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STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]  
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS
FirstEnergy grants stock-based awards through the ICP 2020, primarily in the form of restricted stock and performance-based restricted stock units. There are also awards currently outstanding issued through the ICP 2015 primarily in the form of restricted stock and performance-based restricted stock units. The ICP 2020 and ICP 2015 include shareholder authorization to each issue 10 million shares of common stock or their equivalent. As of December 31, 2021, approximately 12.7 million shares were available for future grants under the ICP 2020 assuming maximum performance metrics are achieved for the outstanding cycles of restricted stock units. No shares are available for future grants under ICP 2015. Shares not issued due to forfeitures or cancellations originally granted through the ICP 2015 may be added back to the ICP 2020. Shares granted under the ICP 2020 and ICP 2015 are issued from authorized but unissued common stock. Vesting periods for stock-based awards range from two to ten years, with the majority of awards having a vesting period of three years. FirstEnergy also issues stock through its 401(k) Savings Plan, EDCP, and DCPD. Currently, FirstEnergy records the compensation costs for stock-based compensation awards that will be paid in stock over the vesting period based on the fair value on the grant date. FirstEnergy accounts for forfeitures as they occur.

FirstEnergy adjusts the compensation costs for stock-based compensation awards that will be paid in cash based on changes in the fair value of the award as of each reporting date. FirstEnergy records the actual tax benefit realized from tax deductions when awards are exercised or settled. Actual income tax benefits realized during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, were $10 million, $20 million and $24 million, respectively. The income tax effects of awards are recognized in the income statement when the awards vest, are settled or are forfeited.

Stock-based compensation costs and the amount of stock-based compensation costs capitalized related to FirstEnergy plans for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, are included in the following tables:
For the Years Ended December 31,
Stock-based Compensation Plan202120202019
(In millions)
Restricted Stock Units $40 $22 $73 
Restricted Stock2 1 1 
401(k) Savings Plan35 33 33 
EDCP & DCPD13 (5)9 
   Total $90 $51 $116 
Stock-based compensation costs capitalized $47 $26 $54 

Income tax benefits associated with stock-based compensation plan expense were $5 million, $3 million and $10 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Restricted Stock Units

Beginning with the performance-based restricted stock units granted in 2015, two-thirds of each award will be paid in stock and one-third will be paid in cash. Restricted stock units payable in stock provide the participant the right to receive, at the end of the period of restriction, a number of shares of common stock equal to the number of stock units set forth in the agreement, subject to adjustment based on FirstEnergy's performance relative to financial and operational performance targets applicable to each award. The grant date fair value of the stock portion of the restricted stock unit award is measured based on the average of the high and low prices of FE common stock on the date of grant. Beginning with awards granted in 2018, restricted stock units include a performance metric consisting of a relative total shareholder return modifier utilizing the S&P 500 Utility Index as a comparator group. The estimated grant date fair value for these awards is calculated using the Monte Carlo simulation method.

Restricted stock units payable in cash provide the participant the right to receive cash based on the number of stock units set forth in the agreement and value of the equivalent number of shares of FE common stock as of the vesting date. The cash portion of the restricted stock unit award is considered a liability award, which is remeasured each period based on FE's stock price and projected performance adjustments. The liability recorded for the portion of performance-based restricted stock units payable in cash in the future as of December 31, 2021, was $24 million. During 2021, approximately $11 million was paid in relation to the cash portion of restricted stock unit obligations that vested in 2021.

The vesting period for the performance-based restricted stock unit awards granted in 2019, 2020 and 2021, were each three years. Dividend equivalents are received on the restricted stock units and are reinvested in additional restricted stock units and subject to the same performance conditions as the underlying award.
Restricted stock unit activity for the year ended December 31, 2021, was as follows:
Restricted Stock Unit Activity
Shares
(in millions)
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value (per share)
Nonvested as of January 1, 20211.8 $40.25 
Granted in 20211.3 35.50 
Forfeited in 2021(0.3)40.08 
Vested in 2021(1)
(1.0)33.73 
Nonvested as of December 31, 20211.8 $41.89 
(1) Excludes dividend equivalents of approximately 130 thousand shares earned during vesting period.

The weighted-average fair value of awards granted in 2021, 2020 and 2019 was $35.50, $44.42 and $41.23 per share, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, the fair value of restricted stock units vested was $34 million, $80 million, and $91 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2021, there was approximately $29 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested share-based compensation arrangements granted for restricted stock units, which is expected to be recognized over a period of approximately three years.

Restricted Stock

Certain employees receive awards of FE restricted stock (as opposed to "units" with the right to receive shares at the end of the restriction period) subject to restrictions that lapse over a defined period of time or upon achieving performance results. The fair value of restricted stock is measured based on the average of the high and low prices of FE common stock on the date of grant. Dividends are received on the restricted stock and are reinvested in additional shares of restricted stock, subject to the vesting conditions of the underlying award. Restricted stock activity for the year ended December 31, 2021, was not material.

401(k) Savings Plan

In 2021 and 2020, approximately 1 million shares of FE common stock, respectively, were issued and contributed to participants' accounts.

EDCP

Under the EDCP, certain employees can defer a portion of their compensation, including base salary, annual incentive awards and/or long-term incentive awards, into unfunded accounts. Annual incentive and long-term incentive awards may be deferred in FE stock accounts. Base salary and annual incentive awards may be deferred into a retirement cash account which earns interest. Dividends are calculated quarterly on stock units outstanding and are credited in the form of additional stock units. The form of payout as stock or cash vary depending upon the form of the award, the duration of the deferral and other factors. Awards deferred into a retirement stock account will pay out in cash upon separation from service, death or disability. Interest accrues on the cash allocated to the retirement cash account and the balance will pay out in cash over a time period as elected by the participant.

DCPD

Under the DCPD, members of the FE Board can elect to defer all or a portion of their equity retainers to a deferred stock account and their cash retainers to deferred stock or deferred cash accounts. The net liability recognized for DCPD of approximately $9 million and $7 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, is included in “Retirement benefits,” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.