SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549-1004
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) March 15, 2002
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Commission File Number 1-6392
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PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
NEW HAMPSHIRE 02-0181050
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(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer incorporation
organization) or Identification No.)
780 NORTH COMMERCIAL STREET
MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE 03101
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(603) 669-4000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Item 4. Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountant.
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On March 15, 2002, Northeast Utilities ("the Company"), the parent
of the Registrant, decided to dismiss Arthur Andersen LLP ("Arthur
Andersen" or "AA") as the independent public accountants for the
Company and its subsidiaries, including the Registrant, effective
upon the completion of AA's audit of the Registrant's financial
statements for the year ended December 31, 2001. This determination
followed the Company's decision to seek proposals from other
independent accountants to audit the Company's consolidated
financial statements and the financial statements of its
subsidiaries for the year ending December 31, 2002. As of March 22,
2002, AA agreed to include its report of independent public
accountants for the Registrant in the Registrant's filing
on Form 10k for the year ended December 31, 2001 and ceased
The decision not to renew the engagement of AA was made by the
Board of Trustees of the Company based upon a recommendation of
its Audit Committee.
Arthur Andersen's reports on the financial statements for each of
the years ended 2001, 2000 and 1999 did not contain an adverse
opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or
modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
During the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999 and through
March 22, 2002, there were no disagreements with Arthur Andersen on
any matter of accounting principle or practice, financial statement
disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure which, if not resolved to
AA's satisfaction, would have caused them to make reference to the
subject matter in connection with their report on the Registrant's
financial statements for such years; and there were no reportable
events as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.
The Company provided Arthur Andersen with a copy of the foregoing
disclosures. Attached as Exhibit 16 is a copy of AA's letter, dated
March 22, 2002, stating its agreement with such statements.
Effective March 15, 2002, the Board of Trustees of the Company,
based on upon a recommendation of its Audit Committee, retained
Deloitte & Touche as the independent auditors to audit the Company's
consolidated financial statements and the financial statements of
its subsidiaries for the year ending December 31, 2002. The
decision to retain Deloitte & Touche will be submitted to
shareholders of the Company for nonbinding ratification at the
Company's 2002 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 14,
2002.
During the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000 and through March
22, 2002, the Registrant did not consult Deloitte & Touche with
respect to the application of accounting principles to a specified
transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit
opinion that might be rendered on the Registrant's consolidated
financial statements, or any other matters or reportable events as
set forth in Items 304(a)(2)(i) and (ii) of Regulation S-K.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits
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(c) Exhibits
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Exhibit 16 Letter from Arthur Andersen LLP Filed with
to The Securities and Exchange this document
Commission dated March
22, 2002
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this
report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
hereunto duly authorized.
PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
(registrant)
By: /s/ Gregory B. Butler
Name: Gregory B. Butler
Title: Vice President, Secretary and
General Counsel of Northeast
Utilities Service Company as Agent
for Registrant
Date: March 28, 2002