Certificate File No. 70-9839




File No. 70-9839



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549



 

Application of Northeast Utilities,

)

CERTIFICATE PURSUANT TO RULE 24

The Connecticut Light and Power Company,

)

UNDER THE PUBLIC UTILITY HOLDING

Western Massachusetts Electric Company,

)

COMPANY ACT OF 1935

on Form U-1

)

 



Pursuant to the requirements of Rules 42, 43, 44, 46(a)and 54 under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, Northeast Utilities ("NU"), a registered holding company, Western Massachusetts Electric Company (“WMECO”), an electric utility subsidiary of NU and The Connecticut Light and Power Company (“CL&P”), an electric utility subsidiary of NU, hereby files this quarterly report as required by the Securities and Exchange Commission's order authorizing the repurchase of common stock out of capital or unearned surplus from parent.  (HCAR No. 35-27529, May 16, 2002, File No. 70-9839) ("Order").  


For the quarter ended December 31, 2004, the following information is reported pursuant to the Order.


1)

A total capitalization calculation to include a breakdown of the common stock equity account and by percentage for each equity and debt category for the period ending for each Applicant that indicates the amount of dividends paid to NU and/or the amount of stock repurchased from NU during the quarter; total capitalization is to include all short-term debt and current maturities.


The Connecticut Light and Power Company (CL&P)

As of December 31, 2004

 

(Thousands
of Dollars)

 

%  

 

Common shareholder's equity

   

 

 

  Common shares

$

60,352 

 

2.0 

%

  Capital surplus, paid in

 

414,764 

 

13.4 

 

  Retained earnings

 

347,176 

 

11.2 

 

  Total common shareholder's equity

 

822,292 

 

26.6 

 

Preferred stock

 

116,200 

 

3.8 

 

Long-term and short-term debt

 

1,157,916 

 

37.4 

 

Rate reduction bonds

 

995,233 

 

32.2 

 
 

$

3,091,641 

 

100.0 

%


A common dividend of $11,768,649.75 was declared on December 15, 2004, and was paid to NU on December 30, 2004.  









Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECO)

As of December 31, 2004

 

(Thousands
of Dollars)

 

%  

 

Common shareholder's equity

   

 

 

  Common shares

$

10,866 

 

2.0 

%

  Capital surplus, paid in

 

76,041 

 

14.2 

 

  Retained earnings

 

77,565 

 

14.5 

 

  Total common shareholder's equity

 

164,472 

 

30.7 

 

Long-term and short-term debt

 

248,584 

 

46.4 

 

Rate reduction bonds

 

122,489 

 

22.9 

 
 

$

535,545 

 

100.0 

%


A common dividend of $1,621,255.69 was declared on December 15, 2004, and was paid to NU on December 30, 2004.


2)

The current senior debt ratings of CL&P and WMECO, including a representation that such ratings are at or above investment grade.  


As of December 31, 2004, the senior secured debt ratings issued by Standard and Poor's Corporation and Moody’s of CL&P are A- and A3, respectively and the senior unsecured debt ratings of WMECO are BBB+ and Baa2, respectively.  Each of CL&P and WMECO represent that such ratings are “investment grade” ratings.


3)

The Utilities’ cash-on-hand both during the quarter and as of the end of each quarter and a representation as to whether internal cash funds available during the quarter were sufficient to fund each company's normal business operations or had to be supplemented with borrowings from working capital facilities.  


CL&P and WMECO represent that during the quarter ended December 31, 2004, internal cash funds available during the quarter, confirmed with financing activities set forth below, were sufficient to fund each company's normal business operations.  


 



Cash beginning of period

10/01/04





Net cash flows

provided by
operating activities

 



Net cash flows
(used in)
investing
activities

 


Net cash flows

(used in)/

provided by

financing activities

 



Cash

end of

period
12/31/04

  
 

(Thousands of Dollars)

  

CL&P

$23,132 

 

$28,005 

 

$(44,972)

 

$(557)

 

$5,608 

 

WMECO

 

12,341 

 

(15,954)

 

5,290 

 

1,678 

 








SIGNATURE



Pursuant to the requirements of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, the undersigned company has duly caused this certificate to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.




NORTHEAST UTILITIES
THE CONNECTICUT LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY

WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC COMPANY

 
 


/s/ John P. Stack

     John P. Stack

     Vice President - Accounting and Controller

     Northeast Utilities

     P.O. Box 270

     Hartford, CT 06141-0270

     February 25, 2005