2013.



/S/ JAY S. BUTH
Jay S. Buth

State of Massachusetts
County of Suffolk

On this  2nd  day of April, 2013, before me personally appeared Jay S.
Buth to me known to be the person described in and who executed the
foregoing instrument, and acknowledged that he executed the same as
his free act and deed.



/S/ RICHARD J. MORRISON
Notary Public
Print Name: Richard J. Morrison

My commission expires:  January 31, 2014

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
