UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 Application of Northeast ) CERTIFICATE PURSUANT TO Utilities on Form U-1 ) RULE 24 UNDER THE PUBLIC File No. 70-9853 ) UTILITY HOLDING COMPANY ACT ) of 1935 Pursuant to the requirements of Rule 24 under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended (the "Act"), Northeast Utilities certifies that the issuance of guarantees by Northeast Utilities for the benefit of Holyoke Water Power Company, as proposed in the Application/Declaration to the Commission on Form U-1 (File No. 70-9853), as amended, and authorized by order of the Commission in Public Utility Holding Company Act Release No. 35-27407, dated May 25, 2001, has been carried out in accordance with the terms and conditions of and for the purposes represented by the Application/Declaration and of the Commission's order with respect thereto. Submitted with this Certificate is the "past tense" opinion of counsel. SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, Northeast Utilities has duly caused this Certificate to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. Northeast Utilities By: /S/ Gregory B. Butler Name: Gregory B. Butler Title: Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel Dated: June 12, 2001.