Document:

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10(u)

                              CONSULTING AGREEMENT

         Consulting Agreement (the "Agreement"), dated as of the 4th day of
January 2000, between Peoples Heritage Financial Group, Inc. (the "Company") and
David D. Hindle (the "Consultant").

                                   WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS, the Company desires to have the Consultant provide, and the
Consultant is willing to provide the Company with, consulting services to the
Company on the terms and conditions set forth herein;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants set forth
herein and other good and valuable consideration, the parties hereto agree as
follows:

         1.       CONSULTANCY.

         (a)      During the calendar year ended December 31, 2000 (the
"Consulting Period"), the Consultant undertakes to provide his personal advice
and counsel to the Company regarding its operations, customer relationships,
customer service and other business matters (collectively, the "Consulting
Services"), subject to the terms and conditions which are set forth herein.

                  (i)      In no event shall the Consultant be required to
provide Consulting Services hereunder for more than 25 hours per week or 100
hours in any calendar month during the Consulting Period.

                  (ii)     The Consultant shall provide Consulting Services
commensurate with the Consultant's prior experience as may be reasonably
requested by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company or his designee from
time to time and at mutually agreeable times. It is contemplated that the
Consulting Services will include, without limitation, service as Chairman of the
Customer Service Committee of the Company; continuation of the "customer
scorecard" reporting previously conducted by the Consultant; monthly meetings
between the Consultant and the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, the
Management Committee of the Company and/or the Board of Directors of the
Company; attendance at certain public functions on behalf of the Company and its
banking subsidiaries in states in which they have offices; and attendance at
certain functions of the Company. Consulting Services may be provided in person,
telephonically, electronically or by correspondence to the extent appropriate
under the circumstances.

                  (iii)    The Consultant shall provide the Consulting Services
in the Haverhill, Massachusetts metropolitan area, provided that the Consultant
may be required to provide Consulting Services at the executive offices of the
Company located in Portland, Maine up to not more than two times per month
during the Consulting Period.

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         (b)      The Company shall reimburse the Consultant or otherwise
provide for or pay for all reasonable expenses incurred by the Consultant at the
request of the Company, subject to such reasonable documentation as may be
requested by the Company. If such expenses are paid in the first instance by the
Consultant, the Company shall reimburse the Consultant therefor upon receipt of
such reasonable documentation as may be requested by the Company.

         (c)      During the Consulting Period, the Consultant shall be treated
as an independent contractor and shall not be deemed to be an employee of the
Company or any subsidiary or other affiliate of the Company for any purpose.

         2.       NON-COMPETE.

         The Consultant agrees that during the Consulting Period the Consultant
will not, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the
Company, (i) become a director, officer, employee, principal, agent or
consultant of any insured depository institution, trust company or parent
holding company of any such institution or company which has an office in
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts or New Hampshire, and transacts business in
any area in such states in which the Company or any of its banking subsidiaries
maintains offices, provided, however, that this provision shall not prohibit the
Consultant from owning bonds, preferred stock or up to five percent (5%) of the
outstanding common stock of any such entity if such common stock is publicly
traded, (ii) solicit or induce, or cause others to solicit or induce, any
employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to leave the employment of
such entities or (iii) solicit any customer of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries other than in connection with the provision of Consulting Services
hereunder.

         3.       CONFIDENTIALITY.

         Except (i) in the course of providing Consulting Services hereunder or
(ii) as required by law or regulation (including without limitation in
connection with any judicial or administrative process or proceeding), the
Consultant shall keep secret and confidential and shall not disclose to any
third party in any fashion or for any purpose whatsoever any information
regarding the Company or any of its subsidiaries which is (i) not available to
the general public and/or (ii) not generally known outside the Company, to which
he has or will have had access at any time during the course of his employment
by the Company or its subsidiaries or his consultancy with the Company,
including, without limitation, any such information relating to: business or
operations; plans, strategies, prospects or objectives; products, technology,
processes or specifications; research and development operations or plans;
customers and customer lists; distribution, sales, service, support and
marketing practices and operations; financial condition, results of operations
and prospects; operational strengths and weaknesses; and personnel and
compensation policies and procedures.

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<PAGE>   3

         4.       INJUNCTIVE RELIEF.

         Without intending to limit the remedies available to the Company, the
Consultant agrees that damages at law will be an insufficient remedy to the
Company in the event that the Consultant violates any of the provisions of
Sections 2 or 3, and that the Company may apply for and, upon the requisite
showing, have injunctive relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to
restrain the breach or threatened breach of or otherwise to specifically enforce
any of the covenants contained in Sections 2 or 3.

         5.       RELEASE.

         (a)      For, and in consideration of the commitments made herein by
the Company, the Consultant, for himself and for his heirs, successors and
assigns, does hereby release completely and forever discharge the Company and
its subsidiaries, affiliates, stockholders, attorneys, officers, directors,
agents, employees, successors and assigns, and any other party associated with
the Company (the "Released Parties"), to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law, from any and all claims, rights, demands, actions, liabilities,
obligations, causes of action of any and all kind, nature and character
whatsoever, known or unknown, in any way connected with his employment by the
Company or any of its subsidiaries (including in each case predecessors
thereof), either as a director, officer or employee, or termination of such
employment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Consultant does not release the
Company from any obligations of the Company to the Consultant under (i) any
employee benefit plan or arrangement of the Company pursuant to which the
Consultant is entitled to any post-retirement benefits or payments, (ii) Section
5.9 of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 30, 1996, among the
Company, Peoples Heritage Merger Corp. and Family Bancorp (the "Merger
Agreement"), and (iii) this Agreement.

         (b)      For and in consideration of the commitments made herein by the
Consultant, including without limitation the releases in paragraph (a) above,
the Company, for itself, and for its successors and assigns does hereby release
completely and forever discharge the Consultant and his heirs, successors and
assigns, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from any and all
claims, rights, demands, actions, liabilities, obligations, causes of action of
any and all kind, nature and character whatsoever, known or unknown, in any way
connected with the Consultant=s employment by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries (including predecessors thereof), either as a director, officer or
employee. Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary, the Company
does not release the Consultant from claims arising out of any breach by the
Consultant of (i) any law or regulation by the Consultant during the term of and
related to his employment by the Company or any of its subsidiaries (including
predecessors thereof) or (ii) this Agreement.

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<PAGE>   4

         6.       COMPENSATION.

         (a)      In consideration of the obligations and agreements of the
Consultant hereunder, the Company agrees to pay to the Consultant compensation
during the Consulting Period at a rate of $28,200 per year, payable in 12 equal
monthly installments on the last business day of each calendar month during the
Consulting Period. Payments to the Consultant under this Section 6 may be paid
by the Company by (i) check mailed to the address of the Consultant set forth in
Section 10 hereof or at such other address as the Consultant may notify the
Company in accordance with the terms of such section or (ii) deposit to an
account designated in writing by the Consultant.

         (b)      For purposes of this Agreement, the term "business day" means
any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions
in the State of Maine are authorized by law, regulation or executive order to
remain closed.

         (c)      In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, (i) any
remaining payments due to the Consultant pursuant to paragraph (a) of this
Section 6 shall become immediately due and payable in one lump sum payment, and
(ii) the Consultant shall not have any obligations under Section 2 of this
Agreement beyond the date of the Change in Control. A "Change in Control of the
Company" shall be deemed to have occurred: (i) if any "person," as such term is
used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
"Exchange Act") (other than the Company and any trustee or other fiduciary
holding securities under any employee benefit plan of the Company), is or
becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange
Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 25% or
more of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities;
(ii) if at any time during the term of this Agreement, individuals who at the
beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors, and any new director
whose election by the Board of Directors or nomination for election by the
Company's stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the
directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the
two-year period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so
approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board of
Directors; (iii) upon the consummation of a merger or consolidation of the
Company with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation that
would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately
prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by
being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 50% of
the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company outstanding
immediately after such merger or consolidation; or (iv) upon the complete
liquidation of the Company or the consummation of the sale or disposition by the
Company of all or substantially all of the Company's assets.

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<PAGE>   5

         7.       NATURE OF PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS.

         (a)      Except as otherwise provided in Section 7(b) hereof, the
Company's obligation to pay the Consultant the benefits and payments provided in
Section 6 hereof shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected
by any circumstances, including, without limitation, any purported termination
of this Agreement, other than pursuant to Section 7(b) hereof, set-off,
counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which the Company may have
against the Consultant or anyone else, and each and every such payment made or
benefit provided shall be final and the Company shall not seek to recover all or
any part of any such payment or benefit from the Consultant or from whomsoever
may be entitled thereto for any reason whatsoever.

         (b)      If the Consultant materially breaches any of his obligations
hereunder, the Company may terminate this Agreement by written notice of
termination provided to the Consultant, and thereafter the Consultant shall be
entitled to no further benefits and payments under the terms of this Agreement.
In the event of the death of the Consultant, the estate and heirs of the
Consultant shall be entitled to no further payments under Section 6(a) of this
Agreement.

         8.       REPRESENTATION. The Company and the Consultant represent and
warrant to each other that they have carefully read this Agreement and consulted
with respect thereto with their respective counsel and that each of them fully
understands the content of this Agreement and its legal effect. Each party
hereto also represents and warrants that this Agreement is a legal, valid and
binding obligation of such party which is enforceable against it in accordance
with its terms.

         9.       SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement will inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the Consultant and his heirs, successors and
assigns, and upon the Company, including any successor to the Company by merger
or consolidation or any other change in form or any other person or firm or
corporation to which all or substantially all of the assets and business of the
Company may be sold or otherwise transferred. This Agreement may not be assigned
by any party hereto without the consent of the other party.

         10.      NOTICES. Any communication to a party required or permitted
under this Agreement, including any notice, direction, designation, consent,
instruction, objection or waiver, shall be in writing and shall be deemed to
have been given at such time as it is delivered personally, or five (5) days
after mailing if mailed, postage prepaid, by registered or certified mail,
return receipt requested, addressed to such party at the address listed below or
at such other address as one such party may by written notice specify to the
other party or parties, as applicable:

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<PAGE>   6

         If to the Consultant:

         David D. Hindle
         133 Cushing Road
         Newmarket, New Hampshire 03857

         If to the Company:

         Peoples Heritage Financial Group, Inc.
         P.O. Box 9540
         One Portland Square
         Portland, Maine 04112-9540
         Attention:  President

         11.      WITHHOLDING. The Company may withhold from any amounts payable
under this Agreement such Federal, state, local or foreign taxes as shall be
required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

         12.      ENTIRE AGREEMENT; SEVERABILITY. This Agreement incorporates
the entire understanding among the parties relating to the subject matter
hereof, recites the sole consideration for the promises exchanged and supersedes
any prior agreements between the Company and the Consultant with respect to the
subject matter hereof, provided that nothing contained herein shall affect any
obligations of the Company to the Consultant under (i) any employee benefit plan
or arrangement of the Company pursuant to which the Consultant is entitled to
any post-retirement benefits or payments and (ii) Section 5.9 of the Merger
Agreement. In reaching this Agreement, no party has relied upon any
representation or promise except those set forth herein. If any of the terms or
conditions of this Agreement shall be declared void or unenforceable by any
court or administrative body of competent jurisdiction, such term or condition
shall be deemed severable from the remainder of this Agreement, and the other
terms and conditions of this Agreement shall continue to be valid and
enforceable.

         13.      WAIVER. Failure to insist upon strict compliance with any of
the terms, covenants or conditions hereof shall not be deemed a waiver of such
term, covenant or condition. A waiver of any provision of this Agreement must be
made in writing, designated as a waiver and signed by the party against whom its
enforcement is sought. Any waiver or relinquishment of any right or power
hereunder at any one or more times shall not be deemed a waiver or
relinquishment of such right or power at any other time or times.

         14.      COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which shall
constitute one and the same Agreement.

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<PAGE>   7

         15.      GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Maine
applicable to agreements made and entirely to be performed within such
jurisdiction.

         16.      HEADINGS. The headings of sections in this Agreement are for
convenience of reference only and are not intended to qualify the meaning of any
section. Any reference to a section number shall refer to a section of this
Agreement, unless otherwise stated.

                                       7
<PAGE>   8

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Consultant have entered into
this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

                                        PEOPLES HERITAGE FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

                                        By: /s/ William J. Ryan
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            William J. Ryan, Chairman, President
                                            and Chief Executive Officer

                                            /s/ David D. Hindle
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            David D. Hindle

                                       8<PAGE>   1

                                                                     Exhibit 4.1

REGISTERED                                                            REGISTERED

No.R-1                                       PRINCIPAL AMOUNT: $ 300,000,000
CUSIP 67019E AA 5                            MATURITY DATE: February 15, 2010

                                             INTEREST PAYMENT

REGISTERED OWNER: Cede & Co.                 DATES: February 15 and August 15

                                     NSTAR

                         8% NOTE DUE FEBRUARY 15, 2010

     THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE
HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITORY OR A
NOMINEE THEREOF.

     Unless this Security is presented by an authorized representative of The
Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation ("DTC"). to NSTAR or its agent
for registration of transfer, exchange, or payment, and any certificate issued
is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is requested by
an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or to
such other entity as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC), ANY
TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY
PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an
interest herein.

     NSTAR, a voluntary association duly organized and validly existing under
the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts (herein called the "Company,"
which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter
referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to the Registered
Owner, or registered assigns, the Principal Amount on the Maturity Date, except
to the extent redeemed prior to the Maturity Date, and to pay interest on said
principal sum semi-annually on each Interest Payment Date, commencing August 15,
2000, at the rate per annum specified in the title of this Security, from the
February 15 or August 15, as the case may be, next preceding the date of this
Security to which interest has been paid unless the date hereof is a date to
which interest has been paid, in which case from the date of this Security, or
unless no interest has been paid on this Security, in which case from the date
of initial issuance until payment of said principal sum has been made or duly
provided for and at such rate on any overdue principal and premium and (to the
extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable) on any
overdue installment of interest. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or
duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, except as otherwise
provided in said Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security
(or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business
on the February 1 or August 1, as the case may be, next preceding such February
15 or August 15. The principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this
Security are payable in such coin or currency of the United States of America as
at the time payment is legal tender for payment of public and

<PAGE>   2

private debts, at the office or agency of Bank One Trust Company, N.A.
(hereinafter called the "Indenture Trustee," which term includes any successor
Indenture Trustee under the Indenture), as Indenture Trustee and Paying Agent,
located at 14 Wall Street, 8th Floor, New York, New York 10005, or at such other
office as the Indenture Trustee shall designate by written notice to the
Registered Owner of this Security; provided that interest shall be paid by wire
transfer in immediately available funds to an account located in the United
States of America as the registered Holder hereof shall designate to the
Indenture Trustee in writing at least 15 business days prior to such Interest
Payment Date. Any interest not punctually paid or duly provided for shall be
payable as provided in the Indenture.

     REFERENCE IS HEREBY MADE TO THE FURTHER PROVISIONS, INCLUDING THE OPTIONAL
REDEMPTION PROVISIONS, OF THIS SECURITY SET FORTH ON THE REVERSE HEREOF, WHICH
FURTHER PROVISIONS SHALL FOR ALL PURPOSES HAVE THE SAME EFFECT AS IF SET FORTH
AT THIS PLACE.

     THE NAME "NSTAR" MEANS THE TRUSTEES, AS TRUSTEES BUT NOT PERSONALLY, UNDER
THE DECLARATION OF TRUST DATED APRIL 20, 1999, AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME.
Ably OBLIGATION, AGREEMENT, OR LIABILITY MADE, ENTERED INTO, OR INCURRED BY OR
ON BEHALF OF NSTAR BINDS ONLY ITS TRUST ESTATE, AND NO SHAREHOLDER, DIRECTOR,
TRUSTEE, OFFICER OR AGENT THEREOF ASSUMES OR SHALL BE HELD TO ANY LIABILITY
ENTERED INTO ON BEHALF OF NSTAR.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>   3

     This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the
Company (herein called the "Securities") issued under the Indenture dated as of
January 12, 2000, between the Company and Bank One Trust Company, N.A., as
Indenture Trustee, to which Indenture and all other indentures supplemental
thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights
thereunder of the Company, the Indenture Trustee and the Holders of the
Securities and the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be,
authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated as
the 8% Notes due February 15, 2010.

     The Securities are redeemable, in whole or in part, at the Company's option
at any time. The redemption price for the Securities to be redeemed will equal
the greater of the following amounts, plus, in each case, accrued interest
thereon to the redemption date: (i) 100% of the principal amount of the
Securities to be redeemed or (ii) as determined by a Reference Treasury Dealer
(as defined herein), the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled
payments of principal and interest on the Securities to be redeemed (not
including any portion of any payments of interest accrued as of the redemption
date) discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis at the Adjusted
Treasury Rate (as defined herein) plus 15 basis points. The redemption price
will be calculated assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.
The Company will mail notice of any redemption at least 30 days but not more
than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of the Securities to be
redeemed. Un less the Company defaults in payment of the redemption price, on
and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the Securities
or portions thereof called for redemption.

     The terms which follow, when used in this Security, shall have the
following meanings: "Adjusted Treasury Rate" means, with respect to any
redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to
maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable
Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to thc
Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date; "Comparable Treasury Issue"
means the United States Treasury security selected by a Reference Treasury
Dealer as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Securities
being redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in
accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate
debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of such Securities;
"Comparable Treasury Price" means, with respect to any redemption date, (A) the
average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date,
after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer
Quotations, or (B) if the Indenture Trustee obtains fewer than three such
Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such Reference Treasury
Dealer Quotations; "Reference Treasury Dealer" means (i) each of Goldman, Sachs
& Co, Salomon Smith Barney Inc., Banc One Capital Markets, Inc., Credit Suisse
First Boston Corporation and FleetBoston Robertson Stephens Inc. and their
respective successors, unless any of them ceases to be a primary U.S.
Government securities dealer in New York City (a "Primary Treasury Dealer"), in
which case the Company shall substitute another

                                      -3-
<PAGE>   4

Primary Treasury Dealer; and (ii) any other Primary Treasury Dealer selected by
the Company; and "Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations" means, with respect to
each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as
determined by the Indenture Trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the
Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its
principal amount) quoted in writing to the Indenture Trustee by such Reference
Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the third business day
preceding such redemption date.

     As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set
forth, the transfer of this Security may be registered on the Security Register
of the Company, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at
the office or agency of the Indenture Trustee, as Indenture Trustee and Paying
Agent, located at 14 Wall Street, 8th Floor, New York, New York 10005, or at
such other office as the Indenture Trustee shall designate by written notice to
the Registered Owner of this Security, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a
written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the
Indenture Trustee duly executed by, the registered Holder hereof or his attorney
duly authorized in writing and thereupon one or more new Securities of this
series, of any authorized denominations and for a like aggregate principal
amount and tenor, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees;
provided, however, that the Indenture Trustee will not be required to register
the transfer of or exchange any Security that has been called for redemption in
whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of Securities being redeemed in
part.

     The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without
coupons in minimum denominations of $1,000 or any amount in excess thereof which
is an integral multiple of $1,000. As provided in the Indenture, and subject to
certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are
exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount and tenor of Securities of
this series of any authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder
surrendering the same; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required
to issue any Securities of this series of a denomination less than $1,000.

     No service charge (to the Holder) will be made for any such transfer or
exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any
tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

     The Indenture Trustee shall be entitled to withhold from all payments of
principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Security any amounts
required to be withheld under the applicable provisions of the Federal income
tax laws of the United States at the time of such payments.

     Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of this Security, the
Company, the Indenture Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Indenture
Trustee, may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the
owner hereof for the purpose of receiving payment as herein provided and for all
other purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue

                                      -4-
<PAGE>   5

and neither the Company, the Indenture Trustee nor any agent of the Company or
Indenture Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

     If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the
Securities of this series may be declared due and payable, and such declarations
may be in certain events rescinded, in the manner and with the effect provided
in the Indenture.

     The Indenture permits, to the extent therein provided, the modification of
the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the
Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the
Company with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding if all of the Securities
Outstanding are affected, or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of each series to be affected, in case one or more, but less than all, of
the series of the Outstanding Securities are affected. The Indenture also
contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in
aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time
Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive
compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain
past defaults under the Indenture and the consequences thereof. Any such consent
or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon
such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security
issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in
lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this
Security or such other Security.

     The Securities of this series are unsecured.

     All terms in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have
the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

     This Security shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

     Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the
Indenture Trustee by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to
any benefit under the Indenture, or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

                                      -5-
<PAGE>   6

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed under its seal.

                                                  NSTAR

Dated:______________________________              By:___________________________
                                                  Title:

                                                  Attest:

                                                  ______________________________
                                                  Title: Clerk/Secretary

               INDENTURE TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in
the within-mentioned Indenture.

                                             BANK ONE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,
                                                as Indenture Trustee

                                             By:_________________________
                                                 Authorized Signatory

                                      -6-
<PAGE>   7

                                 ABBREVIATIONS

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this
Note, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to
applicable laws or regulations:

TEN COM - as tenants in common

TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties

JT TEN - as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in
         common

UNIF GIFT MIN ACT -                    Custodian
                         (Cust)                         (Minor)
                         under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act

                                        (State)

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>   8

                                   ASSIGNMENT

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, I or we sell, assign and transfer to

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE:

___________________________

_______________________________________________________________________
(Print or type name, address and zip code of assignee)

_______________________________________________________________________

the within Security and hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ___________
attorney to transfer the said Security on the books of the Company with full
power of substitution in its premises.

Dated: ________________________________ Signed: _______________________

Signatures must be guaranteed by a commercial bank or trust company or a member
of a major stock exchange.

_________________________________
Signature Guarantee

NOTICE: The above signatures of the holder(s) hereof must correspond with the
name as written upon the face of the Note in every particular, without
alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

                                      -8-

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00006-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00006-of-00352.parquet"}]]