Exhibit 99

NU LOGO                                           P. O. Box 270
                                       Hartford, CT  06141-0270
                                              107 Selden Street
                                              Berlin, CT  06037
                                                 (860)-665-5000
                                                     www.nu.com
News Release

CONTACT:            Mary Jo Keating
OFFICE:        (860) 665-5181



            NU ANNOUNCES NEW CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER


     BERLIN, Connecticut, September 15, 2004-Northeast Utilities
(NU) today announced that John H. Forsgren, vice chairman of the
board, executive vice president and chief financial officer, will
retire effective January 1, 2005.  At that time, David R. McHale,
NU vice president and treasurer, will be promoted to senior vice
president and chief financial officer.  Randy A. Shoop, NU
assistant treasurer, will become vice president and treasurer.

     "John's leadership at Northeast Utilities since joining us
eight years ago has transformed our financial position," said
Charles W. Shivery, chairman, president and chief executive
officer of Northeast Utilities.  "He presided over the re-
establishment of our financial stability during the nuclear
turnaround, guided our successful utility restructuring process,
including the establishment of our competitive businesses, and
helped guide our recovery following our 18 months of merger
negotiations."

     "Although John's retirement was planned, we will miss him.
He can leave knowing he has left our company in strong financial
shape, with the best credit rating in over 30 years," added
Shivery.

     "And, he passes his leadership to a uniquely-qualified
successor, David McHale," Shivery continued.  "Dave's current
role as treasurer has been an expanded one, during which he has
had the responsibility for bank and investor relations, cash
management, financial planning and analysis and investment
management.  In addition, he has just lead a successful
enterprise planning process for the corporation."

     Forsgren, 58, joined Northeast Utilities in 1996, after a 25-
year career in corporate finance leadership positions in other
industries.

     McHale, 43, joined NU in 1981 as an intern in the economic
and load forecasting organization.  In 1989, he was promoted to
manager of investor relations and in 1995, appointed assistant
treasurer.  McHale was promoted to treasurer in 1998.  He is a
member of the risk oversight committee for NU's competitive
businesses and played a key role in the restructuring process and
NU's merger and acquisition activities.

     McHale earned a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from
Southern Connecticut State University, a Master's of Business
Administration specializing in finance from the University of New
Haven and recently completed the Stanford University Executive
Program in Strategy and Organization.  He lives in Burlington,
Connecticut, with his wife and four children.

                            - more -


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     Shoop, 46, joined NU in 1997, as manager of bank relations.
He was promoted to assistant treasurer in 1999.  Currently, he is
responsible for corporate finance, treasury operations, cash
management, credit risk and bank relations.  A Certified Public
Accountant, Shoop held key financial positions at United
Technologies Corporation between 1982-1997.  Prior to that, he
was with the public accounting firm of Bailey, Moore, Glazer,
Schafer and Proto in Woodbridge, Connecticut.

     Shoop has a Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting from the
University of Bridgeport and a Master's of Business
Administration in finance from the University of Hartford.  He
resides in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, with his wife and two
children.


     Northeast Utilities is a Fortune 500 diversified energy
company located in Connecticut with operations throughout the
Northeast.  Through its competitive and regulated subsidiaries,
NU provides Energy for a Changing World with a full range of
energy-related products and services to millions of residential
and business customers from Maine to Maryland.  From delivering
electricity and natural gas, to marketing energy products, to
operating and maintaining power plant facilities, NU is committed
to safety, reliability and expanding consumers' energy options.
For more information on Northeast Utilities and its subsidiaries,
visit the NU family of Web sites at www.nu.com.

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