0000077278
 

 
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 
Washington, D. C. 20549

FORM 10-Q/A

Amendment No. 1

(Mark One)[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2006

OR

[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from
 
to
 

Commission
Registrant; State of Incorporation;
I.R.S. Employer
File Number
Address; and Telephone Number
Identification No.
     
333-21011
FIRSTENERGY CORP.
34-1843785
 
(An Ohio Corporation)
 
 
76 South Main Street
 
 
Akron, OH 44308
 
 
Telephone (800)736-3402
 
     
1-2578
OHIO EDISON COMPANY
34-0437786
 
(An Ohio Corporation)
 
 
c/o FirstEnergy Corp.
 
 
76 South Main Street
 
 
Akron, OH 44308
 
 
Telephone (800)736-3402
 
     
     
1-3491
PENNSYLVANIA POWER COMPANY
25-0718810
 
(A Pennsylvania Corporation)
 
 
c/o FirstEnergy Corp.
 
 
76 South Main Street
 
 
Akron, OH 44308
 
 
Telephone (800)736-3402
 
     



Indicate by check mark whether each of the registrants (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes (X) No (  )

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of "accelerated filer and large accelerated filer" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large Accelerated Filer (X)
FirstEnergy Corp.
Accelerated Filer ( )
N/A
Non-accelerated Filer (X)
 
Ohio Edison Company, Pennsylvania Power Company

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).

Yes ( ) No (X)

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:

 
OUTSTANDING
CLASS
AS OF AUGUST 7, 2006
FirstEnergy Corp., $.10 par value
329,836,276
Ohio Edison Company, no par value
80
Pennsylvania Power Company, $30 par value
6,290,000

FirstEnergy Corp. is the sole holder of Ohio Edison Company common stock. Ohio Edison Company is the sole holder of Pennsylvania Power Company common stock.

This combined Form 10-Q/A is separately filed by FirstEnergy Corp., Ohio Edison Company and Pennsylvania Power Company. Information contained herein relating to any individual registrant is filed by such registrant on its own behalf. No registrant makes any representation as to information relating to any other registrant, except that information relating to any of the FirstEnergy subsidiary registrants is also attributed to FirstEnergy Corp.



This Form 10-Q/A includes forward-looking statements based on information currently available to management. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. These statements typically contain, but are not limited to, the terms "anticipate," "potential," "expect," "believe," "estimate" and similar words. Actual results may differ materially due to the speed and nature of increased competition and deregulation in the electric utility industry, economic or weather conditions affecting future sales and margins, changes in markets for energy services, changing energy and commodity market prices, replacement power costs being higher than anticipated or inadequately hedged, the continued ability of FirstEnergy Corp.’s regulated utilities to collect transition and other charges or to recover increased transmission costs, maintenance costs being higher than anticipated, legislative and regulatory changes (including revised environmental requirements), and the legal and regulatory changes resulting from the implementation of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (including, but not limited to, the repeal of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935), the uncertainty of the timing and amounts of the capital expenditures needed to, among other things, implement the Air Quality Compliance Plan (including that such amounts could be higher than anticipated) or levels of emission reductions related to the Consent Decree resolving the New Source Review litigation, adverse regulatory or legal decisions and outcomes (including, but not limited to, the revocation of necessary licenses or operating permits, fines or other enforcement actions and remedies) of governmental investigations and oversight, including by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the United States Attorney’s Office, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the various state public utility commissions as disclosed in the registrants’ Securities and Exchange Commission filings, generally, and with respect to the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station outage and heightened scrutiny at the Perry Nuclear Power Plant in particular, the timing and outcome of various proceedings before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (including, but not limited to, the successful resolution of the issues remanded to the PUCO by the Ohio Supreme Court regarding the RSP) and the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, including the transition rate plan filings for Met-Ed and Penelec, the continuing availability and operation of generating units, the ability of generating units to continue to operate at, or near full capacity, the inability to accomplish or realize anticipated benefits from strategic goals (including employee workforce initiatives), the anticipated benefits from voluntary pension plan contributions, the ability to improve electric commodity margins and to experience growth in the distribution business, the ability to access the public securities and other capital markets and the cost of such capital, the outcome, cost and other effects of present and potential legal and administrative proceedings and claims related to the August 14, 2003 regional power outages, the successful implementation of the share repurchase program approved by the Board of Directors in June 2006, the risks and other factors discussed from time to time in the registrants’ Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including their annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, and other similar factors. A security rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and it may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the credit rating agency. The registrants expressly disclaim any current intention to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

        This combined Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-Q/A for the quarter ended June 30, 2006 is being filed by FirstEnergy Corp., Ohio Edison Company and Pennsylvania Power Company to correct a misclassification in their respective Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2006, contained in Part I, Item 1, Consolidated Financial Statements. This correction does not affect the respective registrants’ previously reported consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income for the three months and six ended June 30, 2006 and consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2006 contained in the combined Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, as originally filed on August 7, 2006. Except for Part I, Items 1, 2 and 4 and certain exhibits under Part II, Item 6, no other information included in the Form 10-Q as originally filed is being revised by, or repeated in this amendment.

As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements of FirstEnergy Corp., Ohio Edison Company and Pennsylvania Power Company, the registrants have restated their respective consolidated statements of cash flows principally to correct a misclassification of a Pennsylvania Power Company’s cash receipt from the liquidation in the first quarter of 2006 of temporary cash investments (restricted cash related to the 2005 generation asset transfers). The correction of classification of the cash receipt resulted in an approximately $78 million decrease in previously reported cash flows from operating activities, a corresponding increase in previously reported cash flows from investing activities and no effect on the previously reported net increase in cash and cash equivalents in the consolidated statements of cash flows of FirstEnergy, Ohio Edison and Pennsylvania Power.

 Please note that the information contained in this Amendment No. 1, including the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, does not reflect events occurring after the date of the original Form 10-Q filing, except to the extent described above. Such events include, among others, the events described in our reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, filed with the SEC since August 7, 2006.








TABLE OF CONTENTS



   
Pages
Glossary of Terms
ii-iv
     
Part I. Financial Information
 
     
Items 1. and 2. - Financial Statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of  Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
 
     
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
1-29
     
FirstEnergy Corp.
 
     
 
Consolidated Statements of Income
30
 
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
31
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets
32
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
33
 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
34
 
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and
35-73
 
Financial Condition
 
     
Ohio Edison Company
 
     
 
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income
74
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets
75
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
76
 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
77
 
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and
78-90
 
Financial Condition
 
     
Pennsylvania Power Company
 
     
 
Consolidated Statements of Income
91
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets
92
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
93
 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
94
 
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and
 
 
Financial Condition
95-103
     
 Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
 104
     
 Part II. Other Information  
     
  Item 6. Exhibits.
105
 
 


i


GLOSSARY OF TERMS

The following abbreviations and acronyms are used in this report to identify FirstEnergy Corp. and its current and former subsidiaries:

ATSI
American Transmission Systems, Inc., owns and operates transmission facilities
CEI
The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company, an Ohio electric utility operating subsidiary
Centerior
Centerior Energy Corporation, former parent of CEI and TE, which merged with OE to form FirstEnergy on November 8, 1997
CFC
Centerior Funding Corporation, a wholly owned finance subsidiary of CEI
Companies
OE, CEI, TE, Penn, JCP&L, Met-Ed and Penelec
FENOC
FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company, operates nuclear generating facilities
FES
FirstEnergy Solutions Corp., provides energy-related products and services
FESC
FirstEnergy Service Company, provides legal, financial, and other corporate support services
FGCO
FirstEnergy Generation Corp., owns and operates non-nuclear generating facilities
FirstCom
First Communications, LLC, provides local and long-distance telephone service
FirstEnergy
FirstEnergy Corp., a public utility holding company
FSG
FirstEnergy Facilities Services Group, LLC, the parent company of several heating, ventilation,
air conditioning and energy management companies
GPU
GPU, Inc., former parent of JCP&L, Met-Ed and Penelec, which merged with FirstEnergy on
November 7, 2001
JCP&L
Jersey Central Power & Light Company, a New Jersey electric utility operating subsidiary
JCP&L Transition
JCP&L Transition Funding LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and issuer of transition bonds
JCP&L Transition Funding II
JCP&L Transition Funding II LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and issuer of transition bonds
Met-Ed
Metropolitan Edison Company, a Pennsylvania electric utility operating subsidiary
MYR
MYR Group, Inc., a utility infrastructure construction service company
NGC
FirstEnergy Nuclear Generation Corp., owns nuclear generating facilities
OE
Ohio Edison Company, an Ohio electric utility operating subsidiary
OE Companies
OE and Penn
Ohio Companies
CEI, OE and TE
Penelec
Pennsylvania Electric Company, a Pennsylvania electric utility operating subsidiary
Penn
Pennsylvania Power Company, a Pennsylvania electric utility operating subsidiary of OE
PNBV
PNBV Capital Trust, a special purpose entity created by OE in 1996
Shippingport
Shippingport Capital Trust, a special purpose entity created by CEI and TE in 1997
TE
The Toledo Edison Company, an Ohio electric utility operating subsidiary
TEBSA
Termobarranquilla S.A., Empresa de Servicios Publicos
   
The following abbreviations and acronyms are used to identify frequently used terms in this report:
   
ALJ
Administrative Law Judge
AOCL
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
APB
Accounting Principles Board
APB 25
APB Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees"
APB 29
APB Opinion No. 29, "Accounting for Nonmonetary Transactions"
ARB
Accounting Research Bulletin
ARB 43
ARB No. 43, "Restatement and Revision of Accounting Research Bulletins"
ARO
Asset Retirement Obligation
B&W
Babcock & Wilcox Company
BGS
Basic Generation Service
BTU
British Thermal Unit
CAIDI
Customer Average Interruption Duration Index
CAIR
Clean Air Interstate Rule
CAL
Confirmatory Action Letter
CAMR
Clean Air Mercury Rule
CBP
Competitive Bid Process
CIEP
Commercial Industrial Energy Price
CO2
 
Carbon Dioxide
CTC
Competitive Transition Charge
DCPD
Deferred Compensation Plan for Outside Directors
DIG C20
Derivatives Implementation Group Issue No. C20, “Scope Exceptions: Interpretations of the
Meaning of Not Clearly and Closely Related in Paragraph 10(b) regarding Contracts with a
Price Adjustment Feature”
DOJ
United States Department of Justice


ii


GLOSSARY OF TERMS (Cont'd.)

DRA
Division of the Ratepayer Advocate
ECAR
East Central Area Reliability Coordination Agreement
EDCP
Executive Deferred Compensation Plan
EITF
Emerging Issues Task Force
EITF 04-13
EITF Issue No. 04-13, “Accounting for Purchases and Sales of Inventory with the Same Counterparty"
EPA
Environmental Protection Agency
EPACT
Energy Policy Act of 2005
ERO
Electric Reliability Organization
ESOP
Employee Stock Ownership Plan
FASB
Financial Accounting Standards Board
FERC
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
FIN
FASB Interpretation
FIN 46(R)
FIN 46 (revised December 2003), "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities"
FIN 46(R)-6
FIN 46(R)-6, “Determining the Variability to be Considered in Applying FASB interpretation No. 46(R)”
FIN 47
FIN 47, "Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations - an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 143"
FIN 48
FIN 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes - an interpretation of FASB Statement No.109”
FMB
First Mortgage Bonds
FSP
FASB Staff Position
GAAP
Accounting Principles Generally Accepted in the United States
GCAF
Generation Charge Adjustment Factor
GHG
Greenhouse Gases
KWH
Kilowatt-hours
LOC
Letter of Credit
LTIP
Long-Term Incentive Program
MEIUG
Met-Ed Industrial Users Group
MISO
Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc.
Moody’s
Moody’s Investors Service
MOU
Memorandum of Understanding
MTC
Market Transition Charge
MW
Megawatts
NAAQS
National Ambient Air Quality Standards
NERC
North American Electric Reliability Council
NJBPU
New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
NOAC
Northwest Ohio Aggregation Coalition
NOPR
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
NOV
Notices of Violation
NOX
 
Nitrogen Oxide
NRC
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
NUG
Non-Utility Generation
NUGC
Non-Utility Generation Charge
OCA
Office of Consumer Advocate
OCC
Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel
OCI
Other Comprehensive Income
OPEB
Other Post-Employment Benefits
OSBA
Office of Small Business Advocate
OTS
Office of Trial Staff
PaDEP
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
PCAOB
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
PICA
Penelec Industrial Customer Association
PJM
PJM Interconnection L. L. C.
PLR
Provider of Last Resort
PPUC
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
PRP
Potentially Responsible Party
PUCO
Public Utilities Commission of Ohio
PUHCA
Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935
RCP
Rate Certainty Plan
RFP
Request for Proposal
RSP
Rate Stabilization Plan
RTC
Regulatory Transition Charge
RTO            
Regional Transmission Organization
 
 


iii

 
GLOSSARY OF TERMS (Cont'd.)
 
RTOR
Through and Out Rates
S&P
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service
SAIFI
System Average Interruption Frequency Index
SBC
Societal Benefits Charge
SEC
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
SECA
Seams Elimination Cost Adjustment
SFAS
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
SFAS 123
SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation"
SFAS 123(R)
SFAS No. 123(R), "Share-Based Payment"
SFAS 133
SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”
SFAS 140
SFAS No. 140, “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and
Extinguishment of Liabilities”
SFAS 143
SFAS No. 143, "Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations"
SFAS 144
SFAS No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets"
SO2
 
Sulfur Dioxide
SRM
Special Reliablity Master
TBC
Transition Bond Charge
TMI-2
Three Mile Island Unit 2
VIE
Variable Interest Entity
VMEP
Vegetation Management Enhancement Project


 
iv

 
 
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

FIRSTENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
OHIO EDISON COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
PENNSYLVANIA POWER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)


1. - ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

FirstEnergy’s principal business is the holding, directly or indirectly, of all of the outstanding common stock of its eight principal electric utility operating subsidiaries: OE, CEI, TE, Penn, ATSI, JCP&L, Met-Ed and Penelec. Penn is a wholly owned subsidiary of OE. FirstEnergy's consolidated financial statements also include its other principal subsidiaries: FENOC, FES and its subsidiary FGCO, NGC, FESC and FSG.

FirstEnergy and its subsidiaries follow GAAP and comply with the regulations, orders, policies and practices prescribed by the SEC, FERC and, as applicable, PUCO, PPUC and NJBPU. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make periodic estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from these estimates. The reported results of operations are not indicative of results of operations for any future period.

These statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes included in the combined Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 for FirstEnergy and the Companies. The consolidated unaudited financial statements of FirstEnergy and each of the Companies reflect all normal recurring adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are necessary to fairly present results of operations for the interim periods. Certain businesses divested in the first and second quarters of 2005 have been classified as discontinued operations on the Consolidated Statements of Income (see Note 4). As discussed in Note 13, interim period segment reporting in 2005 was reclassified to conform with the current year business segment organizations and operations.

FirstEnergy and its subsidiaries consolidate all majority-owned subsidiaries over which they exercise control and, when applicable, entities for which they have a controlling financial interest. Intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated in consolidation. FirstEnergy consolidates a VIE (see Note 9) when it is determined to be the VIE's primary beneficiary. Investments in nonconsolidated affiliates over which FirstEnergy and its subsidiaries have the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control, (20-50 percent owned companies, joint ventures and partnerships) are accounted for under the equity method. Under the equity method, the interest in the entity is reported as an investment in the Consolidated Balance Sheet and the percentage share of the entity’s earnings is reported in the Consolidated Statement of Income. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.

FirstEnergy's and the Companies' independent registered public accounting firm has performed reviews of, and issued reports on, these consolidated interim financial statements in accordance with standards established by the PCAOB. Pursuant to Rule 436(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, their reports of those reviews should not be considered a report within the meaning of Section 7 and 11 of that Act, and the independent registered public accounting firm’s liability under Section 11 does not extend to them.
 
Restatement of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

FirstEnergy, OE and Penn are restating their respective Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2006. This corrects a misclassification of a $78 million cash receipt between cash flows from operating activities and cash flows from investing activities. The cash receipt resulted from the liquidation of cash investments (restricted cash related to the 2005 generation asset transfers) in the first quarter of 2006. Penn is a subsidiary of OE, which is a direct subsidiary of FirstEnergy. The first quarter 2006 cash receipt was previously reported as a source of cash under “Prepayments and other current assets” in cash flows from operating activities and should have been reported as a source of cash under “Cash Investments” in cash flows provided from (used for) investing activities. This correction of a misclassification resulted in a $78 million decrease in previously reported cash flows from operating activities and a corresponding increase in cash flows from (used for) investing activities in the FirstEnergy, OE and Penn consolidated statements of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2006. The second quarter of 2006 also included an immaterial misclassification of a non-cash item related to OE’s termination of a capital lease. The termination of the lease arrangement was previously reported as a $12 million use of cash under “Nuclear fuel and lease amortization” in cash flows from operating activities, a $2 million use of cash under “Redemptions and repayments” in cash flows from financing activities and a $14 million source of cash under “Property additions” in cash flows used for investing activities. However, this non-cash transaction should not have been reflected in the consolidated statements of cash flows. This correction of classification resulted in a $12 million increase in cash flows from operating activities, a $2 million increase in cash from financing activities and a $14 million increase in cash used for investing activities in the FirstEnergy and OE consolidated statements of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2006. These
 
 
1

 
corrections do not change FirstEnergy’s, OE’s and Penn’s previously reported statements of income and comprehensive income for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2006, their consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2006 or the net increase or decrease in cash and cash equivalents in their respective consolidated statements of cash flows.

The effect of the corrections on FirstEnergy’s, OE’s and Penn’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2006 are as follows:

FIRSTENERGY
 

     
 Six Months Ended 
 
     
 
 June 30, 2006 
 
       
As Previously
   
As 
 
       
Reported
   
Restated
 
         (In millions)  
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
               
Net income
   
$
525
 
$
525
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities -
               
 Provision fordepreciation
 
   
292
   
292
 
 Amortization of regulatory assets    
421
   
421
 
 Deferral of new regulatory assets    
(226)
   
(226)
 
 Nuclear fuel and lease amortization
 
   
30
   
42
 
 Deferred purchased power and other costs
 
   
(239)
   
(239)
 
Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits, net
 
   
32
   
32
 
 Deferred rents and lease market valuation liability    
(105)
   
(105)
 
 Accrued compensation and retirement benefits    
33
   
33
 
 Commodity derivative transactions, net    
25
   
25
 
 Cash collateral
 
   
(55)
   
(55)
 
  Decrease (Increase) in operating assets -
 
             
 Receivables
 
 
 
83
   
83
 
 Materials and supplies
 
 
 
(71)
   
(71)
 
 Prepayments and other current assets
 
 
 
(81)
   
(159)
 
 Increase (Decrease) in operating liabilities -              
 Accounts payable
 
 
 
(40)
   
(40)
 
 Accrued taxes
   
(45)
   
(45)
 
 Accrued interest
   
-
   
-
 
 Electric service prepayment programs
 
   
(29)
   
(29)
 
  Other
 
   
1
   
1
 
 Net cash provided from operating activities
 
 
 
551
   
485
 
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
               
New Financing -
               
 Long-term debt    
1,053
   
1,053
 
 Short-term borrowings, net    
371
   
371
 
Redemptions and Repayments -
               
 Preferred stock    
(30)
   
(30)
 
 Long-term debt
 
   
(487)
   
(485)
 
Net controlled disbursement activity
     
5
   
5
 
Common stock dividend payments
     
(296)
   
(296)
 
 Net cash provided from financing activities  
 
 
616
   
618
 
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
               
Property additions
     
(725)
   
(739)
 
Proceeds from asset sales
     
59
   
59
 
Proceeds from nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales
     
925
   
925
 
Investments in nuclear decommissioning trust funds
     
(932)
   
(932)
 
Cash investments
     
40
   
118
 
Other
     
(15)
   
(15)
 
Net cash used for investing activities 
 
 
(648)
   
(584)
 
                 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
   
$
519
 
$
519
 
                 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2





OE

 
Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30, 2006 
 
 
 
As Previously
 
As
 
   
Reported
 
Restated
 
   
(In thousands) 
 
           
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
         
Net income
 
$
123,039
 
$
123,039
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities-
             
Provision for depreciation
   
35,563
   
35,563
 
Amortization of regulatory assets
   
97,305
   
97,305
 
Deferral of new regulatory assets
   
(78,323
)
 
(78,323
)
Nuclear fuel and lease amortization
   
(11,337
)
 
721
 
Deferred purchased power costs
   
-
   
-
 
Amortization of lease costs
   
(4,334
)
 
(4,334
)
Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits, net
   
(17,351
)
 
(17,351
)
Accrued compensation and retirement benefits
   
930
   
930
 
Decrease (increase) in operating assets-
             
Receivables 
   
66,215
   
66,215
 
Prepayments and other current assets 
   
70,335
   
(7,913
)
Increase (decrease) in operating liabilities-
             
Accounts payable 
   
(45,894
)
 
(45,894
)
Accrued taxes 
   
9,378
   
9,378
 
Accrued interest 
   
(1,183
)
 
(1,183
)
Electric service prepayment programs
   
(16,838
)
 
(16,838
)
Other
   
(8,772
)
 
(8,772
)
Net cash provided from operating activities 
   
218,733
   
152,543
 
               
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
             
New Financing -
             
Long-term debt 
   
599,778
   
599,778
 
Short-term borrowings, net 
   
-
   
-
 
Redemptions and Repayments -
             
Preferred stock 
   
-
   
-
 
Long-term debt 
   
(146,893
)
 
(145,316
)
Short-term borrowings, net 
   
(176,708
)
 
(176,708
)
Dividend Payments -
             
Common stock 
   
(35,000
)
 
(35,000
)
Preferred stock 
   
(1,317
)
 
(1,317
)
 Net cash provided from financing activities
   
239,860
   
241,437
 
               
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
             
Property additions
   
(49,659
)
 
(63,294
)
Proceeds from nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales
   
30,269
   
30,269
 
Investments in nuclear decommissioning trust funds
   
(30,961
)
 
(30,961
)
Loans to associated companies, net
   
112,840
   
112,840
 
Cash investments
   
-
   
78,248 
 
Other
   
23,281
   
23,281 
 
Net cash provided from investing activities 
   
85,770
   
150,383
 
               
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
 
$
544,363
 
$
544,363
 




3



 
PENN


 
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30, 2006
 
   
As Previously
 
As
 
   
Reported
 
Restated
 
   
(In thousands)
 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
         
Net income
 
$
3,495
 
$
3,495
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities-
             
Provision for depreciation 
   
4,126
   
4,126
 
Amortization of regulatory assets 
   
3,411
   
3,411
 
Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits, net 
   
(2,383
)
 
(2,383
)
Decrease (increase) in operating assets- 
             
 Receivables
   
41,562
   
41,562
 
 Prepayments and other current assets
   
69,267
   
(8,981
)
Increase (decrease) in operating liabilities- 
             
 Accounts payable
   
(52,779
)
 
(52,779
)
 Accrued taxes
   
(5,602
)
 
(5,602
)
 Accrued interest
   
(807
)
 
(807
)
Other 
   
(3,290
)
 
(3,290
)
 Net cash provided from (used for) operating activities
   
57,000
   
(21,248
)
               
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
   
(53,752
)
 
(53,752
)
               
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
             
Property additions
   
(10,216
)
 
(10,216
)
Loans to associated companies
   
7,057
   
7,057
 
Cash investments
   
-
   
78,248
 
Other
   
(75
)
 
(75
)
 Net cash from (used for) investing activities
   
(3,234
)
 
75,014
 
               
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
 
$
14
 
$
14
 
               
















4




2. - EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per share are computed using the weighted average of actual common shares outstanding during the respective period as the denominator. The denominator for diluted earnings per share reflects the weighted average of common shares outstanding plus the potential additional common shares that could result if dilutive securities and other agreements to issue common stock were exercised. The following table reconciles the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share of common stock before discontinued operations:

 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
 
June 30,
 
Reconciliation of Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share
 
2006
 
2005
 
2006
 
2005
 
 
 
(In millions, except per share amounts)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income Before Discontinued Operations
 
$
304
 
$
179
 
$
525
 
$
320
 
Less: Redemption premium on subsidiary preferred stock
   
(3
)
 
-
   
(3
)
 
-
 
Earnings on Common Stock Before Discontinued Operations
 
$
301
 
$
179
 
$
522
 
$
320
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding:
                         
Denominator for basic earnings per share
 
 
328
 
 
328
 
 
328
 
 
328
 
Assumed exercise of dilutive stock options and awards
 
 
2
 
 
2
 
 
2
 
 
2
 
Denominator for diluted earnings per share
 
 
330
 
 
330
 
 
330
 
 
330
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings Before Discontinued Operations per Common Share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
 
$0.92
 
 
$0.54
 
 
$1.59
 
 
$0.98
 
Diluted
 
 
$0.91
 
 
$0.54
 
 
$1.58
 
 
$0.97
 
                           

3. - GOODWILL

FirstEnergy's goodwill primarily relates to its regulated services segment. In the six months ended June 30, 2006, FirstEnergy adjusted goodwill related to the divestiture of a non-core asset (62% interest in MYR), a successful tax claim relating to the former Centerior companies, and an adjustment to the former GPU companies due to the realization of a tax benefit that had been reserved in purchase accounting. Adjustments to goodwill in the second quarter of 2006 were immaterial. The following table reconciles changes to goodwill for the six months ended June 30, 2006.

Goodwill Reconciliation
 
FirstEnergy
 
CEI
 
TE
 
JCP&L
 
Met-Ed
 
Penelec
 
   
(In millions)
 
Balance as of January 1, 2006
 
$
6,010
 
$
1,689
 
$
501
 
$
1,986
 
$
864
 
$
882
 
Non-core assets sale
   
(53
)
                             
Adjustments related to Centerior acquisition
   
(1
)
 
(1
)
                       
Adjustments related to GPU acquisition
   
(16
)
 
-
   
-
   
(8
)
 
(4
)
 
(4
)
Balance as of June 30, 2006
 
$
5,940
 
$
1,688
 
$
501
 
$
1,978
 
$
860
 
$
878
 

4. - DIVESTITURES AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

In March 2006, FirstEnergy sold 60% of its interest in MYR for an after-tax gain of $0.2 million. In June 2006, FirstEnergy sold an additional 1.67% interest. As a result of the March sale, FirstEnergy deconsolidated MYR in the first quarter of 2006 and accounts for its remaining 38.33% interest under the equity method.

In March 2005, FirstEnergy sold 51% of its interest in FirstCom for an after-tax gain of $4 million. FirstEnergy accounts for its remaining 31.85% interest in FirstCom under the equity method.

During the first six months of 2005, FirstEnergy sold three FSG subsidiaries (Cranston, Elliott-Lewis and Spectrum), an MYR subsidiary (Power Piping) and FES' retail natural gas business, resulting in aggregate after-tax gains of $17 million. The remaining FSG subsidiaries continue to be actively marketed and qualify as assets held for sale in accordance with SFAS 144 because FirstEnergy anticipates that the transfer of these remaining FSG assets, with a net carrying value of $48 million as of June 30, 2006, will qualify for recognition as completed sales within one year. As of June 30, 2006, the FSG subsidiaries classified as held for sale did not meet the criteria for discontinued operations. The carrying amounts of FSG's assets and liabilities held for sale are not material and have not been classified as assets held for sale on FirstEnergy's Consolidated Balance Sheets. See Note 13 for FSG's segment financial information.

5

 
        Net results (including the gains on sales of assets discussed above) for Cranston, Elliott-Lewis, Power Piping and FES' retail natural gas business of $(1) million and $18 million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2005, respectively, are reported as discontinued operations on FirstEnergy's Consolidated Statements of Income. Pre-tax operating results for these entities were $(2) million and $2 million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2005, respectively. Revenues associated with discontinued operations for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2005 were $11 million and $206 million, respectively. The following table summarizes the sources of income from discontinued operations for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2005:

 
 
Three Months
 
 
Six Months
 
   
(In millions)
 
Discontinued Operations (Net of tax)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gain on sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Natural gas business
 
$
-
 
$
5
 
FSG and MYR subsidiaries
 
 
-
 
 
12
 
Reclassification of operating income (loss)
 
 
(1
)
 
1
 
Total
 
$
(1
)
$
18
 

5. - DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

FirstEnergy is exposed to financial risks resulting from the fluctuation of interest rates and commodity prices, including prices for electricity, natural gas, coal and energy transmission. To manage the volatility relating to these exposures, FirstEnergy uses a variety of non-derivative and derivative instruments, including forward contracts, options, futures contracts and swaps. The derivatives are used principally for hedging purposes. FirstEnergy’s Risk Policy Committee, comprised of members of senior management, provides general management oversight to risk management activities. The Committee is responsible for promoting the effective design and implementation of sound risk management programs and oversees compliance with corporate risk management policies and established risk management practices.

FirstEnergy accounts for derivative instruments on its Consolidated Balance Sheet at their fair value unless they meet the normal purchase and normal sales exception criterion. Derivatives that meet that criterion are accounted for on the accrual basis. The changes in the fair value of derivative instruments that do not meet the normal purchase and sales criterion are recorded in current earnings, in AOCL, or as part of the value of the hedged item, depending on whether or not it is designated as part of a hedge transaction, the nature of the hedge transaction and hedge effectiveness.

FirstEnergy hedges anticipated transactions using cash flow hedges. Such transactions include hedges of anticipated electricity and natural gas purchases and anticipated interest payments associated with future debt issues. The effective portion of such hedges are initially recorded in equity as other comprehensive income or loss and are subsequently included in net income as the underlying hedged commodities are delivered or interest payments are made. Gains and losses from any ineffective portion of cash flow hedges are included directly in earnings.

The net deferred losses of $30 million included in AOCL as of June 30, 2006, for derivative hedging activity, as compared to the December 31, 2005 balance of $78 million of net deferred losses, resulted from a net $35 million decrease related to current hedging activity and a $13 million decrease due to net hedge losses included in earnings during the six months ended June 30, 2006. Approximately $9 million (after tax) of the net deferred losses on derivative instruments in AOCL as of June 30, 2006 is expected to be reclassified to earnings during the next twelve months as hedged transactions occur. The fair value of these derivative instruments fluctuate from period to period based on various market factors.

FirstEnergy has entered into swaps that have been designated as fair value hedges of fixed-rate, long-term debt issues to protect against the risk of changes in the fair value of fixed-rate debt instruments due to lower interest rates. Swap maturities, call options, fixed interest rates received, and interest payment dates match those of the underlying debt obligations. During the first six months of 2006, FirstEnergy unwound swaps with a total notional amount of $350 million for which it paid $1 million in cash. The losses will be recognized in earnings over the remaining maturity of each respective hedged security as increased interest expense. As of June 30, 2006, the aggregate notional value of interest rate swap agreements outstanding was $750 million.

6

 
During 2005 and the first six months of 2006, FirstEnergy entered into several forward starting swap agreements (forward swaps) in order to hedge a portion of the consolidated interest rate risk associated with the anticipated issuances of fixed-rate, long-term debt securities for one or more of its subsidiaries during 2006 - 2008 as outstanding debt matures. These derivatives are treated as cash flow hedges, protecting against the risk of changes in future interest payments resulting from changes in benchmark U.S. Treasury rates between the date of hedge inception and the date of the debt issuance. FirstEnergy revised the tenor and timing of its financing plan during the first six months of 2006. FirstEnergy terminated and revised its forward swaps, ultimately terminating swaps with an aggregate notional value of $600 million as its subsidiaries issued long-term debt in the second quarter. As required by SFAS 133, FirstEnergy assessed the amount of ineffectiveness of the hedges at each termination. FirstEnergy received cash gains of $41 million, of which approximately $6 million ($4 million net of tax) was deemed ineffective and recognized in earnings in the first six months of 2006. The remaining gain deemed effective in the amount of approximately $35 million ($22 million net of tax) was recorded in other comprehensive income and will subsequently be recognized in earnings over the terms of the respective forward swaps. As of June 30, 2006, FirstEnergy had forward swaps with an aggregate notional amount of $550 million and a long-term debt Securities fair value of $29 million.

 
6. - STOCK BASED COMPENSATION

Effective January 1, 2006, FirstEnergy adopted SFAS 123(R), which requires the expensing of stock-based compensation. Under SFAS 123(R), all share-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award, and is recognized as an expense over the employee’s requisite service period. FirstEnergy adopted the modified prospective method, under which compensation expense recognized in the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2006 included the expense for all share-based payments granted prior to but not yet vested as of January 1, 2006. Results for prior periods were not restated.

Prior to the adoption of SFAS 123(R) on January, 1, 2006, FirstEnergy’s LTIP, EDCP, ESOP, and DCPD stock-based compensation programs were accounted for under the recognition and measurement principles of APB 25 and related interpretations. The LTIP includes four stock-based compensation programs - restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock options and performance shares.

Under APB 25, no compensation expense was reflected in net income for stock options as all options granted under those plans have exercise prices equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the respective grant dates, resulting in substantially no intrinsic value. The pro forma effects on net income for stock options were instead disclosed in a footnote to the financial statements. Under APB 25 and SFAS 123(R) expense was recorded in the income statement for restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares and the EDCP and DCPD programs. No stock options have been granted since the third quarter of 2004. Consequently, the impact of adopting SFAS 123(R) was not material to FirstEnergy's net income and earnings per share in the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2006. In the year of adoption, all disclosures prescribed by SFAS 123(R) are required to be included in both the quarterly Form 10-Q filings as well as the annual Form 10-K filing. However, due to the immaterial impact of the adoption of SFAS 123(R) on FirstEnergy's financial results, only condensed disclosure has been provided. Reference is made to FirstEnergy’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 for expanded annual disclosure.

The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2005, as if FirstEnergy had adopted SFAS 123(R) as of January 1, 2005:

   
Three Months
 
Six Months
 
   
(In millions, except per share amounts)
 
               
Net Income, as reported
 
$
178
 
$
338
 
               
Add back compensation expense
             
reported in net income, net of tax (based on
             
APB 25)*
   
14
   
22
 
               
Deduct compensation expense based
             
upon estimated fair value, net of tax*
   
(17
)
 
(28
)
               
Pro forma net income
 
$
175
 
$
332
 
Earnings Per Share of Common Stock -
             
Basic
             
As Reported
 
$
0.54
 
$
1.03
 
Pro Forma
 
$
0.53
 
$
1.01
 
Diluted
             
As Reported
 
$
0.54
 
$
1.02
 
Pro Forma
 
$
0.53
 
$
1.01
 

* Includes restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock options, performance
shares, ESOP, EDCP and DCPD.

7

 
7. - ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS

FirstEnergy has recognized applicable legal obligations under SFAS 143 for nuclear power plant decommissioning, reclamation of a sludge disposal pond and closure of two coal ash disposal sites. In addition, FirstEnergy has recognized conditional retirement obligations (primarily for asbestos remediation) in accordance with FIN 47, which was implemented on December 31, 2005. Had FIN 47 been applied in the six months ended June 30, 2005, the impact on earnings would have been immaterial.
 
      The ARO liability of $1.2 billion as of June 30, 2006 primarily relates to the nuclear decommissioning of the Beaver Valley, Davis-Besse, Perry and TMI-2 nuclear generating facilities. The obligation to decommission these units was developed based on site specific studies performed by an independent engineer. FirstEnergy uses an expected cash flow approach to measure the fair value of the nuclear decommissioning ARO.

      FirstEnergy maintains nuclear decommissioning trust funds that are legally restricted for purposes of settling the nuclear decommissioning ARO. As of June 30, 2006, the fair value of the decommissioning trust assets was $1.8 billion.

The following tables analyze changes to the ARO balances during the three months and six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Three Months Ended
 
FirstEnergy
 
OE
 
CEI
 
TE
 
Penn
 
JCP&L
 
Met-Ed
 
Penelec
 
 
 
(In millions)
 
ARO Reconciliation
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, April 1, 2006
 
$
1,148
 
$
84
 
$
8
 
$
25
 
$
-
 
$
81
 
$
144
 
$
73
 
Liabilities incurred
 
 
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Liabilities settled
 
 
(6
)
 
-
   
(6
)
 
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Accretion
 
 
18
   
1
   
-
   
1
   
-
   
1
   
2
   
1
 
Revisions in estimated
 
 
                                           
 
cashflows
 
 
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Balance, June 30, 2006
 
$
1,160
 
$
85
 
$
2
 
$
26
 
$
-
 
$
82
 
$
146
 
$
74
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, April 1, 2005
 
$
1,095
 
$
204
 
$
276
 
$
198
 
$
141
 
$
74
 
$
135
 
$
67
 
Liabilities incurred
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
Liabilities settled
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
Accretion
 
 
18
 
 
4
 
 
5
 
 
3
 
 
2
 
 
1
 
 
2
 
 
1
 
Revisions in estimated
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
cashflows
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
Balance, June 30, 2005
 
$
1,113
 
$
208
 
$
281
 
$
201
 
$
143
 
$
75
 
$
137
 
$
68
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Six Months Ended
 
FirstEnergy
 
OE
 
CEI
 
TE
 
Penn
 
JCP&L
 
Met-Ed
 
Penelec
 
 
 
(In millions)
 
ARO Reconciliation
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, January 1, 2006
 
$
1,126
 
$
83
 
$
8
 
$
25
 
$
-
 
$
80
 
$
142
 
$
72
 
Liabilities incurred
 
 
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Liabilities settled
 
 
(6
)
 
-
   
(6
)
 
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Accretion
 
 
36
   
2
   
-
   
1
   
-
   
2
   
4
   
2
 
Revisions in estimated
 
 
                                           
 
cashflows
 
 
4
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
Balance, June 30, 2006
 
$
1,160
 
$
85
 
$
2
 
$
26
 
$
-
 
$
82
 
$
146
 
$
74
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, January 1, 2005
 
$
1,078
 
$
201
 
$
272
 
$
195
 
$
138
 
$
72
 
$
133
 
$
67
 
Liabilities incurred
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
Liabilities settled
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
Accretion
 
 
35
 
 
7
 
 
9
 
 
6
 
 
5
 
 
3
 
 
4
 
 
1
 
Revisions in estimated
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
cashflows
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
Balance, June 30, 2005
 
$
1,113
 
$
208
 
$
281
 
$
201
 
$
143
 
$
75
 
$
137
 
$
68
 
 
 

 
8

 
8. - PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

FirstEnergy provides noncontributory defined benefit pension plans that cover substantially all of its employees. The trusteed plans provide defined benefits based on years of service and compensation levels. FirstEnergy also provides a minimum amount of noncontributory life insurance to retired employees in addition to optional contributory insurance. Health care benefits, which include certain employee contributions, deductibles and co-payments, are available upon retirement to employees hired prior to January 1, 2005, their dependents and, under certain circumstances, their survivors. FirstEnergy recognizes the expected cost of providing other postretirement benefits to employees, their beneficiaries and covered dependents from the time employees are hired until they become eligible to receive those benefits.
 
The components of FirstEnergy's net periodic pension and other postretirement benefit costs (including amounts capitalized) for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005 consisted of the following:

 
 
Three Months Ended
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
June 30,
 
June 30,
 
Pension Benefits
 
2006
 
2005
 
2006
 
2005
 
 
 
(In millions)
 
Service cost
 
$
21
 
$
19
 
$
41
 
$
38
 
Interest cost
 
 
66
 
 
64
 
 
133
 
 
128
 
Expected return on plan assets
 
 
(99
)
 
(86
)
 
(198
)
 
(173
)
Amortization of prior service cost
 
 
2
 
 
2
 
 
5
 
 
4
 
Recognized net actuarial loss
 
 
15
 
 
9
 
 
29
 
 
18
 
Net periodic cost
 
$
5
 
$
8
 
$
10
 
$
15
 

 
 
Three Months Ended
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
June 30,
 
June 30,
 
Other Postretirement Benefits
 
2006
 
2005
 
2006
 
2005
 
 
 
(In millions)
 
Service cost
 
$
9
 
$
10
 
$
17
 
$
20
 
Interest cost
 
 
26
 
 
27
 
 
52
 
 
55
 
Expected return on plan assets
 
 
(12
)
 
(11
)
 
(23
)
 
(22
)
Amortization of prior service cost
 
 
(19
)
 
(11
)
 
(37
)
 
(22
)
Recognized net actuarial loss
 
 
14
 
 
10
 
 
27
 
 
20
 
Net periodic cost
 
$
18
 
$
25
 
$
36
 
$
51
 

Pension and postretirement benefit obligations are allocated to FirstEnergy’s subsidiaries employing the plan participants. FirstEnergy’s subsidiaries capitalize employee benefits related to construction projects. The net periodic pension costs (credits) and net periodic postretirement benefit costs (including amounts capitalized) recognized by each of the Companies for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005 were as follows:

 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
June 30,
 
June 30,
 
Pension Benefit Cost (Credit)
 
2006
 
2005
 
2006
 
2005
 
 
 
(In millions)
 
OE
 
$
(1.1
)
$
0.2
 
$
(2.1
)
$
0.4
 
Penn
 
 
(0.4
)
 
(0.2
)
 
(0.8
)
 
(0.4
)
CEI
 
 
1.0
 
 
0.3
 
 
1.9
 
 
0.7
 
TE
 
 
0.2
 
 
0.3
 
 
0.4
 
 
0.6
 
JCP&L
 
 
(1.4
)
 
(0.3
)
 
(2.7
)
 
(0.5
)
Met-Ed
 
 
(1.7
)
 
(1.1
)
 
(3.5
)
 
(2.2
)
Penelec
 
 
(1.3
)
 
(1.3
)
 
(2.7
)
 
(2.7
)
Other FirstEnergy subsidiaries
   
9.9
   
9.6
   
20.0
   
19.1
 
   
$
5.2
 
$
7.5
 
$
10.5
 
$
15.0
 

 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
June 30,
 
June 30,
 
Other Postretirement Benefit Cost
 
2006
 
2005
 
2006
 
2005
 
 
 
(In millions)
 
OE
 
$
3.4
 
$
5.8
 
$
6.8
 
$
11.5
 
Penn
 
 
0.8
 
 
1.2
 
 
1.6
 
 
2.4
 
CEI
 
 
2.8
 
 
3.8
 
 
5.5
 
 
7.6
 
TE
 
 
2.0
 
 
2.2
 
 
4.0
 
 
4.3
 
JCP&L
 
 
0.6
 
 
1.5
 
 
1.2
 
 
4.2
 
Met-Ed
 
 
0.7
 
 
0.4
 
 
1.5
 
 
0.8
 
Penelec
 
 
1.8
 
 
2.0
 
 
3.6
 
 
4.0
 
Other FirstEnergy subsidiaries
   
6.1
   
8.1
   
12.1
   
16.2
 
   
$
18.2
 
$
25.0
 
$
36.3
 
$
51.0
 


9


9. - VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

FIN 46R addresses the consolidation of VIEs, including special-purpose entities, that are not controlled through voting interests or in which the equity investors do not bear the entity's residual economic risks and rewards. FirstEnergy and its subsidiaries consolidate VIEs when they are determined to be the VIE's primary beneficiary as defined by FIN 46R.

Leases

FirstEnergy’s consolidated financial statements include PNBV and Shippingport, VIEs created in 1996 and 1997, respectively, to refinance debt originally issued in connection with sale and leaseback transactions. PNBV and Shippingport financial data are included in the consolidated financial statements of OE and CEI, respectively.

PNBV was established to purchase a portion of the lease obligation bonds issued in connection with OE’s 1987 sale and leaseback of its interests in the Perry Plant and Beaver Valley Unit 2. OE used debt and available funds to purchase the notes issued by PNBV. Ownership of PNBV includes a 3% equity interest by an unaffiliated third party and a 3% equity interest held by OES Ventures, a wholly owned subsidiary of OE. Shippingport was established to purchase all of the lease obligation bonds issued in connection with CEI’s and TE’s Bruce Mansfield Plant sale and leaseback transaction in 1987. CEI and TE used debt and available funds to purchase the notes issued by Shippingport.

OE, CEI and TE are exposed to losses under the applicable sale-leaseback agreements upon the occurrence of certain contingent events that each company considers unlikely to occur. OE, CEI and TE each have a maximum exposure to loss under these provisions of approximately $1 billion, which represents the net amount of casualty value payments upon the occurrence of specified casualty events that render the applicable plant worthless. Under the applicable sale-leaseback agreements, OE, CEI and TE have net minimum discounted lease payments of $640 million, $98 million and $498 million, respectively, that would not be payable if the casualty value payments are made.

Power Purchase Agreements

In accordance with FIN 46R, FirstEnergy evaluated its power purchase agreements and determined that certain NUG entities may be VIEs to the extent they own a plant that sells substantially all of its output to the Companies and the contract price for power is correlated with the plant’s variable costs of production. FirstEnergy, through its subsidiaries JCP&L, Met-Ed and Penelec, maintains approximately 30 long-term power purchase agreements with NUG entities. The agreements were entered into pursuant to the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978. FirstEnergy was not involved in the creation of, and has no equity or debt invested in, these entities.

FirstEnergy has determined that for all but eight of these entities, neither JCP&L, Met-Ed nor Penelec have variable interests in the entities or the entities are governmental or not-for-profit organizations not within the scope of FIN 46R. JCP&L, Met-Ed or Penelec may hold variable interests in the remaining eight entities, which sell their output at variable prices that correlate to some extent with the operating costs of the plants. As required by FIN 46R, FirstEnergy periodically requests from these eight entities the information necessary to determine whether they are VIEs or whether JCP&L, Met-Ed or Penelec is the primary beneficiary. FirstEnergy has been unable to obtain the requested information, which in most cases was deemed by the requested entity to be proprietary. As such, FirstEnergy applied the scope exception that exempts enterprises unable to obtain the necessary information to evaluate entities under FIN 46R.

Since FirstEnergy has no equity or debt interests in the NUG entities, its maximum exposure to loss relates primarily to the above-market costs it incurs for power. FirstEnergy expects any above-market costs it incurs to be recovered from customers. As of June 30, 2006, the net above-market loss liability projected for these eight NUG agreements was $74 million. Purchased power costs from these entities during the three months and six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005 are shown in the following table:

   
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
June 30,
 
June 30,
 
 
 
2006
 
2005
 
2006
 
2005
 
 
 
(In millions)
JCP&L
 
$
19
 
$
21
 
$
34
 
$
42
 
Met-Ed
 
 
16
 
 
14
 
 
33
 
 
30
 
Penelec
 
 
7
 
 
7
 
 
14
 
 
14
 
Total
 
$
42
 
$
42
 
$
81
 
$
86
 


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Securitized Transition Bonds

The consolidated financial statements of FirstEnergy and JCP&L include the results of JCP&L Transition, a wholly owned limited liability company of JCP&L. In June 2002, JCP&L Transition sold $320 million of transition bonds to securitize the recovery of JCP&L's bondable stranded costs associated with the previously divested Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station.

JCP&L did not purchase and does not own any of the transition bonds, which are included as long-term debt on FirstEnergy's and JCP&L's Consolidated Balance Sheets. The transition bonds are obligations of JCP&L Transition only and are collateralized solely by the equity and assets of JCP&L Transition, which consist primarily of bondable transition property. The bondable transition property is solely the property of JCP&L Transition.

Bondable transition property represents the irrevocable right under New Jersey law of a utility company to charge, collect and receive from its customers, through a non-bypassable TBC, the principal amount and interest on the transition bonds and other fees and expenses associated with their issuance. JCP&L sold the bondable transition property to JCP&L Transition and, as servicer, manages and administers the bondable transition property, including the billing, collection and remittance of the TBC, pursuant to a servicing agreement with JCP&L Transition. JCP&L is entitled to a quarterly servicing fee of $100,000 that is payable from TBC collections.

10. - COMMITMENTS, GUARANTEES AND CONTINGENCIES

(A)  GUARANTEES AND OTHER ASSURANCES

As part of normal business activities, FirstEnergy enters into various agreements on behalf of its subsidiaries to provide financial or performance assurances to third parties. These agreements include contract guarantees, surety bonds and LOCs. As of June 30, 2006, outstanding guarantees and other assurances totaled approximately $3.5 billion consisting of contract guarantees ($1.9 billion), surety bonds ($0.1 billion) and LOCs ($1.5 billion).

FirstEnergy guarantees energy and energy-related payments of its subsidiaries involved in energy commodity activities principally to facilitate normal physical transactions involving electricity, gas, emission allowances and coal. FirstEnergy also provides guarantees to various providers of subsidiary financing principally for the acquisition of property, plant and equipment. These agreements legally obligate FirstEnergy to fulfill the obligations of those subsidiaries directly involved in energy and energy-related transactions or financing where the law might otherwise limit the counterparties' claims. If demands of a counterparty were to exceed the ability of a subsidiary to satisfy existing obligations, FirstEnergy's guarantee enables the counterparty's legal claim to be satisfied by other FirstEnergy assets. The likelihood is remote that such parental guarantees of $0.8 billion (included in the $1.9 billion discussed above) as of June 30, 2006 would increase amounts otherwise payable by FirstEnergy to meet its obligations incurred in connection with financings and ongoing energy and energy-related activities.

While these types of guarantees are normally parental commitments for the future payment of subsidiary obligations, subsequent to the occurrence of a credit rating-downgrade or “material adverse event” the immediate posting of cash collateral or provision of an LOC may be required of the subsidiary. As of June 30, 2006, FirstEnergy's maximum exposure under these collateral provisions was $501 million.

Most of FirstEnergy's surety bonds are backed by various indemnities common within the insurance industry. Surety bonds and related FirstEnergy guarantees of $146 million provide additional assurance to outside parties that contractual and statutory obligations will be met in a number of areas including construction jobs, environmental commitments and various retail transactions.

The Companies, with the exception of TE and JCP&L, each have a wholly owned subsidiary whose borrowings are secured by customer accounts receivable purchased from its respective parent company. The CEI subsidiary's borrowings are also secured by customer accounts receivable purchased from TE. Each subsidiary company has its own receivables financing arrangement and, as a separate legal entity with separate creditors, would have to satisfy its obligations to creditors before any of its remaining assets could be available to its parent company.
       
Borrowing
 
Subsidiary Company
 
Parent Company
 
Capacity
 
 
 
 
 
(In millions)
 
OES Capital, Incorporated
 
 
OE
 
$
170
 
Centerior Funding Corp.
 
 
CEI
 
 
200
 
Penn Power Funding LLC
 
 
Penn
 
 
25
 
Met-Ed Funding LLC
 
 
Met-Ed
 
 
80
 
Penelec Funding LLC
   
Penelec
   
75
 
         
$
550
 
 
 
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        FirstEnergy has also guaranteed the obligations of the operators of the TEBSA project up to a maximum of $6 million (subject to escalation) under the project's operations and maintenance agreement. In connection with the sale of TEBSA in January 2004, the purchaser indemnified FirstEnergy against any loss under this guarantee. FirstEnergy has also provided an LOC ($36 million as of June 30, 2006), which is renewable and declines yearly based upon the senior outstanding debt of TEBSA.

(B) ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS

Various federal, state and local authorities regulate FirstEnergy with regard to air and water quality and other environmental matters. The effects of compliance on the Companies with regard to environmental matters could have a material adverse effect on FirstEnergy's earnings and competitive position to the extent that it competes with companies that are not subject to such regulations and therefore do not bear the risk of costs associated with compliance, or failure to comply, with such regulations. Overall, FirstEnergy believes it is in compliance with existing regulations but is unable to predict future changes in regulatory policies and what, if any, the effects of such changes would be. FirstEnergy estimates additional capital expenditures for environmental compliance of approximately $1.8 billion for 2006 through 2010.

FirstEnergy accrues environmental liabilities only when it concludes that it is probable that it has an obligation for such costs and can reasonably estimate the amount of such costs. Unasserted claims are reflected in FirstEnergy’s determination of environmental liabilities and are accrued in the period that they are both probable and reasonably estimable.

On December 1, 2005, FirstEnergy issued a comprehensive report to shareholders regarding air emissions regulations and an assessment of its future risks and mitigation efforts.

Clean Air Act Compliance

FirstEnergy is required to meet federally approved SO2 regulations. Violations of such regulations can result in shutdown of the generating unit involved and/or civil or criminal penalties of up to $32,500 for each day the unit is in violation. The EPA has an interim enforcement policy for SO2 regulations in Ohio that allows for compliance based on a 30-day averaging period. FirstEnergy cannot predict what action the EPA may take in the future with respect to the interim enforcement policy.

The EPA Region 5 issued a Finding of Violation and NOV to the Bay Shore Power Plant dated June 15, 2006 alleging violations to various sections of the Clean Air Act. A meeting has been scheduled for August 8, 2006 to discuss the alleged violations with the EPA.

FirstEnergy believes it is complying with SO2 reduction requirements under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 by burning lower-sulfur fuel, generating more electricity from lower-emitting plants, and/or using emission allowances. NOX reductions required by the 1990 Amendments are being achieved through combustion controls and the generation of more electricity at lower-emitting plants. In September 1998, the EPA finalized regulations requiring additional NOX reductions from FirstEnergy's facilities. The EPA's NOX Transport Rule imposes uniform reductions of NOX emissions (an approximate 85% reduction in utility plant NOX emissions from projected 2007 emissions) across a region of nineteen states (including Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania) and the District of Columbia based on a conclusion that such NOX emissions are contributing significantly to ozone levels in the eastern United States. FirstEnergy believes its facilities are also complying with the NOX budgets established under State Implementation Plans through combustion controls and post-combustion controls, including Selective Catalytic Reduction and Selective Non-Catalytic Reduction systems, and/or using emission allowances.

National Ambient Air Quality Standards

In July 1997, the EPA promulgated changes in the NAAQS for ozone and fine particulate matter. In March 2005, the EPA finalized the CAIR covering a total of 28 states (including Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania) and the District of Columbia based on proposed findings that air emissions from 28 eastern states and the District of Columbia significantly contribute to non-attainment of the NAAQS for fine particles and/or the "8-hour" ozone NAAQS in other states. CAIR provides each affected state until 2006 to develop implementing regulations to achieve additional reductions of NOX and SO2 emissions in two phases (Phase I in 2009 for NOX, 2010 for SO2 and Phase II in 2015 for both NOX and SO2). FirstEnergy's Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania fossil-fired generation facilities will be subject to caps on SO2 and NOX emissions, whereas its New Jersey fossil-fired generation facility will be subject to only a cap on NOX emissions. According to the EPA, SO2 emissions will be reduced by 45% (from 2003 levels) by 2010 across the states covered by the rule, with reductions reaching 73% (from 2003 levels) by 2015, capping SO2 emissions in affected states to just 2.5 million tons annually. NOX emissions will be reduced by 53% (from 2003 levels) by 2009 across the states covered by the rule, with reductions reaching 61% (from 2003 levels) by 2015, achieving a regional NOX cap of 1.3 million tons annually. The future cost of compliance with these regulations may be substantial and will depend on how they are ultimately implemented by the states in which FirstEnergy operates affected facilities.

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Mercury Emissions

In December 2000, the EPA announced it would proceed with the development of regulations regarding hazardous air pollutants from electric power plants, identifying mercury as the hazardous air pollutant of greatest concern. In March 2005, the EPA finalized the CAMR, which provides a cap-and-trade program to reduce mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants in two phases. Initially, mercury emissions will be capped nationally at 38 tons by 2010 (as a "co-benefit" from implementation of SO2 and NOX emission caps under the EPA's CAIR program). Phase II of the mercury cap-and-trade program will cap nationwide mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants at 15 tons per year by 2018. However, the final rules give states substantial discretion in developing rules to implement these programs. In addition, both the CAIR and the CAMR have been challenged in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. FirstEnergy's future cost of compliance with these regulations may be substantial and will depend on how they are ultimately implemented by the states in which FirstEnergy operates affected facilities.

The model rules for both CAIR and CAMR contemplate an input-based methodology to allocate allowances to affected facilities. Under this approach, allowances would be allocated based on the amount of fuel consumed by the affected sources. FirstEnergy would prefer an output-based generation-neutral methodology in which allowances are allocated based on megawatts of power produced. Since this approach is based on output, new and non-emitting generating facilities, including renewables and nuclear, would be entitled to their proportionate share of the allowances. Consequently, FirstEnergy would be disadvantaged if these model rules were implemented because FirstEnergy’s substantial reliance on non-emitting (largely nuclear) generation is not recognized under the input-based allocation.

Pennsylvania has proposed a new rule to regulate mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants that does not provide a cap-and-trade approach as in CAMR, but rather follows a command and control approach imposing emission limits on individual sources. If adopted as proposed, Pennsylvania’s mercury regulation would deprive FirstEnergy of mercury emission allowances that were to be allocated to the Mansfield Plant under CAMR and that would otherwise be available for achieving FirstEnergy system-wide compliance. The future cost of compliance with these regulations, if adopted and implemented as proposed, may be substantial.

W. H. Sammis Plant

In 1999 and 2000, the EPA issued NOV or Compliance Orders to nine utilities alleging violations of the Clean Air Act based on operation and maintenance of 44 power plants, including the W. H. Sammis Plant, which was owned at that time by OE and Penn. In addition, the DOJ filed eight civil complaints against various investor-owned utilities, including a complaint against OE and Penn in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. These cases are referred to as New Source Review cases. On March 18, 2005, OE and Penn announced that they had reached a settlement with the EPA, the DOJ and three states (Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York) that resolved all issues related to the W. H. Sammis Plant New Source Review litigation. This settlement agreement was approved by the Court on July 11, 2005, and requires reductions of NOX and SO2 emissions at the W. H. Sammis Plant and other coal-fired plants through the installation of pollution control devices and provides for stipulated penalties for failure to install and operate such pollution controls in accordance with that agreement. Consequently, if FirstEnergy fails to install such pollution control devices, for any reason, including, but not limited to, the failure of any third-party contractor to timely meet its delivery obligations for such devices, FirstEnergy could be exposed to penalties under the settlement agreement. Capital expenditures necessary to meet those requirements are currently estimated to be $1.5 billion (the primary portion of which is expected to be spent in the 2008 to 2011 time period). On August 26, 2005, FGCO entered into an agreement with Bechtel Power Corporation under which Bechtel will engineer, procure, and construct air quality control systems for the reduction of sulfur dioxide emissions. The settlement agreement also requires OE and Penn to spend up to $25 million toward environmentally beneficial projects, which include wind energy purchased power agreements over a 20-year term. OE and Penn agreed to pay a civil penalty of $8.5 million. Results for the first quarter of 2005 included the penalties paid by OE and Penn of $7.8 million and $0.7 million, respectively. OE and Penn also recognized liabilities in the first quarter of 2005 of $9.2 million and $0.8 million, respectively, for probable future cash contributions toward environmentally beneficial projects.

Climate Change

In December 1997, delegates to the United Nations' climate summit in Japan adopted an agreement, the Kyoto Protocol, to address global warming by reducing the amount of man-made GHG emitted by developed countries by 5.2% from 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012. The United States signed the Kyoto Protocol in 1998 but it failed to receive the two-thirds vote required for ratification by the United States Senate. However, the Bush administration has committed the United States to a voluntary climate change strategy to reduce domestic GHG intensity - the ratio of emissions to economic output - by 18% through 2012. The EPACT established a Committee on Climate Change Technology to coordinate federal climate change activities and promote the development and deployment of GHG reducing technologies.

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FirstEnergy cannot currently estimate the financial impact of climate change policies, although the potential restrictions on CO2 emissions could require significant capital and other expenditures. The CO2 emissions per KWH of electricity generated by FirstEnergy is lower than many regional competitors due to its diversified generation sources, which include low or non-CO2 emitting gas-fired and nuclear generators.

Clean Water Act

Various water quality regulations, the majority of which are the result of the federal Clean Water Act and its amendments, apply to FirstEnergy's plants. In addition, Ohio, New Jersey and Pennsylvania have water quality standards applicable to FirstEnergy's operations. As provided in the Clean Water Act, authority to grant federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System water discharge permits can be assumed by a state. Ohio, New Jersey and Pennsylvania have assumed such authority.

On September 7, 2004, the EPA established new performance standards under Section 316(b) of the Clean Water Act for reducing impacts on fish and shellfish from cooling water intake structures at certain existing large electric generating plants. The regulations call for reductions in impingement mortality, when aquatic organisms are pinned against screens or other parts of a cooling water intake system, and entrainment, which occurs when aquatic species are drawn into a facility's cooling water system. FirstEnergy is conducting comprehensive demonstration studies, due in 2008, to determine the operational measures, equipment or restoration activities, if any, necessary for compliance by its facilities with the performance standards. FirstEnergy is unable to predict the outcome of such studies. Depending on the outcome of such studies, the future cost of compliance with these standards may require material capital expenditures.

Regulation of Hazardous Waste

As a result of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended, and the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, federal and state hazardous waste regulations have been promulgated. Certain fossil-fuel combustion waste products, such as coal ash, were exempted from hazardous waste disposal requirements pending the EPA's evaluation of the need for future regulation. The EPA subsequently determined that regulation of coal ash as a hazardous waste is unnecessary. In April 2000, the EPA announced that it will develop national standards regulating disposal of coal ash under its authority to regulate nonhazardous waste.

The Companies have been named as PRPs at waste disposal sites, which may require cleanup under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980. Allegations of disposal of hazardous substances at historical sites and the liability involved are often unsubstantiated and subject to dispute; however, federal law provides that all PRPs for a particular site are liable on a joint and several basis. Therefore, environmental liabilities that are considered probable have been recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of June 30, 2006, based on estimates of the total costs of cleanup, the Companies' proportionate responsibility for such costs and the financial ability of other unaffiliated entities to pay. In addition, JCP&L has accrued liabilities for environmental remediation of former manufactured gas plants in New Jersey; those costs are being recovered by JCP&L through a non-bypassable SBC. Total liabilities of approximately $70 million (JCP&L - $55 million, CEI - $2 million, and other subsidiaries- $13 million) have been accrued through June 30, 2006.

(C) OTHER LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Power Outages and Related Litigation

In July 1999, the Mid-Atlantic States experienced a severe heat wave, which resulted in power outages throughout the service territories of many electric utilities, including JCP&L's territory. In an investigation into the causes of the outages and the reliability of the transmission and distribution systems of all four of New Jersey’s electric utilities, the NJBPU concluded that there was not a prima facie case demonstrating that, overall, JCP&L provided unsafe, inadequate or improper service to its customers. Two class action lawsuits (subsequently consolidated into a single proceeding) were filed in New Jersey Superior Court in July 1999 against JCP&L, GPU and other GPU companies, seeking compensatory and punitive damages arising from the July 1999 service interruptions in the JCP&L territory.

In August 2002, the trial court granted partial summary judgment to JCP&L and dismissed the plaintiffs' claims for consumer fraud, common law fraud, negligent misrepresentation, and strict product liability. In November 2003, the trial court granted JCP&L's motion to decertify the class and denied plaintiffs' motion to permit into evidence their class-wide damage model indicating damages in excess of $50 million. These class decertification and damage rulings were appealed to the Appellate Division. The Appellate Division issued a decision on July 8, 2004, affirming the decertification of the originally certified class, but remanding for certification of a class limited to those customers directly impacted by the outages of JCP&L transformers in Red Bank, New Jersey. On September 8, 2004, the New Jersey Supreme Court denied the motions filed by plaintiffs and JCP&L for leave to appeal the decision of the Appellate Division. In December 2005, JCP&L argued its motion for summary judgment before the New Jersey Superior Court on its renewed motion to decertify the class and on remaining plaintiffs' negligence and breach of contract claims. These motions remain pending. FirstEnergy is unable to predict the outcome of these matters and no liability has been accrued as of June 30, 2006.

14


On August 14, 2003, various states and parts of southern Canada experienced widespread power outages. The outages affected approximately 1.4 million customers in FirstEnergy's service area. The U.S. - Canada Power System Outage Task Force’s final report in April 2004 on the outages concluded, among other things, that the problems leading to the outages began in FirstEnergy’s Ohio service area. Specifically, the final report concluded, among other things, that the initiation of the August 14, 2003 power outages resulted from an alleged failure of both FirstEnergy and ECAR to assess and understand perceived inadequacies within the FirstEnergy system; inadequate situational awareness of the developing conditions; and a perceived failure to adequately manage tree growth in certain transmission rights of way. The Task Force also concluded that there was a failure of the interconnected grid's reliability organizations (MISO and PJM) to provide effective real-time diagnostic support. The final report is publicly available through the Department of Energy’s Web site (www.doe.gov). FirstEnergy believes that the final report does not provide a complete and comprehensive picture of the conditions that contributed to the August 14, 2003 power outages and that it does not adequately address the underlying causes of the outages. FirstEnergy remains convinced that the outages cannot be explained by events on any one utility's system. The final report contained 46 “recommendations to prevent or minimize the scope of future blackouts.” Forty-five of those recommendations related to broad industry or policy matters while one, including subparts, related to activities the Task Force recommended be undertaken by FirstEnergy, MISO, PJM, ECAR, and other parties to correct the causes of the August 14, 2003 power outages. FirstEnergy implemented several initiatives, both prior to and since the August 14, 2003 power outages, which were independently verified by NERC as complete in 2004 and were consistent with these and other recommendations and collectively enhance the reliability of its electric system. FirstEnergy’s implementation of these recommendations in 2004 included completion of the Task Force recommendations that were directed toward FirstEnergy. FirstEnergy is also proceeding with the implementation of the recommendations that were to be completed subsequent to 2004 and will continue to periodically assess the FERC-ordered Reliability Study recommendations for forecasted 2009 system conditions, recognizing revised load forecasts and other changing system conditions which may impact the recommendations. Thus far, implementation of the recommendations has not required, nor is expected to require, substantial investment in new or material upgrades to existing equipment. The FERC or other applicable government agencies and reliability coordinators may, however, take a different view as to recommended enhancements or may recommend additional enhancements in the future as the result of adoption of mandatory reliability standards pursuant to the EPACT that could require additional material expenditures.

FirstEnergy companies also are defending six separate complaint cases before the PUCO relating to the August 14, 2003 power outage. Two cases were originally filed in Ohio State courts but were subsequently dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and further appeals were unsuccessful. In these cases the individual complainants—three in one case and four in the other—sought to represent others as part of a class action. The PUCO dismissed the class allegations, stating that its rules of practice do not provide for class action complaints. Three other pending PUCO complaint cases were filed by various insurance carriers either in their own name as subrogees or in the name of their insured. In each of these three cases, the carrier seeks reimbursement from various FirstEnergy companies (and, in one case, from PJM, MISO and American Electric Power Company, Inc., as well) for claims paid to insureds for damages allegedly arising as a result of the loss of power on August 14, 2003. The listed insureds in these cases, in many instances, are not customers of any FirstEnergy company. The sixth case involves the claim of a non-customer seeking reimbursement for losses incurred when its store was burglarized on August 14, 2003. FirstEnergy filed a Motion to Dismiss on June 13, 2006. It is currently expected that this case will be summarily dismissed, although the Motion is still pending. On March 7, 2006, the PUCO issued a ruling applicable to all pending cases. Among its various rulings, the PUCO consolidated all of the pending outage cases for hearing; limited the litigation to service-related claims by customers of the Ohio operating companies; dismissed FirstEnergy as a defendant; ruled that the U.S.-Canada Power System Outage Task Force Report was not admissible into evidence; and gave the plaintiffs additional time to amend their complaints to otherwise comply with the PUCO’s underlying order. Also, most complainants, along with the FirstEnergy companies, filed applications for rehearing with the PUCO over various rulings contained in the March 7, 2006 order. On April 26, 2006, the PUCO granted rehearing to allow the insurance company claimants, as insurers, to prosecute their claims in their name so long as they also identify the underlying insured entities and the Ohio utilities that provide their service. The PUCO denied all other motions for rehearing. The plaintiffs in each case have since filed an amended complaint and the named FirstEnergy companies have answered and also have filed a motion to dismiss each action. These motions are pending. Additionally, on June 23, 2006, one of the insurance carrier complainants filed an appeal with the Ohio Supreme Court over the PUCO’s denial of motion for rehearing on the issue of the admissibility of the Task Force Report and the dismissal of FirstEnergy Corp. as a respondent. Briefing is expected to be completed on this appeal by mid-September. It is unknown when the Supreme Court will rule on the appeal. No estimate of potential liability is available for any of these cases.

In addition to the above proceedings, FirstEnergy was named in a complaint filed in Michigan State Court by an individual who is not a customer of any FirstEnergy company. FirstEnergy's motion to dismiss the matter was denied on June 2, 2006. FirstEnergy has since filed an appeal, which is pending. A responsive pleading to this matter has been filed. Also, the complaint has been amended to include an additional party. No estimate of potential liability has been undertaken in this matter.

15


FirstEnergy was also named, along with several other entities, in a complaint in New Jersey State Court. The allegations against FirstEnergy were based, in part, on an alleged failure to protect the citizens of Jersey City from an electrical power outage. None of FirstEnergy’s subsidiaries serve customers in Jersey City. A responsive pleading has been filed. On April 28, 2006, the Court granted FirstEnergy's motion to dismiss. The plaintiff has not appealed.

FirstEnergy is vigorously defending these actions, but cannot predict the outcome of any of these proceedings or whether any further regulatory proceedings or legal actions may be initiated against the Companies. Although unable to predict the impact of these proceedings, if FirstEnergy or its subsidiaries were ultimately determined to have legal liability in connection with these proceedings, it could have a material adverse effect on FirstEnergy's or its subsidiaries' financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Nuclear Plant Matters

On January 20, 2006, FENOC announced that it had entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio and the Environmental Crimes Section of the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the DOJ related to FENOC’s communications with the NRC during the fall of 2001 in connection with the reactor head issue at the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station. Under the agreement, which expires on December 31, 2006, the United States acknowledged FENOC’s extensive corrective actions at Davis-Besse, FENOC’s cooperation during investigations by the DOJ and the NRC, FENOC’s pledge of continued cooperation in any related criminal and administrative investigations and proceedings, FENOC’s acknowledgement of responsibility for the behavior of its employees, and its agreement to pay a monetary penalty. The DOJ will refrain from seeking an indictment or otherwise initiating criminal prosecution of FENOC for all conduct related to the statement of facts attached to the deferred prosecution agreement, as long as FENOC remains in compliance with the agreement, which FENOC fully intends to do. FENOC paid a monetary penalty of $28 million (not deductible for income tax purposes) which reduced FirstEnergy's earnings by $0.09 per common share in the fourth quarter of 2005.

On April 21, 2005, the NRC issued a NOV and proposed a $5.45 million civil penalty related to the degradation of the Davis-Besse reactor vessel head issue discussed above. FirstEnergy accrued $2 million for a potential fine prior to 2005 and accrued the remaining liability for the proposed fine during the first quarter of 2005. On September 14, 2005, FENOC filed its response to the NOV with the NRC. FENOC accepted full responsibility for the past failure to properly implement its boric acid corrosion control and corrective action programs. The NRC NOV indicated that the violations do not represent current licensee performance. FirstEnergy paid the penalty in the third quarter of 2005. On January 23, 2006, FENOC supplemented its response to the NRC's NOV on the Davis-Besse head degradation to reflect the deferred prosecution agreement that FENOC had reached with the DOJ.

On August 12, 2004, the NRC notified FENOC that it would increase its regulatory oversight of the Perry Nuclear Power Plant as a result of problems with safety system equipment over the preceding two years and the licensee's failure to take prompt and corrective action. FENOC operates the Perry Nuclear Power Plant.

On April 4, 2005, the NRC held a public meeting to discuss FENOC’s performance at the Perry Nuclear Power Plant as identified in the NRC's annual assessment letter to FENOC. Similar public meetings are held with all nuclear power plant licensees following issuance by the NRC of their annual assessments. According to the NRC, overall the Perry Nuclear Power Plant operated "in a manner that preserved public health and safety" even though it remained under heightened NRC oversight. During the public meeting and in the annual assessment, the NRC indicated that additional inspections will continue and that the plant must improve performance to be removed from the Multiple/Repetitive Degraded Cornerstone Column of the Action Matrix.

On September 28, 2005, the NRC sent a CAL to FENOC describing commitments that FENOC had made to improve the performance at the Perry Plant and stated that the CAL would remain open until substantial improvement was demonstrated. The CAL was anticipated as part of the NRC's Reactor Oversight Process. In the NRC's 2005 annual assessment letter dated March 2, 2006 and associated meetings to discuss the performance of Perry on March 14, 2006, the NRC again stated that the Perry Plant continued to operate in a manner that "preserved public health and safety." However, the NRC also stated that increased levels of regulatory oversight would continue until sustained improvement in the performance of the facility was realized. If performance does not improve, the NRC has a range of options under the Reactor Oversight Process, from increased oversight to possible impact to the plant’s operating authority. Although FirstEnergy is unable to predict the impact of the ultimate disposition of this matter, it could have a material adverse effect on FirstEnergy's or its subsidiaries' financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

As of December 16, 2005, NGC acquired ownership of the nuclear generation assets transferred from OE, CEI, TE and Penn with the exception of leasehold interests of OE and TE in certain of the nuclear plants that are subject to sale and leaseback arrangements with non-affiliates.

16


Other Legal Matters

There are various lawsuits, claims (including claims for asbestos exposure) and proceedings related to FirstEnergy's normal business operations pending against FirstEnergy and its subsidiaries. The other potentially material items not otherwise discussed above are described below.

On October 20, 2004, FirstEnergy was notified by the SEC that the previously disclosed informal inquiry initiated by the SEC's Division of Enforcement in September 2003 relating to the restatements in August 2003 of previously reported results by FirstEnergy and the Ohio Companies, and the Davis-Besse extended outage, have become the subject of a formal order of investigation. The SEC's formal order of investigation also encompasses issues raised during the SEC's examination of FirstEnergy and the Companies under the now repealed PUHCA. Concurrent with this notification, FirstEnergy received a subpoena asking for background documents and documents related to the restatements and Davis-Besse issues. On December 30, 2004, FirstEnergy received a subpoena asking for documents relating to issues raised during the SEC's PUHCA examination. On August 24, 2005, additional information was requested regarding Davis-Besse-related disclosures, which has been provided. FirstEnergy has cooperated fully with the informal inquiry and continues to do so with the formal investigation.

On August 22, 2005, a class action complaint was filed against OE in Jefferson County, Ohio Common Pleas Court, seeking compensatory and punitive damages to be determined at trial based on claims of negligence and eight other tort counts alleging damages from W.H. Sammis Plant air emissions. The two named plaintiffs are also seeking injunctive relief to eliminate harmful emissions and repair property damage and the institution of a medical monitoring program for class members.

JCP&L's bargaining unit employees filed a grievance challenging JCP&L's 2002 call-out procedure that required bargaining unit employees to respond to emergency power outages. On May 20, 2004, an arbitration panel concluded that the call-out procedure violated the parties' collective bargaining agreement. At the conclusion of the June 1, 2005 hearing, the Arbitrator decided not to hear testimony on damages and closed the proceedings. On September 9, 2005, the Arbitrator issued an opinion to award approximately $16 million to the bargaining unit employees. On February 6, 2006, the federal court granted a Union motion to dismiss JCP&L's appeal of the award as premature. JCP&L will file its appeal again in federal district court once the damages associated with this case are identified at an individual employee level. JCP&L recognized a liability for the potential $16 million award in 2005.

The City of Huron filed a complaint against OE with the PUCO challenging the ability of electric distribution utilities to collect transition charges from a customer of a newly-formed municipal electric utility. The complaint was filed on May 28, 2003, and OE timely filed its response on June 30, 2003. In a related filing, the Ohio Companies filed for approval with the PUCO of a tariff that would specifically allow the collection of transition charges from customers of municipal electric utilities formed after 1998. Both filings were consolidated for hearing and decision described above. An adverse ruling could negatively affect full recovery of transition charges by the utility. Hearings on the matter were held in August 2005. Initial briefs from all parties were filed on September 22, 2005 and reply briefs were filed on October 14, 2005. On May 10, 2006, the PUCO issued its Opinion and Order dismissing the City’s complaint and approving the related tariffs, thus affirming OE’s entitlement to recovery of its transition charges. The City of Huron filed an application for rehearing of the PUCO’s decision on June 9, 2006 and OE filed a memorandum in opposition to that application on June 19, 2006. The PUCO denied the City’s application for rehearing on June 28, 2006. The City of Huron has 60 days from the denial of rehearing to appeal the PUCO’s decision.

If it were ultimately determined that FirstEnergy or its subsidiaries have legal liability or are otherwise made subject to liability based on the above matters, it could have a material adverse effect on FirstEnergy's or its subsidiaries' financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

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11. - REGULATORY MATTERS

RELIABILITY INITIATIVES

In late 2003 and early 2004, a series of letters, reports and recommendations were issued from various entities, including governmental, industry and ad hoc reliability entities (PUCO, FERC, NERC and the U.S. - Canada Power System Outage Task Force) regarding enhancements to regional reliability. In 2004, FirstEnergy completed implementation of all actions and initiatives related to enhancing area reliability, improving voltage and reactive management, operator readiness and training and emergency response preparedness recommended for completion in 2004. On July 14, 2004, NERC independently verified that FirstEnergy had implemented the various initiatives to be completed by June 30 or summer 2004, with minor exceptions noted by FirstEnergy, which exceptions are now essentially complete. FirstEnergy is proceeding with the implementation of the recommendations that were to be completed subsequent to 2004 and will continue to periodically assess the FERC-ordered Reliability Study recommendations for forecasted 2009 system conditions, recognizing revised load forecasts and other changing system conditions which may impact the recommendations. Thus far, implementation of the recommendations has not required, nor is expected to require, substantial investment in new, or material upgrades to existing equipment. The FERC or other applicable government agencies and reliability coordinators may, however, take a different view as to recommended enhancements or may recommend additional enhancements in the future as the result of adoption of mandatory reliability standards pursuant to the EPACT that could require additional, material expenditures.

As a result of outages experienced in JCP&L’s service area in 2002 and 2003, the NJBPU had implemented reviews into JCP&L’s service reliability. In 2004, the NJBPU adopted an MOU that set out specific tasks related to service reliability to be performed by JCP&L and a timetable for completion and endorsed JCP&L’s ongoing actions to implement the MOU. On June 9, 2004, the NJBPU approved a Stipulation that incorporates the final report of an SRM who made recommendations on appropriate courses of action necessary to ensure system-wide reliability. The Stipulation also incorporates the Executive Summary and Recommendation portions of the final report of a focused audit of JCP&L’s Planning and Operations and Maintenance programs and practices (Focused Audit). A final order in the Focused Audit docket was issued by the NJBPU on July 23, 2004. On February 11, 2005, JCP&L met with the DRA to discuss reliability improvements. The SRM completed his work and issued his final report to the NJBPU on June 1, 2006. A meeting was held between JCP&L and the NJBPU on June 29, 2006 to discuss the SRM’s final report. JCP&L filed a comprehensive response to the NJBPU on July 14, 2006. JCP&L continues to file compliance reports reflecting activities associated with the MOU and Stipulation.

The EPACT provides for the creation of an ERO to establish and enforce reliability standards for the bulk power system, subject to FERC review. On February 3, 2006, the FERC adopted a rule establishing certification requirements for the ERO, as well as regional entities envisioned to assume monitoring responsibility for the new reliability standards. The FERC issued an order on rehearing on March 30, 2006, providing certain clarifications and essentially affirming the rule.

The NERC has been preparing the implementation aspects of reorganizing its structure to meet the FERC’s certification requirements for the ERO. The NERC made a filing with the FERC on April 4, 2006 to obtain certification as the ERO and to obtain FERC approval of delegation agreements with regional entities. The new FERC rule referred to above, further provides for reorganizing regional reliability organizations (regional entities) that would replace the current regional councils and for rearranging the relationship with the ERO. The “regional entity” may be delegated authority by the ERO, subject to FERC approval, for enforcing reliability standards adopted by the ERO and approved by the FERC. The ERO filing was noticed on April 7, 2006 and comments and reply comments were filed in May, June and July 2006. On July 20, 2006, the FERC certified NERC as the ERO to implement the provisions of Section 215 of the Federal Power Act. The FERC directed NERC to make a compliance filing within ninety days addressing such issues as the regional delegation agreements.

On April 4, 2006, NERC also submitted a filing with the FERC seeking approval of mandatory reliability standards. These reliability standards are based, with some modifications, on the current NERC Version O reliability standards with some additional standards. The reliability standards filing was noticed by the FERC on April 18, 2006. In that notice, the FERC announced its intent to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the proposed reliability standards at a future date. On May 11, 2006, the FERC staff released a preliminary assessment that cited many deficiencies in the proposed reliability standards. The NERC and industry participants filed comments in response to the Staff’s preliminary assessment. The FERC held a technical conference on the proposed reliability standards on July 6, 2006. The chairman has indicated that the FERC intends to act on the proposed reliability standards by issuing a NOPR in September of this year. Interested parties will be given the opportunity to comment on the NOPR. NERC has requested an effective date of January 1, 2007 for the proposed reliability standards.

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The ECAR, Mid-Atlantic Area Council, and Mid-American Interconnected Network reliability councils have completed the consolidation of these regions into a single new regional reliability organization known as ReliabilityFirst Corporation. ReliabilityFirst began operations as a regional reliability council under NERC on January 1, 2006 and intends to file and obtain certification consistent with the final rule as a “regional entity” under the ERO during 2006. All of FirstEnergy’s facilities are located within the ReliabilityFirst region.

On May 2, 2006, the NERC Board of Trustees adopted eight new cyber security standards that replaced interim standards put in place in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and thirteen additional reliability standards. The security standards became effective on June 1, 2006, and the remaining standards will become effective throughout 2006 and 2007. NERC intends to file the standards with the FERC and relevant Canadian authorities for approval.

FirstEnergy believes it is in compliance with all current NERC reliability standards. However, it is expected that the FERC will adopt stricter reliability standards than those contained in the current NERC standards. The financial impact of complying with the new standards cannot be determined at this time. However, the EPACT required that all prudent costs incurred to comply with the new reliability standards be recovered in rates.

OHIO

On October 21, 2003 the Ohio Companies filed their RSP case with the PUCO. On August 5, 2004, the Ohio Companies accepted the RSP as modified and approved by the PUCO in an August 4, 2004 Entry on Rehearing, subject to a CBP. The RSP was intended to establish generation service rates beginning January 1, 2006, in response to the PUCO’s concerns about price and supply uncertainty following the end of the Ohio Companies' transition plan market development period. In October 2004, the OCC and NOAC filed appeals with the Supreme Court of Ohio to overturn the original June 9, 2004 PUCO order in the proceeding as well as the associated entries on rehearing. On September 28, 2005, the Supreme Court of Ohio heard oral arguments on the appeals. On May 3, 2006, the Supreme Court of Ohio issued an opinion affirming the PUCO's order with respect to the approval of the rate stabilization charge, approval of the shopping credits, the granting of interest on shopping credit incentive deferral amounts, and approval of the Ohio Companies’ financial separation plan. It remanded one matter back to the PUCO for further consideration of the issue as to whether the RSP, as adopted by the PUCO, provided for sufficient means for customer participation in the competitive marketplace. On May 12, 2006, the Ohio Companies filed a Motion for Reconsideration with the Supreme Court of Ohio which was denied by the Court on June 21, 2006. The RSP contained a provision that permitted the Ohio Companies to withdraw and terminate the RSP in the event that the PUCO, or the Supreme Court of Ohio, rejected all or part of the RSP. In such event, the Ohio Companies have 30 days from the final order or decision to provide notice of termination. On July 20, 2006 the Ohio Companies filed with the PUCO a Request to Initiate a Proceeding on Remand. In their Request, the Ohio Companies provided notice of termination to those provisions of the RSP subject to termination, subject to being withdrawn, and also set forth a framework for addressing the Supreme Court of Ohio’s findings on customer participation, requesting the PUCO to initiate a proceeding to consider the Ohio Companies’ proposal. If the PUCO approves a resolution to the issues raised by the Supreme Court of Ohio that is acceptable to the Ohio Companies, the Ohio Companies’ termination will be withdrawn and considered to be null and void. Separately, the OCC and NOAC also submitted to the PUCO on July 20, 2006 a conceptual proposal dealing with the issue raised by the Supreme Court of Ohio. On July 26, 2006, the PUCO issued an Entry acknowledging the July 20, 2006 filings of the Ohio Companies and the OCC and NOAC, and giving the Ohio Companies 45 days to file a plan in a new docket to address the Court’s concern.

The Ohio Companies filed an application and stipulation with the PUCO on September 9, 2005 seeking approval of the RCP. On November 4, 2005, the Ohio Companies filed a supplemental stipulation with the PUCO, which constituted an additional component of the RCP filed on September 9, 2005. Major provisions of the RCP include:

 
Maintaining the existing level of base distribution rates through December 31, 2008 for OE and TE, and April 30, 2009 for CEI;
     
 
Deferring and capitalizing for future recovery (over a 25-year period) with carrying charges certain distribution costs to be incurred during the period January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2008, not to exceed $150 million in each of the three years;
     
 
Adjusting the RTC and extended RTC recovery periods and rate levels so that full recovery of authorized costs will occur as of December 31, 2008 for OE and TE and as of December 31, 2010 for CEI;
     
 
Reducing the deferred shopping incentive balances as of January 1, 2006 by up to $75 million for OE, $45 million for TE, and $85 million for CEI by accelerating the application of each respective company's accumulated cost of removal regulatory liability; and

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Recovering increased fuel costs (compared to a 2002 baseline) of up to $75 million, $77 million, and $79 million, in 2006, 2007, and 2008, respectively, from all OE and TE distribution and transmission customers through a fuel recovery mechanism. OE, TE, and CEI may defer and capitalize (for recovery over a 25-year period) increased fuel costs above the amount collected through the fuel recovery mechanism.

On January 4, 2006, the PUCO approved, with modifications, the Ohio Companies’ RCP to supplement the RSP to provide customers with more certain rate levels than otherwise available under the RSP during the plan period. On January 10, 2006, the Ohio Companies filed a Motion for Clarification of the PUCO order approving the RCP. The Ohio Companies sought clarity on issues related to distribution deferrals, including requirements of the review process, timing for recognizing certain deferrals and definitions of the types of qualified expenditures. The Ohio Companies also sought confirmation that the list of deferrable distribution expenditures originally included in the revised stipulation fall within the PUCO order definition of qualified expenditures. On January 25, 2006, the PUCO issued an Entry on Rehearing granting in part, and denying in part, the Ohio Companies’ previous requests and clarifying issues referred to above. The PUCO granted the Ohio Companies’ requests to:

 
Recognize fuel and distribution deferrals commencing January 1, 2006;
     
 
Recognize distribution deferrals on a monthly basis prior to review by the PUCO Staff;
     
 
Clarify that the types of distribution expenditures included in the Supplemental Stipulation may be deferred; and
     
 
Clarify that distribution expenditures do not have to be “accelerated” in order to be deferred.

The PUCO approved the Ohio Companies’ methodology for determining distribution deferral amounts, but denied the Motion in that the PUCO Staff must verify the level of distribution expenditures contained in current rates, as opposed to simply accepting the amounts contained in the Ohio Companies’ Motion. On February 3, 2006, several other parties filed applications for rehearing on the PUCO's January 4, 2006 Order. The Ohio Companies responded to the applications for rehearing on February 8, 2006. In an Entry on Rehearing issued by the PUCO on March 1, 2006, all motions for rehearing were denied. Certain of these parties have subsequently filed notices of appeal with the Supreme Court of Ohio alleging various errors made by the PUCO in its order approving the RCP. The Ohio Companies’ Motion to Intervene in the appeals was granted by the Supreme Court on June 8, 2006. The Appellants’ Merit Briefs were filed at the Supreme Court on July 5, 2006. The Appellees include the PUCO and the Ohio Companies. The Appellees’ Merit Briefs are due on August 4, 2006. Appellants’ Reply Briefs will then be due on August 24, 2006.

On December 30, 2004, the Ohio Companies filed with the PUCO two applications related to the recovery of transmission and ancillary service-related costs. The first application sought recovery of these costs beginning January 1, 2006. The Ohio Companies requested that these costs be recovered through a rider that would be effective on January 1, 2006 and adjusted each July 1 thereafter. The parties reached a settlement agreement that was approved by the PUCO on August 31, 2005. The incremental transmission and ancillary service revenues recovered from January 1 through June 30, 2006 were approximately $61 million. That amount included the recovery of a portion of the 2005 deferred MISO expenses as described below. On May 1, 2006, the Ohio Companies filed a modification to the rider to determine revenues ($141 million) from July 2006 through June 2007.

The second application sought authority to defer costs associated with transmission and ancillary service related costs incurred during the period October 1, 2003 through December 31, 2005. On May 18, 2005, the PUCO granted the accounting authority for the Ohio Companies to defer incremental transmission and ancillary service-related charges incurred as a participant in MISO, but only for those costs incurred during the period December 30, 2004 through December 31, 2005. Permission to defer costs incurred prior to December 30, 2004 was denied. The PUCO also authorized the Ohio Companies to accrue carrying charges on the deferred balances. On August 31, 2005, the OCC appealed the PUCO's decision. On January 20, 2006, the OCC sought rehearing of the PUCO’s approval of the recovery of deferred costs through the rider during the period January 1, 2006 through June 30, 2006. The PUCO denied the OCC's application on February 6, 2006. On March 23, 2006, the OCC appealed the PUCO's order to the Ohio Supreme Court. On March 27, 2006, the OCC filed a motion to consolidate this appeal with the deferral appeals discussed above and to postpone oral arguments in the deferral appeal until after all briefs are filed in this most recent appeal of the rider recovery mechanism. On March 20, 2006, the Ohio Supreme Court, on its own motion, consolidated the OCC's appeal of the Ohio Companies' case with a similar case involving Dayton Power & Light Company. Oral arguments were heard on May 10, 2006. The Ohio Companies are unable to predict when a decision may be issued.

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PENNSYLVANIA

A February 2002 Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania decision affirmed the June 2001 PPUC decision regarding approval of the FirstEnergy/GPU merger, remanded the issues of quantification and allocation of merger savings to the PPUC and denied Met-Ed and Penelec the rate relief initially approved in the PPUC decision. On October 2, 2003, the PPUC issued an order concluding that the Commonwealth Court reversed the PPUC’s June 2001 order in its entirety. In accordance with the PPUC's direction, Met-Ed and Penelec filed supplements to their tariffs that became effective in October 2003 and that reflected the CTC rates and shopping credits in effect prior to the June 2001 order.

Met-Ed’s and Penelec’s combined portion of total net merger savings during 2001 - 2004 is estimated to be approximately $51 million. A procedural schedule was established by the ALJ on January 17, 2006 and the companies filed initial testimony on March 1, 2006. On May 4, 2006, the PPUC consolidated this proceeding with the April 10, 2006 comprehensive rate filing proceeding discussed below. Met-Ed and Penelec are unable to predict the outcome of this matter.

In an October 16, 2003 order, the PPUC approved September 30, 2004 as the date for Met-Ed's and Penelec's NUG trust fund refunds. The PPUC order also denied their accounting treatment request regarding the CTC rate/shopping credit swap by requiring Met-Ed and Penelec to treat the stipulated CTC rates that were in effect from January 1, 2002 on a retroactive basis. On October 22, 2003, Met-Ed and Penelec filed an Objection with the Commonwealth Court asking that the Court reverse this PPUC finding; a Commonwealth Court judge subsequently denied their Objection on October 27, 2003 without explanation. On October 31, 2003, Met-Ed and Penelec filed an Application for Clarification of the Court order with the Commonwealth Court, a Petition for Review of the PPUC's October 2 and October 16, 2003 Orders, and an Application for Reargument, if the judge, in his clarification order, indicates that Met-Ed's and Penelec's Objection was intended to be denied on the merits. The Reargument Brief before the Commonwealth Court was filed on January 28, 2005. Oral arguments were held on June 8, 2006. On July 19, 2006, the Commonwealth Court issued its decision affirming the PPUC’s prior orders. Although the decision denied the appeal of Met-Ed and Penelec, they had previously accounted for the treatment of costs required by the PPUC’s October 2003 orders.

As of June 30, 2006, Met-Ed's and Penelec's regulatory deferrals pursuant to the 1998 Restructuring Settlement (including the Phase 2 Proceedings) and the FirstEnergy/GPU Merger Settlement Stipulation were $335 million and $57 million, respectively. Penelec's $57 million is subject to the pending resolution of taxable income issues associated with NUG trust fund proceeds. The PPUC is reviewing a January 2006 change in Met-Ed’s and Penelec’s NUG purchase power stranded cost accounting methodology. If the PPUC orders Met-Ed and Penelec to reverse the change in accounting methodology, this would result in a pre-tax loss of $10.3 million for Met-Ed.

On January 12, 2005, Met-Ed and Penelec filed, before the PPUC, a request for deferral of transmission-related costs beginning January 1, 2005. The OCA, OSBA, OTS, MEIUG, PICA, Allegheny Electric Cooperative and Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association all intervened in the case. Met-Ed and Penelec sought to consolidate this proceeding (and modified their request to provide deferral of 2006 transmission-related costs only) with the comprehensive rate filing they made on April 10, 2006 as described below. On May 4, 2006, the PPUC approved the modified request. Accordingly, Met-Ed and Penelec have deferred approximately $46 million and $12 million, respectively, representing transmission costs that were incurred from January 1, 2006 through June 30, 2006. On June 5, 2006, the OCA filed before the Commonwealth Court a petition for review of the PPUC’s approval of the deferral. On July 12, 2006, the Commonwealth Court granted the PPUC’s motion to quash the OCA’s appeal. The ratemaking treatment of the deferrals will be determined in the comprehensive rate filing proceeding discussed further below.

Met-Ed and Penelec purchase a portion of their PLR requirements from FES through a wholesale power sales agreement. Under this agreement, FES retains the supply obligation and the supply profit and loss risk for the portion of power supply requirements not self-supplied by Met-Ed and Penelec under their contracts with NUGs and other unaffiliated suppliers. The FES arrangement reduces Met-Ed's and Penelec's exposure to high wholesale power prices by providing power at a fixed price for their uncommitted PLR energy costs during the term of the agreement with FES. The wholesale power sales agreement with FES could automatically be extended for each successive calendar year unless any party elects to cancel the agreement by November 1 of the preceding year. On November 1, 2005, FES and the other parties thereto amended the agreement to provide FES the right in 2006 to terminate the agreement at any time upon 60 days notice. On April 7, 2006, the parties to the wholesale power sales agreement entered into a Tolling Agreement that arises out of FES’ notice to Met-Ed and Penelec that FES elected to exercise its right to terminate the wholesale power sales agreement effective midnight December 31, 2006, because that agreement is not economically sustainable to FES.

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In lieu of allowing such termination to become effective as of December 31, 2006, the parties agreed, pursuant to the Tolling Agreement, to amend the wholesale power sales agreement to provide as follows:

1. The termination provisions of the wholesale power sales agreement will be tolled for one year until December 31, 2007, provided that during such tolling period:

a. FES will be permitted to terminate the wholesale power sales agreement at any time with sixty days written notice;
b. Met-Ed and Penelec will procure through arrangements other than the wholesale power sales agreement beginning December 1, 2006 and ending December 31, 2007, approximately 33% of the amounts of capacity and energy necessary to satisfy their PLR obligations for which Committed Resources (i.e., non-utility generation under contract to Met-Ed and Penelec, Met-Ed- and Penelec-owned generating facilities, purchased power contracts and distributed generation) have not been obtained; and
c. FES will not be obligated to supply additional quantities of capacity and energy in the event that a supplier of Committed Resources defaults on its supply agreement.

2. During the tolling period, FES will not act as an agent for Met-Ed or Penelec in procuring the services under 1.(b) above; and

3. The pricing provision of the wholesale power sales agreement shall remain unchanged provided Met-Ed and Penelec comply with the provisions of the Tolling Agreement and any applicable provision of the wholesale power sales agreement.

In the event that FES elects not to terminate the wholesale power sales agreement effective midnight December 31, 2007, similar tolling agreements effective after December 31, 2007 are expected to be considered by FES for subsequent years if Met-Ed and Penelec procure through arrangements other than the wholesale power sales agreement approximately 64%, 83% and 95% of the additional amounts of capacity and energy necessary to satisfy their PLR obligations for 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively, for which Committed Resources have not been obtained from the market.

The wholesale power sales agreement, as modified by the Tolling Agreement, requires Met-Ed and Penelec to satisfy the portion of their PLR obligations currently supplied by FES from unaffiliated suppliers at prevailing prices, which are likely to be higher than the current price charged by FES under the current agreement and, as a result, Met-Ed’s and Penelec’s purchased power costs could materially increase. If Met-Ed and Penelec were to replace the entire FES supply at current market power prices without corresponding regulatory authorization to increase their generation prices to customers, each company would likely incur a significant increase in operating expenses and experience a material deterioration in credit quality metrics. Under such a scenario, each company's credit profile would no longer be expected to support an investment grade rating for its fixed income securities. There can be no assurance, however, that if FES ultimately determines to terminate, or significantly modify the agreement, timely regulatory relief will be granted by the PPUC pursuant to the April 10, 2006 comprehensive rate filing discussed below, or, to the extent granted, adequate to mitigate such adverse consequences.

Met-Ed and Penelec made a comprehensive rate filing with the PPUC on April 10, 2006 that addresses a number of transmission, distribution and supply issues. If Met-Ed's and Penelec's preferred approach involving accounting deferrals is approved, the filing would increase annual revenues by $216 million and $157 million, respectively. That filing includes, among other things, a request to charge customers for an increasing amount of market priced power procured through a CBP as the amount of supply provided under the existing FES agreement is phased out in accordance with the April 7, 2006 Tolling Agreement described above. Met-Ed and Penelec also requested approval of the January 12, 2005 petition for the deferral of transmission-related costs discussed above, but only for those costs incurred during 2006. In this rate filing, Met-Ed and Penelec also requested recovery of annual transmission and related costs incurred on or after January 1, 2007, plus the amortized portion of 2006 costs over a ten-year period, along with applicable carrying charges, through an adjustable rider similar to that implemented in Ohio. Changes in the recovery of NUG expenses and the recovery of Met-Ed's non-NUG stranded costs are also included in the filing. The filing contemplates a reduction in distribution rates for Met-Ed of $37 million annually and an increase in distribution rates for Penelec of $20 million annually. The PPUC suspended the effective date (June 10, 2006) of these rate changes for seven months after the filing as permitted under Pennsylvania law. If the PPUC adopts the overall positions taken in the intervenors’ testimony as filed, this would have a material adverse effect on the financial statements of FirstEnergy, Met-Ed and Penelec. Hearings are scheduled for late August 2006 and a PPUC decision is expected early in the first quarter of 2007.

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Under Pennsylvania's electric competition law, Penn is required to secure generation supply for customers who do not choose alternative suppliers for their electricity. On October 11, 2005, Penn filed a plan with the PPUC to secure electricity supply for its customers at set rates following the end of its transition period on December 31, 2006. Penn recommended that the RFP process cover the period January 1, 2007 through May 31, 2008. To the extent that an affiliate of Penn supplies a portion of the PLR load included in the RFP, authorization to make the affiliate sale must be obtained from the FERC. Hearings before the PPUC were held on January 10, 2006 with main briefs filed on January 27, 2006 and reply briefs filed on February 3, 2006. On February 16, 2006, the ALJ issued a Recommended Decision to adopt Penn's RFP process with modifications. On April 20, 2006, the PPUC approved the Recommended Decision with additional modifications to use an RFP process to obtain Penn’s power supply requirements after 2006 through two separate solicitations. An initial solicitation was held for Penn in May 2006 with all tranches fully subscribed. On June 2, 2006, the PPUC approved the bid results for the first solicitation. On July 18, 2006, the second PLR solicitation was held for Penn. The tranches for the Residential Group and Small Commercial Group were fully subscribed. However, supply was only acquired for three of the five tranches for the Large Commercial Group. On July 20, 2006, the PPUC approved the submissions for the second bid. A residual solicitation is scheduled to be held on August 15, 2006 for the two remaining Large Commercial Group tranches. Acceptance of the winning bids is subject to approval by the PPUC.

On May 25, 2006, Penn filed a Petition for Review of the PPUC’s Orders of April 28, 2006 and May 4, 2006, which together decided the issues associated with Penn’s proposed Interim PLR Supply Plan. Penn has asked the Commonwealth Court to review the PPUC’s decision to deny its recovery of certain PLR costs via a reconciliation mechanism and its decision to impose a geographic limitation on the sources of alternative energy credits. On June 7, 2006, the PaDEP filed a Petition for Review appealing the PPUC’s ruling on the method by which alternative energy credits may be acquired and traded. Penn is unable to predict the outcome of this appeal.

NEW JERSEY

JCP&L is permitted to defer for future collection from customers the amounts by which its costs of supplying BGS to non-shopping customers and costs incurred under NUG agreements exceed amounts collected through BGS and NUGC rates and market sales of NUG energy and capacity. As of June 30, 2006, the accumulated deferred cost balance totaled approximately $638 million. New Jersey law allows for securitization of JCP&L's deferred balance upon application by JCP&L and a determination by the NJBPU that the conditions of the New Jersey restructuring legislation are met. On February 14, 2003, JCP&L filed for approval to securitize the July 31, 2003 deferred balance. On June 8, 2006, the NJBPU approved JCP&L’s request to issue securitization bonds associated with BGS stranded cost deferrals. On August 4, 2006, JCP&L Transition Funding II, a wholly owned subsidiary of JCP&L, secured pricing on the issuance of $182 million of transition bonds with a weighted average interest rate of 5.5%.

On December 2, 2005, JCP&L filed its request for recovery of $165 million of actual above-market NUG costs incurred from August 1, 2003 through October 31, 2005 and forecasted above-market NUG costs for November and December 2005. On February 23, 2006, JCP&L filed updated data reflecting actual amounts through December 31, 2005 of $154 million of costs incurred since July 31, 2003. On March 29, 2006, a pre-hearing conference was held with the presiding ALJ. A schedule for the proceeding was established, including a discovery period and evidentiary hearings scheduled for September 2006.

An NJBPU Decision and Order approving a Phase II Stipulation of Settlement and resolving the Motion for Reconsideration of the Phase I Order was issued on May 31, 2005. The Phase II Settlement includes a performance standard pilot program with potential penalties of up to 0.25% of allowable equity return. The Order requires that JCP&L file quarterly reliability reports (CAIDI and SAIFI information related to the performance pilot program) through December 2006 and updates to reliability related project expenditures until all projects are completed. The last of the quarterly reliability reports was submitted on June 12, 2006. As of June 30, 2006, there were no performance penalties issued by the NJBPU.

In a reaction to the higher closing prices of the 2006 BGS fixed rate auction, the NJBPU, on March 16, 2006, initiated a generic proceeding to evaluate the auction process and potential options for the future. On April 6, 2006, initial comments were submitted. A public meeting was held on April 21, 2006 and a legislative-type hearing was held on April 28, 2006. On June 21, 2006, the NJBPU approved the continued use of a descending block auction for the Fixed Price Residential Class. A final decision as to the procurement method for the Commercial Industrial Energy Price Class is expected in October 2006.

In accordance with an April 28, 2004 NJBPU order, JCP&L filed testimony on June 7, 2004 supporting a continuation of the current level and duration of the funding of TMI-2 decommissioning costs by New Jersey customers without a reduction, termination or capping of the funding. On September 30, 2004, JCP&L filed an updated TMI-2 decommissioning study. This study resulted in an updated total decommissioning cost estimate of $729 million (in 2003 dollars) compared to the estimated $528 million (in 2003 dollars) from the prior 1995 decommissioning study. The DRA filed comments on February 28, 2005 requesting that decommissioning funding be suspended. On March 18, 2005, JCP&L filed a response to those comments. A schedule for further proceedings has not yet been set.

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On August 1, 2005, the NJBPU established a proceeding to determine whether additional ratepayer protections are required at the state level in light of the repeal of PUHCA pursuant to the EPACT. An NJBPU proposed rulemaking to address the issues was published in the NJ Register on December 19, 2005. The proposal would prevent a holding company that owns a gas or electric public utility from investing more than 25% of the combined assets of its utility and utility-related subsidiaries into businesses unrelated to the utility industry. A public hearing was held on February 7, 2006 and comments were submitted to the NJBPU. The NJBPU Staff issued a draft proposal on March 31, 2006 addressing various issues including access to books and records, ring-fencing, cross subsidization, corporate governance and related matters. With the approval of the NJBPU Staff, the affected utilities jointly submitted an alternative proposal on June 1, 2006. Comments on the alternative proposal were submitted on June 15, 2006. JCP&L is unable to predict the outcome of this proceeding.

On December 21, 2005, the NJBPU initiated a generic proceeding and requested comments in order to formulate an appropriate regulatory treatment for investment tax credits related to generation assets divested by New Jersey’s four electric utility companies. Comments were filed by the utilities and by the DRA. JCP&L was advised by the IRS on April 10, 2006 that the ruling was tentatively adverse. On April 28, 2006, the NJBPU directed JCP&L to withdraw its request for a private letter ruling on this issue, which had been previously filed with the IRS as ordered by the NJBPU. On May 11, 2006, after a JCP&L Motion for Reconsideration was denied by the NJBPU, JCP&L filed to withdraw the request for a private letter ruling. On July 19, 2006, the IRS acknowledged that the JCP&L ruling request was withdrawn.

FERC MATTERS

On November 1, 2004, ATSI filed with the FERC a request to defer approximately $54 million of costs to be incurred from 2004 through 2007 in connection with ATSI’s VMEP, which represents ATSI’s adoption of newly identified industry “best practices” for vegetation management. On March 4, 2005, the FERC approved ATSI’s request to defer the VMEP costs (approximately $33 million has been deferred as of June 30, 2006). On March 28, 2006, ATSI and MISO filed with the FERC a request to modify ATSI’s Attachment O formula rate to include revenue requirements associated with recovery of deferred VMEP costs over a five-year period. The requested effective date to begin recovery was June 1, 2006. Various parties filed comments responsive to the March 28, 2006 submission. The FERC conditionally approved the filing on May 22, 2006, subject to a compliance filing that ATSI made on June 13, 2006. A request for rehearing of the FERC’s May 22, 2006 Order was filed by a party, which ATSI answered. On July 21, 2006, the FERC issued an order stating that it needs more time to consider the matter. In light of that order, there is no time period by which the FERC must act on the pending rehearing request. On July 14, 2006, the FERC accepted ATSI’s June 13, 2006 compliance filing. The estimated annual revenues to ATSI from the VMEP cost recovery is $12 million.

On January 24, 2006, ATSI and MISO filed a request with the FERC to correct ATSI’s Attachment O formula rate to reverse revenue credits associated with termination of revenue streams from transitional rates stemming from FERC’s elimination of RTOR. Revenues formerly collected under these rates were included in, and served to reduce, ATSI’s zonal transmission rate under the Attachment O formula. Absent the requested correction, elimination of these revenue streams would not be fully reflected in ATSI’s formula rate until June 1, 2008. On March 16, 2006, the FERC approved the revenue credit correction without suspension, effective April 1, 2006. One party sought rehearing of the FERC's order. The request for rehearing of this order was denied on June 27, 2006. The FERC accepted MISO’s and ATSI’s revised tariff sheets for filing on June 7, 2006. The estimated annual revenue impact of the correction mechanism is approximately $40 million effective on June 1, 2006.

On November 18, 2004, the FERC issued an order eliminating the RTOR for transmission service between the MISO and PJM regions. The FERC also ordered the MISO, PJM and the transmission owners within MISO and PJM to submit compliance filings containing a SECA mechanism to recover lost RTOR revenues during a 16-month transition period from load serving entities. The FERC issued orders in 2005 setting the SECA for hearing. ATSI, JCP&L, Met-Ed, Penelec, and FES continue to be involved in the FERC hearings concerning the calculation and imposition of the SECA charges. The hearing was held in May 2006. Initial briefs were submitted on June 9, 2006, and reply briefs were filed on June 27, 2006. The FERC has ordered the Presiding Judge to issue an initial decision by August 11, 2006.

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On January 31, 2005, certain PJM transmission owners made three filings with the FERC pursuant to a settlement agreement previously approved by the FERC. JCP&L, Met-Ed and Penelec were parties to that proceeding and joined in two of the filings. In the first filing, the settling transmission owners submitted a filing justifying continuation of their existing rate design within the PJM RTO. In the second filing, the settling transmission owners proposed a revised Schedule 12 to the PJM tariff designed to harmonize the rate treatment of new and existing transmission facilities. Interventions and protests were filed on February 22, 2005. In the third filing, Baltimore Gas and Electric Company and Pepco Holdings, Inc. requested a formula rate for transmission service provided within their respective zones. On May 31, 2005, the FERC issued an order on these cases. First, it set for hearing the existing rate design and indicated that it will issue a final order within six months. American Electric Power Company, Inc. filed in opposition proposing to create a "postage stamp" rate for high voltage transmission facilities across PJM. Second, the FERC approved the proposed Schedule 12 rate harmonization. Third, the FERC accepted the proposed formula rate, subject to refund and hearing procedures. On June 30, 2005, the settling PJM transmission owners filed a request for rehearing of the May 31, 2005 order. On March 20, 2006, a settlement was filed with FERC in the formula rate proceeding that generally accepts the companies' formula rate proposal. The FERC issued an order approving this settlement on April 19, 2006. Hearings in the PJM rate design case concluded in April 2006. On July 13, 2006, an Initial Decision was issued by the ALJ. The ALJ adopted the Trial Staff’s position that the cost of all PJM transmission facilities should be recovered through a postage stamp rate. The ALJ recommended an April 1, 2006 effective date for this change in rate design. If the FERC accepts this recommendation, the transmission rate applicable to many load zones in PJM would increase. FirstEnergy believes that significant additional transmission revenues would have to be recovered from the JCP&L, Met-Ed and Penelec transmission zones within PJM. The Companies, as part of the Responsible Pricing Alliance, intend to submit a brief on exceptions within thirty days of the initial decision. Following submission of reply exceptions, the case is expected to be reviewed by the FERC with a decision anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2006.

On November 1, 2005, FES filed two power sales agreements for approval with the FERC. One power sales agreement provided for FES to provide the PLR requirements of the Ohio Companies at a price equal to the retail generation rates approved by the PUCO for a period of three years beginning January 1, 2006. The Ohio Companies will be relieved of their obligation to obtain PLR power requirements from FES if the Ohio CBP results in a lower price for retail customers. A similar power sales agreement between FES and Penn permits Penn to obtain its PLR power requirements from FES at a fixed price equal to the retail generation price during 2006. The PPUC approved Penn's plan with modifications on April 20, 2006 to use an RFP process to obtain its power supply requirements after 2006 through two separate solicitations. An initial solicitation was held for Penn in May 2006 with all tranches fully subscribed. On June 2, 2006, the PPUC approved the bid results for the first solicitation. On July 18, 2006, the second PLR solicitation was held for Penn. The tranches for the Residential Group and Small Commercial Group were fully subscribed. However, supply was only acquired for three of the five tranches for the Large Commercial Group. On July 20, 2006, the PPUC approved the submission for the second bid. A residual solicitation is scheduled to be held on August 15, 2006 for the two remaining Large Commercial Group tranches. Acceptance of the winning bids is subject to approval by the PPUC.

On December 29, 2005, the FERC issued an order setting the two power sales agreements for hearing. The order criticized the Ohio CBP, and required FES to submit additional evidence in support of the reasonableness of the prices charged in the power sales agreements. A pre-hearing conference was held on January 18, 2006 to determine the hearing schedule in this case. Under the procedural schedule approved in this case, FES expected an initial decision to be issued in late January 2007. However, on July 14, 2006, the Chief Judge granted the joint motion of FES and the Trial Staff to appoint a settlement judge in this proceeding. The procedural schedule has been suspended pending settlement discussions among the parties.

12. - NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS AND INTERPRETATIONS

FSP FIN 46(R)-6 - “Determining the Variability to Be Considered in Applying FASB interpretation No. 46(R)”

In April 2006, the FASB issued FSP FIN 46(R)-6 that addresses how a reporting enterprise should determine the variability to be considered in applying FASB interpretation No. 46 (revised December 2003). FirstEnergy adopted FIN 46(R) in the first quarter of 2004, consolidating VIE’s when FirstEnergy or one of its subsidiaries is determined to be the VIE’s primary beneficiary. The variability that is considered in applying interpretation 46(R) affects the determination of (a) whether the entity is a VIE; (b) which interests are variable interests in the entity; and (c) which party, if any, is the primary beneficiary of the VIE. This FSP states that the variability to be considered shall be based on an analysis of the design of the entity, involving two steps:

Step 1:
Analyze the nature of the risks in the entity
Step 2:
Determine the purpose(s) for which the entity was created and determine the variability the entity is designed to create and pass along to its interest holders.

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After determining the variability to consider, the reporting enterprise can determine which interests are designed to absorb that variability. The guidance in this FSP is applied prospectively to all entities (including newly created entities) with which that enterprise first becomes involved and to all entities previously required to be analyzed under interpretation 46(R) when a reconsideration event has occurred after July 1, 2006. FirstEnergy does not expect this Statement to have a material impact on its financial statements.