EX-99.2 3 ex99_2.htm HIGHLIGHTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ex99_2.htm
Exhibit 99.2
 
Consolidated Report to the Financial Community                                                                                                                   
Second Quarter 2008
(Released August 1, 2008) (Unaudited)
 
 
           
HIGHLIGHTS  
 After-Tax EPS Variance Analysis  
    
2nd Qtr.
    
     
 2Q 2007 Basic EPS – GAAP Basis 
    
        $1.11
    
     
        Special Items – 2007
    
  0.02
    
  ▪
Normalized non-GAAP* earnings, excluding special items, were $0.87 per share
  
 2Q 2007 Normalized Earnings – Non-GAAP Basis* 
   
$1.13
    
 
for the second quarter of 2008, compared with $1.13 per share for the second
  
 Distribution Deliveries  
    
 (0.05)
    
  quarter of 2007.  GAAP earnings for the second quarter of 2008 were $0.86 per  
 Generation Revenues   
    
          0.08
    
  share compared with $1.11 per share in the prior year.  
 Fuel & Purchased Power  
    
     (0.23)
    
     
 Generation O&M 
    
         (0.04)
    
     
 Pension Expense  
    
          0.01
    
 2Q 2008 Results vs. 2Q 2007
 Depreciation 
    
         (0.02)
    
     
 Company-Owned Life Insurance (COLI) 
              (0.04)    
 ▪
 Electric distribution deliveries declined 2% primarily due to milder weather.  
 Financing Costs 
               0.04    
  Heating-degree-days were 7% lower compared with both the same period last  
 Other    
    
     (0.01)
    
  year and the normal level.  Cooling-degree-days were 11% lower than the  
 2Q 2008 Normalized Earnings – Non-GAAP Basis*
             $0.87    
  same period last year but 2% above normal.  Residential deliveries decreased  
 Special Items - 2008 
    
     (0.01)
    
  5% (representing approximately two-thirds of the total decrease in distribution  
 2Q 2008 Basic EPS – GAAP Basis  
    
    $0.86
    
 
deliveries) while commercial and industrial deliveries declined 2% and 0.3%,
        
  respectively.  The resulting lower distribution delivery revenues decreased              
  earnings by $0.05 per share.              
 
 
 ▪  
Total electric generation sales decreased 6%.  Retail generation sales decreased 1.3 million megawatt-hours (MWH) or 5%, reflecting the impact of weather and fewer renewals of competitive commercial and industrial contracts in PJM.  Wholesale electricity sales declined 0.5 million MWH or 8%, due in part to an 8% decrease in generation output.  Generation revenues, excluding power sourced from third-party auction suppliers for our Jersey Central Power & Light Company (JCP&L) and Pennsylvania Power Company (Penn Power) customers, increased earnings by $0.08 per share due to higher wholesale and retail prices.
 
 
   ▪  
Total fuel and purchased power expenses reduced earnings by $0.23 per share. Higher purchased power expense, excluding JCP&L and Penn Power purchases from third-party auction suppliers, reduced earnings by $0.20 per share due to higher market prices compared to the same period last year.  Higher fuel costs reduced earnings by $0.03 per share, primarily due to increased coal transportation costs.
 
 
   ▪  
Increased generation O&M expenses reduced earnings by $0.04 per share.  An increased number of scheduled outages at the fossil plants in the second quarter of 2008 decreased earnings by $0.06 per share while lower nuclear operating expenses increased earnings by $0.02 per share.
 
 
 ▪  
Reduced pension expense increased earnings by $0.01 per share, primarily due to an increase in the discount rate used to determine benefit obligations as of December 31, 2007.  
 
 
 ▪  
Incremental property additions increased depreciation expense by $0.02 per share.
 
 
 ▪  
Decreased investment income due to market-related declines in the value of corporate-owned life insurance reduced earnings by $0.04 per share.
 
 
▪ 
Lower financing costs increased earnings by $0.04 per share.  The decrease in financing costs reflects lower interest rates on short-term borrowings and variable rate long-term debt.
 
 
▪ 
Two special items were recognized during the second quarter of 2008.  The first was a $0.03 per share increase in earnings recognized from the settlement of a claim related to a former GPU international asset.  The second relates to a $0.04 per share reduction in earnings from impairment of securities held in trust for future nuclear decommissioning activities.
 
 
2008 Earnings Guidance
 
 
 ▪  
Normalized non-GAAP* earnings guidance for 2008, excluding special items, has been revised to $4.25 to $4.35 per share from our previous non-GAAP guidance of $4.15 to $4.35 per share.  Year-to-date normalized non-GAAP earnings now stand at $1.75 per share, producing guidance for the second half of 2008 of $2.50 to $2.60 per share.  Earnings for the remainder of the year, exclusive of any special items, are expected to be allocated approximately 56% to the third quarter and 44% to the fourth quarter.
 
 
 * The 2008 GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliation statements can be found on page 10 of this report and all GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliation statements are available on the Investor
    Information section of FirstEnergy Corp.'s Web site at www.firstenergycorp.com/ir.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 For additional information, please contact:    
 Ronald E. Seeholzer  
  Rey Y. Jimenez   Irene M. Prezelj
 Vice President, Investor Relations
  Manager, Investor Relations    Manager, Investor Relations
 (330) 384-5415  
 (330) 761-4239 
 (330) 384-3859
 
 
 Consolidated Report to the Financial Community - 2nd Quarter 2008                  2
 
 
 
FirstEnergy Corp.
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)
(In millions, except for per share amounts)
 

 
       
Three Months Ended June 30
    
Six Months Ended June 30
  
       
2008
    
2007
    
Change
    
2008
    
2007
    
Change
  
   
Revenues
                                    
(1 )
Electric sales
   $ 3,024     $ 2,904     $ 120     $ 6,054     $ 5,669     $ 385  
(2 )
Other
     221       205       16       468       413       55  
(3 )
Total Revenues
     3,245       3,109       136       6,522       6,082       440  
                                                     
   
Expenses
                                                
(4 )
Fuel
     316       299       17       644       560       84  
(5 )
Purchased power
     1,070       886       184       2,070       1,746       324  
(6 )
Other operating expenses
     781       750       31       1,581       1,499       82  
(7 )
Provision for depreciation
     168       159       9       332       315       17  
(8 )
Amortization of regulatory assets
     246       246       -       504       497       7  
(9 )
Deferral of new regulatory assets
     (98 )     (148 )     50       (203 )     (292 )     89  
(10 )
General taxes
     180       189       (9 )     395       392       3  
(11 )
Total Expenses
     2,663       2,381       282       5,323       4,717       606  
                                                     
(12 )
Operating Income
     582       728       (146 )     1,199       1,365       (166 )
                                                     
   
Other Income (Expense)
                                                
(13 )
Investment income
     16       30       (14 )     33       63       (30 )
(14 )
Interest expense
     (188 )     (205 )     17       (367 )     (390 )     23  
(15 )
Capitalized interest
     13       7       6       21       12       9  
(16 )
Total Other Expense
     (159 )     (168 )     9       (313 )     (315 )     2  
                                                     
                                                     
(17 )
Income Before Income Taxes
     423       560       (137 )     886       1,050       (164 )
(18 )
Income taxes
     160       222       (62 )     347       422       (75 )
(19 )
Net Income
   $ 263     $ 338     $ (75 )   $ 539     $ 628       (89 )
                                                     
(20 )
Earnings Per Share of Common Stock
                                                
(21 )
Basic
   $ 0.86     $ 1.11     $ (0.25 )   $ 1.77     $ 2.03     $ (0.26 )
(22 )
Diluted
   $ 0.85     $ 1.10     $ (0.25 )   $ 1.75     $ 2.01     $ (0.26 )
(23 )
Weighted Average Number of
                                                
   
Common Shares Outstanding
                                                
(24 )
Basic
     304       304       -       304       309       (5 )
(25 )
Diluted
     307       308       (1 )     307       313       (6 )
 
 
 
 
 
 Consolidated Report to the Financial Community - 2nd Quarter 2008
                          3
 
 
 
FirstEnergy Corp.
Consolidated Income Segments
(Unaudited)
(In millions)
 
 
 
                                                       Three Months Ended June 30, 2008  
                                   
                   
Ohio
              
       
Energy
    
Competitive
    
Transitional
    
Other &
        
       
Delivery
    
Energy
    
Generation
    
Reconciling
        
       
Services (a)
    
Services (b)
    
Services (c)
    
Adjustments (d)
    
Consolidated
  
   
Revenues
                              
(1 )
Electric sales
   $ 2,030     $ 324     $ 670     $ -     $ 3,024  
(2 )
Other
     152       51       13       5       221  
(3 )
Internal revenues
     -       704       -       (704 )     -  
(4 )
Total Revenues
     2,182       1,079       683       (699 )     3,245  
                                             
   
Expenses
                                        
(5 )
Fuel
     -       316       -       -       316  
(6 )
Purchased power
     998       221       555       (704 )     1,070  
(7 )
Other operating expenses
     413       312       81       (25 )     781  
(8 )
Provision for depreciation
     104       59       -       5       168  
(9 )
Amortization of regulatory assets
     235       -       11       -       246  
(10 )
Deferral of new regulatory assets
     (98 )     -       -       -       (98 )
(11 )
General taxes
     149       24       2       5       180  
(12 )
Total Expenses
     1,801       932       649       (719 )     2,663  
(13 )
Operating Income
     381       147       34       20       582  
                                             
   
Other Income (Expense)
                                        
(14 )
Investment income
     40       (8 )     (1 )     (15 )     16  
(15 )
Interest expense
     (100 )     (38 )     -       (50 )     (188 )
(16 )
Capitalized interest
     1       10       -       2       13  
(17 )
Total Other Expense
     (59 )     (36 )     (1 )     (63 )     (159 )
(18 )
 Income Before Income Taxes
     322       111       33       (43 )     423  
(19 )
Income taxes
     129       45       13       (27 )     160  
(20 )
Net Income
   $ 193     $ 66     $ 20     $ (16 )   $ 263  
                                             
       (a)   Consists of regulated transmission and distribution operations, including transition cost recovery, and provider of last resort  
            generation service for FirstEnergy's Pennsylvania and New Jersey electric utility subsidiaries.
          
       (b)   Consists of unregulated generation and commodity operations, including competitive electric sales, and generation sales to
  
               affiliated electric utilities.                                        
       (c)   Represents provider of last resort generation service by FirstEnergy's Ohio electric utility subsidiaries and MISO transmission
            revenues and expenses related to the delivery of generation load.
                          
       (d)   Consists primarily of interest expense related to holding company debt, corporate support services revenues and expenses  
            and elimination of intersegment transactions.
                                  
 
 
 
 
 Consolidated Report to the Financial Community - 2nd Quarter 2008                           4
 

 
 
FirstEnergy Corp.
Consolidated Income Segments
(Unaudited)
(In millions)
 
 
       
                                                             Three Months Ended June 30, 2007
  
                                   
                   
Ohio
              
       
Energy
    
Competitive
    
Transitional
    
Other &
        
       
Delivery
    
Energy
    
Generation
    
Reconciling
        
       
Services (a)
    
Services (b)
    
Services (c)
    
Adjustments (d)
    
Consolidated
  
   
Revenues
                              
(1 )
Electric sales
   $ 1,933     $ 359     $ 612     $ -     $ 2,904  
(2 )
Other
     162       39       13       (9 )     205  
(3 )
Internal revenues
     -       691       -       (691 )     -  
(4 )
Total Revenues
     2,095       1,089       625       (700 )     3,109  
                                             
   
Expenses
                                        
(5 )
Fuel
     2       297       -       -       299  
(6 )
Purchased power
     877       163       537       (691 )     886  
(7 )
Other operating expenses
     410       277       87       (24 )     750  
(8 )
Provision for depreciation
     100       51       -       8       159  
(9 )
Amortization of regulatory assets
     242       -       6       (2 )     246  
(10 )
Deferral of new regulatory assets
     (93 )     -       (55 )     -       (148 )
(11 )
General taxes
     155       26       1       7       189  
(12 )
Total Expenses
     1,693       814       576       (702 )     2,381  
(13 )
Operating Income
     402       275       49       2       728  
                                             
   
Other Income (Expense)
                                        
(14 )
Investment income
     62       5       -       (37 )     30  
(15 )
Interest expense
     (118 )     (47 )     -       (40 )     (205 )
(16 )
Capitalized interest
     2       5       -       -       7  
(17 )
Total Other Expense
     (54 )     (37 )     -       (77 )     (168 )
(18 )
Income Before Income Taxes
     348       238       49       (75 )     560  
(19 )
Income taxes
     141       96       19       (34 )     222  
(20 )
Net Income
   $ 207     $ 142     $ 30     $ (41 )   $ 338  
                                             
      (a)   Consists of regulated transmission and distribution operations, including transition cost recovery, and provider of last resort
  
               generation service for FirstEnergy's Pennsylvania and New Jersey electric utility subsidiaries.
          
      (b)   Consists of unregulated generation and commodity operations, including competitive electric sales, and generation sales to  
            affiliated electric utilities.
                                        
      (c)   Represents provider of last resort generation service by FirstEnergy's Ohio electric utility subsidiaries and MISO transmission  
               revenues and expenses related to the delivery of generation load.
                          
      (d)   Consists primarily of interest expense related to holding company debt, corporate support services revenues and expenses  
            and elimination of intersegment transactions.
                          
 
 
 
 
 Consolidated Report to the Financial Community - 2nd Quarter 2008                           5
 
 
 
FirstEnergy Corp.
Consolidated Income Segments
(Unaudited)
(In millions)
 
 
       
Three Months Ended June 30, 2008 vs. Three Months Ended June 30, 2007
  
                                   
                   
Ohio
              
       
Energy
    
Competitive
    
Transitional
    
Other &
        
       
Delivery
    
Energy
    
Generation
    
Reconciling
        
       
Services (a)
    
Services (b)
    
Services (c)
    
Adjustments (d)
    
Consolidated
  
   
Revenues
                              
(1 )
Electric sales
   $ 97     $ (35 )   $ 58     $ -     $ 120  
(2 )
Other
     (10 )     12       -       14       16  
(3 )
Internal revenues
     -       13       -       (13 )     -  
(4 )
Total Revenues
     87       (10 )     58       1       136  
                                             
   
Expenses
                                        
(5 )
Fuel
     (2 )     19       -       -       17  
(6 )
Purchased power
     121       58       18       (13 )     184  
(7 )
Other operating expenses
     3       35       (6 )     (1 )     31  
(8 )
Provision for depreciation
     4       8       -       (3 )     9  
(9 )
Amortization of regulatory assets
     (7 )     -       5       2       -  
(10 )
Deferral of new regulatory assets
     (5 )     -       55       -       50  
(11 )
General taxes
     (6 )     (2 )     1       (2 )     (9 )
(12 )
Total Expenses
     108       118       73       (17 )     282  
(13 )
Operating Income
     (21 )     (128 )     (15 )     18       (146 )
                                             
   
Other Income (Expense)
                                        
(14 )
Investment income
     (22 )     (13 )     (1 )     22       (14 )
(15 )
Interest expense
     18       9       -       (10 )     17  
(16 )
Capitalized interest
     (1 )     5       -       2       6  
(17 )
Total Other Expense
     (5 )     1       (1 )     14       9  
(18 )
 Income Before Income Taxes
     (26 )     (127 )     (16 )     32       (137 )
(19 )
Income taxes
     (12 )     (51 )     (6 )     7       (62 )
(20 )
Net Income
   $ (14 )   $ (76 )   $ (10 )   $ 25     $ (75 )
                                             
       (a)   Consists of regulated transmission and distribution operations, including transition cost recovery, and provider of last resort
  
   generation service for FirstEnergy's Pennsylvania and New Jersey electric utility subsidiaries.
          
       (b)   Consists of unregulated generation and commodity operations, including competitive electric sales, and generation sales to
  
    affiliated electric utilities.
                                        
   (c)   Represents provider of last resort generation service by FirstEnergy's Ohio electric utility subsidiaries and MISO transmission
  
   revenues and expenses related to the delivery of generation load.
                        
   (d)   Consists primarily of interest expense related to holding company debt, corporate support services revenues and expenses
  
   and elimination of intersegment transactions.
                          
 
 
 
 
 Consolidated Report to the Financial Community - 2nd Quarter 2008                           6
 
 
 
 
FirstEnergy Corp.
Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
(In millions)
 
 
 
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
        
                 
       
As of
    
As of
  
 
Assets
    
 June 30, 2008
    
Dec 31, 2007
  
 
Current Assets:
              
 
Cash and cash equivalents
     $ 70     $ 129  
 
Receivables
       1,553       1,421  
 
Other
       1,212       680  
 
Total Current Assets
       2,835       2,230  
                     
 
Property, Plant and Equipment
       16,703       15,383  
 
Investments
       3,415       3,598  
 
Deferred Charges and Other Assets
       10,592       10,857  
 
Total Assets
     $ 33,545     $ 32,068  
                     
 
Liabilities and Capitalization
                  
 
Current Liabilities:
                  
 
Currently payable long-term debt
     $ 2,508     $ 2,014  
 
Short-term borrowings
       2,608       903  
 
Accounts payable
       930       777  
 
Other
       1,091       1,454  
 
Total Current Liabilities
       7,137       5,148  
                     
 
Capitalization:
                  
 
Common stockholders' equity
       9,221       8,977  
 
Long-term debt and other long-term obligations
       8,603       8,869  
 
Total Capitalization
       17,824       17,846  
 
Noncurrent Liabilities
       8,584       9,074  
 
Total Liabilities and Capitalization
     $ 33,545     $ 32,068  
 
 
 
 General Information
  
     
Three Months Ended June 30
    
Six Months Ended June 30
  
                           
     
2008
    
2007
    
2008
    
2007
  
 
 Debt and equity securities redemptions
   $ (352 )   $ (485 )   $ (720 )   $ (1,389 )
 
 New long-term debt issues
   $ 549     $ 550     $ 549     $ 800  
 
 Short-term borrowings
   $ 959     $ 169     $ 1,705     $ 1,308  
 
 Capital expenditures
   $ 906     $ 401     $ 1,617     $ 697  
 
 
 
  Adjusted Capitalization
                  
   
As of June 30
  
   
2008
  
% Total
    
2007
  
% Total
  
 
  Total common equity
 $ 9,221   39 %  
 $
 8,640   38 %
 
  Long-term debt and other long-term obligations
   8,603   36 %     8,742   39 %
 
  Currently payable long-term debt
   2,508   10 %     2,000   9 %
 
  Short-term borrowings
   2,608   11 %     2,416   11 %
 
  Adjustments:
                      
 
 Sale-leaseback net debt equivalents
   1,417   6 %     1,143   5 %
 
 JCP&L securitization debt
   (385 ) -2 %     (411 ) -2 %
 
  Total
 $ 23,972   100 %    $ 22,530   100 %
 
 
 
 
 Consolidated Report to the Financial Community - 2nd Quarter 2008                           7
 
 
 
FirstEnergy Corp.
Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
(In millions)
 
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
                        
   
Three Months Ended June 30
    
Six Months Ended June 30
  
   
2008
    
2007
    
2008
    
2007
  
Cash flows from operating activities
                        
Net income
   $ 263     $ 338     $ 539     $ 628  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
                  
Depreciation, amortization, and deferral of regulatory assets
     316       257       633       520  
Deferred purchased power and other costs
     (60 )     (69 )     (119 )     (185 )
Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits
     40       32       129       85  
Deferred rents and lease market valuation liability
     (105 )     (67 )     (101 )     (92 )
Pension trust contribution
     -       -       -       (300 )
Cash collateral, net
     59       (25 )     67       (19 )
Electric service prepayment programs
     (20 )     (19 )     (39 )     (36 )
Change in working capital and other
     (533 )     (220 )     (793 )     (431 )
Cash flows provided from (used for) operating activities
     (40 )     227       316       170  
                                 
Cash flows provided from financing activities
     1,003       108       1,230       454  
                                 
Cash flows used for investing activities
     (963 )     (387 )     (1,605 )     (677 )
                                 
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
   $ -     $ (52 )   $ (59 )   $ (53 )
 
 
Deferrals and Amortizations
  
                                     
   
              Three Months Ended June 30                                           Six Months Ended June 30              
 
   
2008
    
2007
    
Change
    
2008
    
2007
    
Change
  
Ohio Rate Plans and Transmission Deferrals
                                
Regulatory Assets - Beginning
   $ 1,799     $ 1,842           $ 1,847     $ 1,863        
Interest on shopping incentives
     8       9     $ (1 )     16       19     $ (3 )
MISO costs and interest
     -       30       (30 )     2       38       (36 )
RCP distribution reliability costs and interest
     44       44       -       84       91       (7 )
RCP fuel costs and interest
     1       27       (26 )     8       41       (33 )
Other
     8       5       3       15       11       4  
Current period deferrals
   $ 61     $ 115     $ (54 )   $ 125     $ 200     $ (75 )
Amortization
                                                
Ohio transition costs
   $ (73 )   $ (72 )   $ (1 )   $ (145 )   $ (140 )   $ (5 )
Shopping incentives
     (29 )     (29 )     -       (59 )     (59 )     -  
MISO costs
     (9 )     (6 )     (3 )     (18 )     (11 )     (7 )
Other
     (3 )     1       (4 )     (4 )     (2 )     (2 )
Current period amortization
   $ (114 )   $ (106 )   $ (8 )   $ (226 )   $ (212 )   $ (14 )
Regulatory Assets - Ending
   $ 1,746     $ 1,851             $ 1,746     $ 1,851          
                                                 
Pennsylvania Deferred PJM Costs
                                                
Beginning balance
   $ 293     $ 186             $ 255     $ 157          
Deferrals
     31       30     $ 1       71       63     $ 8  
Interest
     3       2       1       5       3       2  
Amortizations
     (4 )     (2 )     (2 )     (8 )     (7 )     (1 )
                    $ -                     $ 9  
Ending balance
   $ 323     $ 216             $ 323     $ 216          
                                                 
New Jersey Deferred Energy Costs
                                                
Beginning balance
   $ 264     $ 357             $ 322     $ 369          
Net recovery of energy costs
     29       35     $ (6 )     (29 )     23     $ (52 )
Ending balance
   $ 293     $ 392             $ 293     $ 392          
 
 
 
 
 Consolidated Report to the Financial Community - 2nd Quarter 2008                     8
 
FirstEnergy Corp.
Statistical Summary
(Unaudited)
 
 
Electric Sales Statistics (kWh in millions)
  
     
Three Months Ended June 30
    
Six Months Ended June 30
  
     
2008
    
2007
    
Change
    
2008
    
2007
    
Change
  
                                       
Electric Distribution Deliveries
                                    
Ohio                                 - Residential     3,658       3,835       -4.6 %     8,606       8,666       -0.7 %
   - Commercial
     3,560       3,674       -3.1 %     7,409       7,469       -0.8 %
   - Industrial
     5,781       5,908       -2.1 %     11,412       11,587       -1.5 %
   - Other
     93       93       -       184       186       -1.1 %
Total Ohio
     13,092       13,510       -3.1 %     27,611       27,908       -1.1 %
                                                   
Pennsylvania                 - Residential     2,493       2,564       -2.8 %     5,930       5,868       1.1 %
   - Commercial
     2,755       2,730       0.9 %     5,615       5,501       2.1 %
   - Industrial
     2,666       2,567       3.9 %     5,174       5,109       1.3 %
   - Other
     20       21       -4.8 %     41       40       2.5 %
                                   Total Pennsylvania
     7,934       7,882       0.7 %     16,760       16,518       1.5 %
                                                   
New Jersey               - Residential     2,198       2,387       -7.9 %     4,553       4,740       -3.9 %
   - Commercial
     2,319       2,416       -4.0 %     4,644       4,713       -1.5 %
                           - Industrial
     722       724       -0.3 %     1,416       1,426       -0.7 %
                           - Other
     21       21       -       43       43       -  
                                    Total New Jersey
     5,260       5,548       -5.2 %     10,656       10,922       -2.4 %
                                                   
Total Residential
     8,349       8,786       -5.0 %     19,089       19,274       -1.0 %
Total Commercial
     8,634       8,820       -2.1 %     17,668       17,683       -0.1 %
Total Industrial
     9,169       9,199       -0.3 %     18,002       18,122       -0.7 %
Total Other
       134       135       -0.7 %     268       269       -0.4 %
Total Distribution Deliveries
     26,286       26,940       -2.4 %     55,027       55,348       -0.6 %
                                                 
Electric Sales Shopped
                                                
Ohio                                - Residential     466       489       -4.7 %     1,020       1,050       -2.9 %
   - Commercial
     798       872       -8.5 %     1,643       1,752       -6.2 %
       - Industrial
     659       692       -4.8 %     1,289       1,333       -3.3 %
                                    Total Ohio
     1,923       2,053       -6.3 %     3,952       4,135       -4.4 %
                                                   
Pennsylvania             - Residential     26       11       136.4 %     60       11       445.5 %
                           - Commercial
     183       156       17.3 %     381       264       44.3 %
                                       - Industrial
     585       460       27.2 %     1,077       876       22.9 %
                                    Total Pennsylvania
     794       627       26.6 %     1,518       1,151       31.9 %
                                                   
New Jersey               - Commercial   608       519       17.1 %     1,175       994       18.2 %
                           - Industrial
     559       555       0.7 %     1,095       1,074       2.0 %
                                    Total New Jersey
     1,167       1,074       8.7 %     2,270       2,068       9.8 %
Total Electric Sales Shopped
     3,884       3,754       3.5 %     7,740       7,354       5.2 %
                                                 
Electric Generation Sales
                                                
Retail - Regulated
     22,402       23,186       -3.4 %     47,287       47,994       -1.5 %
Retail - Competitive
     2,746       3,285       -16.4 %     5,662       6,491       -12.8 %
Total Retail
     25,148       26,471       -5.0 %     52,949       54,485       -2.8 %
Wholesale
       5,846       6,360       -8.1 %     11,263       11,423       -1.4 %
Total Electric Generation Sales
     30,994       32,831       -5.6 %     64,212       65,908       -2.6 %
 
 
Operating Statistics
                          
                  Three Months Ended June 30                  Six Months Ended June 30      
       
2008
  
2007
      
2008
  
2007
      
Capacity Factors:
                          
 
Nuclear
    
85%
  
80%
      
86%
  
89%
      
 
Fossil - Baseload
  
76%
  
90%
      
80%
  
77%
      
 
Fossil - Load Following
60%
  
72%
      
65%
  
73%
      
Generation Output:
                          
 
Nuclear
    
39%
  
33%
      
38%
  
38%
      
 
Fossil - Baseload
  
39%
  
43%
      
39%
  
37%
      
 
Fossil - Load Following
21%
  
23%
      
21%
  
24%
      
 
Peaking
    
1%
  
1%
      
2%
  
1%
      
                               
       
                    Three Months Ended June 30,
  
Six Months Ended June 30,
    
Weather    
 2008
                2007      Normal                2008  
2007
  
  Normal
  
Composite Heating-Degree-Days
615
  
660
  
663
  
3,480
  
3,562
  
3,468
  
Composite Cooling-Degree-Days
254
  
285
  
249
  
   254
  
   286
  
   250
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Report to the financial Community - 2nd Quarter 2008           9
 
 

FirstEnergy Corp.
Special Items and EPS Reconciliations
(Unaudited)
(In millions, except for per share amounts)
 
 
 
Special Items
  
       
  Three Months Ended June 30
    
   Six Months Ended June 30
  
     
 2008
    
 2007
    
 2008
    
       2007
  
                           
 
 Pre-tax Items - Income Increase (Decrease)
                        
 
 Gain on sale of non-core assets (a)
   $ -     $ -     $ 32     $ -  
 
 Saxton decommissioning costs regulatory assets (b)
     -       -       -       27  
 
 Trust securities impairment (c)
     (21 )     (8 )     (38 )     (12 )
 
 Litigation settlement (a)
     15       -       15       -  
   
  Total-Pretax Items
   $ (6 )   $ (8 )   $ 9     $ 15  
                                     
 
 EPS Effect
   $ (0.01 )   $ (0.02 )   $ 0.02     $
                     0.02
  
 
(a)   Included in "Revenues - Other"
                                
 
(b)    Included in "Deferral of new regulatory assets"
                          
 
(c)    Included in "Investment income"
                                
 
 
 
2008 Earnings Per Share (EPS)
  
 
(Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP)
  
                       
   
   ACTUAL
      
ACTUAL
      
REVISED
  
   
Three Months
    
Six Months
      
Guidance For
  
   
Ended June 30
    
Ended June 30
    
Year 2008
  
                       
 
Basic EPS (GAAP basis)*
 $ 0.86       $ 1.77      
$4.27 - $4.37
  
 
Excluding Special Items*:
                          
 
Gain on sale of non-core assets
   -         (0.06 )      
         (0.06)
  
 
Litigation settlement
   (0.03 )       (0.03 )      
         (0.03)
  
 
Trust securities impairment
   0.04         0.07        
          0.07
  
 
Basic EPS (Non-GAAP basis)
 $ 0.87       $ 1.75        
  $4.25 - $4.35
  
                             
 
* Excludes possible write-off of $485 million of CEI's estimated unrecoverable transition costs under the proposed ESP, which if recognized,
   would be categorized as a Special Item ($1.01 per share). 
 
 
 
 
 Consolidated Report to the Financial Community - 2nd Quarter - 2008                         10
 
 
 
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Ohio Regulatory Update
On July 31, 2008, Ohio Edison Company (OE), The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company, and The Toledo Edison Company (TE) (collectively, Ohio Companies) filed both an Electric Security Plan (ESP) and Market Rate Offer (MRO) with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO).  The comprehensive ESP includes supply and pricing for retail generation service for up to a three-year period, in addition to seeking approval of outstanding issues currently pending before the PUCO in the Ohio Companies’ distribution rate case.  A PUCO decision is required within 150 days, with new rates to be effective for customers January 1, 2009.  Under the MRO alternative, the Ohio Companies would procure generation supply through a competitive bidding process (CBP). An independent third-party CBP Manager would conduct the bidding process, with oversight by the PUCO.  The MRO proposes a portfolio approach to procurement, initially using a staggered bid and subsequently a multi-phased procurement cycle.  The PUCO is required to review FirstEnergy’s MRO application within 90 days. The MRO would be implemented if the ESP is not approved by the PUCO.
 
On July 2, 2008, and July 23, 2008, the PUCO staff issued proposed rules for comment to implement portions of Amended Substitute Senate Bill 221 (Substitute SB 221).  FirstEnergy filed written comments on the first set of proposed rules on July 22, 2008, and reply comments are due August 6, 2008. Written comments on the second set are due August 12, 2008, and reply comments are due August 22, 2008. Proposed rules to implement other portions of Substitute SB 221, including the alternative energy portfolio standard, are expected to be issued in late August. Following the comment period, the PUCO will consider input from stakeholders before adopting final rules, which is expected to be in late September.  The rules will then be subject to review by the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (a group consisting of five State Representatives and five State Senators).
 
Ohio Supreme Court Remand on Rate Certainty Plan
On June 3, 2008, the Ohio Companies made a filing to suspend the procedural schedule in their application to recover their 2006-2007 deferred fuel costs and associated carrying charges ($220 million balance as of December 31, 2007) since they anticipated that their ESP filing would contain a proposal addressing the recovery of these deferred fuel costs.  On June 4, 2008, the PUCO Staff issued its report in accordance with its previously established procedural schedule.  On June 11, 2008, the PUCO denied the request to suspend proceedings until the ESP case is completed, but it revised the procedural schedule.  Testimony is now due August 29, 2008, and an evidentiary hearing is scheduled for September 29, 2008.
 
Penn Power Interim Default Service Supply Plan
On May 14, 2008, Pennsylvania Power Company (Penn Power) held its second Request for Proposal (RFP) to procure default service for residential customers for the period June 2008 through May 2009 and a portion of the load for the period June 2009 through May 2010.  The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PPUC) approved the second residential RFP on May 16, 2008.  On May 20, 2008, Penn Power filed compliance tariffs with the new default service generation rates for residential customers based on the approved RFP bids, which the PPUC certified on May 21, 2008.  The average price of the winning bids was $80.48 per MWh, before line losses, administrative fees and gross receipts tax, and will be reflected in Penn Power’s new default service rates that are effective for the period June 2008 through May 2009.  RFPs for the remainder of the residential customers’ load for the period June 2009 through May 2010 are scheduled for October 2008 and January 2009.

Met-Ed and Penelec Transmission Service Charge
On May 22, 2008, the PPUC approved Metropolitan Edison Company’s (Met-Ed) and Pennsylvania Electric Company’s (Penelec) annual updates to their transmission service charge riders (TSC) for the period June 1, 2008, through May 31, 2009.  The approved TSCs include a component for under-recovery of actual transmission costs incurred during prior periods and transmission costs projected for June 2008 through May 2009.  Met-Ed’s TSC includes a transition approach that will recover past under-recovered costs plus carrying charges through the new TSC, with deferral of a portion of the projected costs plus carrying charges for recovery through future TSCs by December 31, 2010.  Various intervenors filed complaints against Met-Ed’s and Penelec’s TSC filings.
 
 
 
 
 Consolidated Report to the Financial Community - 2nd Quarter 2008
                    11
 

 
In addition, the PPUC ordered an investigation to review the reasonableness of Met-Ed’s TSC, while at the same time allowing the company to implement the rider June 1, 2008, subject to refund. On July 15, 2008, the PPUC directed the Administrative Law Judge to consolidate the complaints against Met-Ed with its investigation.  An evidentiary hearing for both companies is scheduled for January 14-15, 2009.

New Long-Term Fuel Supply Arrangements
On July 16, 2008, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy entered into a joint venture with the Boich Companies, a Columbus, Ohio-based coal company, to acquire a majority stake in the Bull Mountain mine operations in Montana.  FirstEnergy will make a $125 million equity investment in the joint venture.  Under an acquisition and development agreement, the joint venture will acquire 80 percent of the Bull Mountain mining operations, and 100 percent of the rail operations, with FirstEnergy owning a 45 percent economic interest in the joint venture and an affiliate of the Boich Companies owning a 55 percent economic interest, with both parties having a 50 percent voting interest in the joint venture.  In January 2010, the joint venture will have the option for 18 months to acquire the remaining 20 percent stake in the mining operations.

In a related transaction, FirstEnergy has entered into a 15-year agreement to purchase up to 10 million tons of bituminous western coal annually from the mine.  FirstEnergy also reached tentative agreements with the rail carriers associated with transporting coal from the mine to its generating stations, and it expects to begin taking delivery of the coal in late 2009 or early 2010.  The above mentioned joint venture has the right to resell FirstEnergy’s Bull Mountain tonnage not used at FirstEnergy’s facilities and has call rights on such coal above certain levels.

Nuclear Sale and Leaseback Restructuring
On May 30, 2008, FirstEnergy Nuclear Generation Corp. (NGC) purchased 56.8 MW of lessor equity interests in the OE 1987 sale and leaseback of the Perry Plant.  On June 2, 2008, NGC purchased approximately 43.5 MW of lessor equity interests in the OE 1987 sale and leaseback of Beaver Valley Unit 2 (BV2).  Between June 2, 2008, and June 9, 2008, NGC purchased an additional 158.5 MW of additional lessor equity interests in the TE and CEI 1987 sale and leaseback of BV2, which purchases were undertaken in connection with the previously disclosed exercise of the periodic purchase option provided in the TE and CEI sale and leaseback arrangements.  The Ohio Companies continue to lease these MWs under the respective sale and leaseback arrangements and the related lease debt remains outstanding.

New $300 Million Credit Facility
On May 30, 2008, FirstEnergy Corp. and FirstEnergy Solutions Corp. entered into a $300 million, 364-day revolving credit facility.  The pricing, terms and conditions are substantially similar to those contained in the current FirstEnergy $2.75 billion revolving credit agreement.

Refunding of Auction Rate Bonds
On June 6, 2008, NGC completed the refunding of $179.5 million of its bonds that previously had been in an auction rate mode into a variable-rate mode supported by a bank letter of credit.  On June 30, 2008, FirstEnergy Generation Corp. (FGCO) refunded $276.2 million of its bonds that had previously been in an auction rate mode into a variable-rate mode supported by a bank letter of credit.  FirstEnergy no longer holds any auction rate bonds.

Fremont Combined-Cycle Generating Plant
On January 31, 2008, FGCO completed the purchase of a partially complete 707-MW natural gas-fired generating plant in Fremont, Ohio, from Calpine Corporation for $253.6 million.  In June 2008, FGCO completed an engineering study indicating an estimated $208 million of capital expenditures would be required to complete the project.  Approximately $41 million is expected to be invested in 2008 with planned commercial operation of the plant expected to begin in December 2009.

Nuclear Operations Update
On May 22, 2008, the 868-MW BV2 returned to service following its regularly scheduled refueling outage that began on April 14, 2008.  Major work activities completed during the outage included replacing approximately one-third of the fuel assemblies in the reactor and the high pressure turbine rotor.  During the outage, BV2 completed the final phase of an extended power uprate project.
 
 
 
 
 Consolidated Report to the Financial Community - 2nd Quarter 2008                         12
 
 
 

 
On June 30, 2008, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved a 12 MW uprate at the 893-MW Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station.  This power uprate, along with BV2’s, was achieved in support of FirstEnergy’s strategy to maximize the full potential of its existing generation assets.




Forward-looking Statements.  This Consolidated Report to the Financial Community includes forward-looking statements based on information currently available to management. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. These statements include declarations regarding our, or our management’s, intents, beliefs and current expectations.  These statements typically contain, but are not limited to, the terms “anticipate,” “potential,” “expect,” “believe,” “estimate” and similar words.   Forward-looking statements involve estimates, assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Actual results may differ materially due to the speed and nature of increased competition in the electric utility industry and legislative and regulatory changes affecting how generation rates will be determined following the expiration of existing rate plans in Ohio and Pennsylvania, the impact of the PUCO’s rulemaking process on our Ohio utility subsidiaries’ Electric Security Plan and Market Rate Offer filings, economic or weather conditions affecting future sales and margins, changes in markets for energy services, changing energy and commodity market prices and availability, replacement power costs being higher than anticipated or inadequately hedged, the continued ability of FirstEnergy’s regulated utilities to collect transition and other charges or to recover increased transmission costs, maintenance costs being higher than anticipated, other legislative and regulatory changes including revised environmental requirements and possible greenhouse gas emissions regulation, the impact of the U.S. Court of Appeals’ July 11, 2008 decision to vacate the CAIR rules and the scope of any laws, rules or regulations that may ultimately take their place, 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 or other potential regulatory initiatives, adverse regulatory or legal decisions and outcomes (including, but not limited to, the revocation of necessary licenses or operating permits and oversight by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission including, but not limited to, the Demand for Information issued to FENOC on May 14, 2007) as disclosed in our SEC filings, the timing and outcome of various proceedings before the PUCO (including, but not limited to, the Distribution Rate Cases and the generation supply plan filing for the Ohio Companies and the successful resolution of the issues remanded to the PUCO by the Supreme Court of Ohio regarding the Rate Stabilization Plan and the Rate Certainty Plan, including the deferral of fuel costs) and Met-Ed and Penelec’s transmission service charge filings with the PPUC (as well as the resolution of the Petitions for Review filed with the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania with respect to the transition rate plan for Met-Ed and Penelec), the continuing availability of generating units and their ability to continue to operate at or near full capacity, the ability to comply with applicable state and federal reliability standards, the ability to accomplish or realize anticipated benefits from strategic goals (including employee workforce initiatives), the ability to improve electric commodity margins and to experience growth in the distribution business, changing market conditions that could affect the value of assets held in our nuclear decommissioning trust fund, pension fund and other trust funds, the ability to access the public securities and other capital markets and the cost of such capital, the risks and other factors discussed from time to time in our SEC filings, and other similar factors.  The foregoing review of factors should not be construed as exhaustive.  New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all such factors, nor can we assess the impact of any such factor on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.  We expressly disclaim any current intention to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
 
 
 
 
 Consolidated Report to the Financial Community - 2nd Quarter  13