|                                                                                                                                                                                                 |        |                    |        |                                  |        |               |        |               |        |               |        |               |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|--------------------|--------|----------------------------------|--------|---------------|--------|---------------|--------|---------------|--------|---------------|
| The Connecticut Light and Power Company                                                                                                                                                         |   |               |   |                             |   |          |   |          |   |          |   | Exhibit 12    |
| Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges                                                                                                                                                              |   |               |   |                             |   |          |   |          |   |          |   |          |
|                                                                                                                                                                                            |   |               |   |                             |   |          |   |          |   |          |   |          |
|                                                                                                                                                                                            |   | Nine Months        |   |                             |   |          |   |          |   |          |   |          |
| (Thousands of Dollars)                                                                                                                                                                          |   | Ended              |   |                             |   |          |   |          |   |          |   |          |
|                                                                                                                                                                                            |   | September 30, 2009 |   | For the Years Ended December 31, |
|                                                                                                                                                                                            |   | (unaudited)        |   | 2008                             |   | 2007          |   | 2006          |   | 2005          |   | 2004          |
| Earnings, as defined:                                                                                                                                                                           |   |               |   |                             |   |          |   |          |   |          |   |          |
|    Net income                                                                                                                                                                    | $      | 158,074       | $      | 191,158                     | $      | 133,564  | $      | 200,007  | $      | 94,845   | $      | 88,016   |
|    Income tax expense/(benefit)                                                                                                                                                  |   | 87,178        |   | 77,852                      |   | 52,353   |   | (43,961)      |   | 32,174   |   | 45,539   |
|    Equity in (earnings)/losses of regional nuclear                                                                                                                               |   |               |   |                             |   |          |   |          |   |          |   |          |
|      generating companies                                                                                                                                              |   | (232)              |   | (366)                            |   | (1,901)       |   | 854      |   | (1,153)       |   | (568)         |
|    Dividends received from regional equity investees                                                                                                                             |   | 1,520         |   | -                           |   | 2,596    |   | 1,407    |   | 412      |   | 2,577    |
|    Fixed charges, as below                                                                                                                                                       |   | 122,531       |   | 165,170                     |   | 155,557  |   | 131,923  |   | 133,321  |   | 119,857  |
|    Less: Interest capitalized (including AFUDC)                                                                                                                                  |   | (1,833)            |   | (12,991)                         |   | (10,924)      |   | (6,610)       |   | (6,719)       |   | (3,110)       |
| Total earnings, as defined                                                                                                                                                                      | $      | 367,238       | $      | 420,823                     | $      | 331,245  | $      | 283,620  | $      | 252,880  | $      | 252,311  |
|                                                                                                                                                                                            |   |               |   |                             |   |          |   |          |   |          |   |          |
| Fixed charges, as defined:                                                                                                                                                                      |   |               |   |                             |   |          |   |          |   |          |   |          |
|    Interest on long-term debt (a)                                                                                                                                                | $      | 99,486        | $      | 104,954                     | $      | 84,292   | $      | 64,873   | $      | 59,019   | $      | 43,308   |
|    Interest on rate reduction bonds                                                                                                                                              |   | 15,342        |   | 29,129                      |   | 37,728   |   | 46,692   |   | 55,796   |   | 63,667   |
|    Other interest (b)                                                                                                                                                            |   | 1,420         |   | 12,163                      |   | 16,413   |   | 6,281    |   | 5,220    |   | 3,072    |
|    Rental interest factor                                                                                                                                                        |   | 4,450         |   | 5,933                       |   | 6,200    |   | 7,467    |   | 6,567    |   | 6,700    |
|    Interest capitalized (including AFUDC)                                                                                                                                        |   | 1,833         |   | 12,991                      |   | 10,924   |   | 6,610    |   | 6,719    |   | 3,110    |
| Total fixed charges, as defined                                                                                                                                                                 | $      | 122,531       | $      | 165,170                     | $      | 155,557  | $      | 131,923  | $      | 133,321  | $      | 119,857  |
|                                                                                                                                                                                            |   |               |   |                             |   |          |   |          |   |          |   |          |
|                                                                                                                                                                                            |   |               |   |                             |   |          |   |          |   |          |   |          |
| Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges                                                                                                                                                              |   | 3.00          |   | 2.55                        |   | 2.13     |   | 2.15     |   | 1.90     |   | 2.11     |
|                                                                                                                                                                                            |   |               |   |                             |   |          |   |          |   |          |   |          |
|                                                                                                                                                                                            |   |               |   |                             |   |          |   |          |   |          |   |          |
| (a)

Interest on long-term debt amounts include amortized premiums, discounts and capitalized expenses related to indebtedness.                                                                 |   |               |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                            |   |               |   |                             |   |          |   |          |   |          |   |          |
| (b)

For the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, other interest includes interest related to accounting for uncertain tax positions.  |