EX-99.2 3 exhibit99_2.htm CONSOLIDATED REPORT TO THE FINANCIAL COMMUNITY, DATED OCTOBER 27, 2009 exhibit99_2.htm
 
EXHIBIT 99.2
 
Consolidated Report to the Financial Community                             
Third Quarter 2009                
(Released October 27, 2009)(Unaudited)
     
HIGHLIGHTS
 After-Tax EPS Variance Analysis
   
3rd  Qtr.
 
   
     3Q 2008 Basic EPS – GAAP Basis 
   
$1.55
 
   
 Special Items – 2008
   
  (0.05)
 
  
Normalized non-GAAP* earnings, excluding special items, were $1.11 per share for
 3Q 2008 Normalized Earnings – Non-GAAP Basis*
   
$1.60
 
  the third quarter of 2009, compared with $1.60 per share for the third quarter of 2008.              Distribution Deliveries       (0.08)  
  GAAP earnings for the third quarter of 2009 were $0.77 per share compared with $1.55
 Ohio Utilities Distribution Rate Increase 
   
  0.05
 
  per share in the prior year.
 Ohio Delivery Service Improvement Rider
              0.06  
      
 Ohio Transition Cost Recovery Margin
   
    (0.28)   
 
   3Q 2009 Results vs. 3Q 2008
 Generation Gross Margin
   
 (0.32)
 
    
 O&M Reductions
   
 0.17
 
   Electric distribution deliveries declined 2.9 million megawatt-hours (MWH), or 10%,              Deferred Distribution Costs - OH (2008)      (0.09)  
    due to the economic downturn and mild weather in the FirstEnergy companies'
         Pension Costs
   
 (0.11)
 
     service territories.  Cooling-degree-days were 14% lower than the same period last
 Depreciation
   
 (0.04)
 
  year and 17% below normal.  Industrial deliveries decreased 1.4 million MWH, or 16% -
 General Taxes
   
   0.02  
 
  primarily related to reduced usage by steel and automotive customers.  Commercial
 Investment Income - NDT and COLI
   
 0.25
 
      deliveries declined 598,000 MWH, or 6%, while residential deliveries decreased              Financing Costs       (0.01)  
      834,000 MWH, or 8%.              Income Tax Adjustments (2008)       (0.12)  
       
         Other
   
          0.01
 
  Lower distribution delivery revenues (excluding the impact of the Ohio rate increases          3Q 2009 Normalized Earnings - Non-GAAP Basis*             $1.11  
  
noted below) reduced earnings by $0.08 per share.  The majority of this decline was              Special Items - 2009              (0.34)  
  attributable to lower sales to residential customers, as a result of the unusually mild          3Q 2009 Basic EPS - GAAP Basis              $0.77  
  weather in the third quarter of 2009.          
 
The distribution rate increase for the three Ohio utilities increased earnings by $0.05 per share in the third quarter while the implementation of the Ohio delivery service improvement rider, effective in April 2009, increased earnings by $0.06 per share.
 
In accordance with the Ohio Rate Certainty Plan (RCP), recovery of transition revenues for Ohio Edison Company (OE) and The Toledo Edison Company (TE) ended in December 2008, while recovery for The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company (CEI) will extend through December 2010.  Lower transition revenues in the third quarter of 2009 reduced earnings by $0.45 per share.  This was offset by lower transition cost amortization in the third quarter of 2009, which increased earnings by $0.17 per share.
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
  
Generation gross margin reduced earnings by $0.32 per share, as the result of several factors.
 
 
Consolidated electric generation sales decreased 3.8 million MWH, or 11%.  Retail generation sales decreased 3.1 million MWH, or 11%, while wholesale sales were down 724,000 MWH, or 10%, compared to the same period last year. (A Summary of Sources of Generation Sales and Power Purchases can be found on page 12.)
 
 
FirstEnergy Solutions Corp. (FES)-supplied generation sales decreased 5.3 million MWH, or 23%. Sales to the retail market declined 5.0 million MWH, or 27%, primarily due to FES supplying approximately 65% of the Ohio retail load in the third quarter of 2009 compared to nearly 100% of the Ohio load in the same period last year.  FES-supplied wholesale electricity sales decreased 259,000 MWH, or 6%, due in part to lower available economic generation during the third quarter of 2009.
 
 
Lower generation margins at the Ohio utilities, Metropolitan Edison Company (Met-Ed) and Pennsylvania Electric Company (Penelec) in the third quarter of 2009 reduced earnings by $0.07 per share due to the expiration in 2008 of more favorably-priced power supply agreements.  FES-supplied retail generation sales reduced earnings by $0.37 per share as lower volumes more than offset higher unit prices. The combination of the above items reduced retail generation revenues by $0.44 per share.
 
 
Higher wholesale revenues increased earnings by $0.09 per share.   The increase was attributable to higher PJM Reliability Pricing Model (RPM) capacity revenues at Met-Ed and Penelec ($44 million) in the third quarter of 2009 compared to the same period last year.  FES-supplied wholesale sales were slightly lower as reduced sales volume ($8 million) and lower energy prices ($9 million) offset higher PJM RPM capacity revenues ($16 million)
 
 
Lower fuel expenses, primarily due to reduced generation output, increased earnings by $0.11 per share.  Generation output in the third quarter of 2009 was 17.5 million MWH, a reduction of 4.7 million MWH, or 21%, compared to the same period last year, primarily due to economic factors in the third quarter of 2009.
 
 
Higher purchased power costs reduced earnings by $0.08 per share.  Lower FES power purchases ($68 million) more than offset higher PJM RPM capacity expenses ($56 million) and increased earnings by $0.02 per share.  Higher PJM RPM capacity expenses at Met-Ed and Penelec ($51 million) reduced earnings by $0.10 per share.
 
 
Generation Gross Margin EPS Summary                                                                                                                        
 
 EPS
Revenues
 
 
Expense
Total
FES Generation Sales
Utilities
Retail
Wholesale
Energy
PJM RPM
Capacity
Fuel
Purchased
Power
PJM RPM
Capacity
FES POLR
FES Retail
 Rate
 Volume
$0.18
$0.06
($0.07)
($0.02)
$0.12
($0.12)
$0.03
($0.22)
($0.04)
($0.67)
$0.06
 
($0.01)
 
$0.23
$0.11
 
($0.28)
    Total
($0.49)
$0.12
($0.07)
($0.03)
$0.12
$0.11
$0.14
($0.22)
($0.32)
 

 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Report to the Financial Community - 3rd Quarter 2009
2
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
  
Implementation of O&M reduction measures added approximately $0.17 per share ($85 million) in the third quarter of 2009.  The majority of the O&M reductions were realized from lower labor costs; reduced non-pension employee benefits; use of fewer contractors; and general company-wide cost control measures. O&M reductions at the distribution subsidiaries and the generation subsidiaries  (including allocated savings from Corporate Shared Services) were approximately $0.08 per share ($40 million) and $0.09 per share ($45 million), respectively.  On a year-to-date basis, O&M reductions totaled approximately $0.48 per share ($242 million) – distribution subsidiaries accounted for approximately $0.27 per share ($136 million) while the generation subsidiaries accounted for approximately $0.21 per share ($106 million).
 
 
Under the Ohio RCP, the Ohio utilities were permitted to defer up to $150 million per year in distribution reliability expenses through December 2008.  The absence of these deferrals in the third quarter of 2009 reduced earnings by $0.09 per share compared to the same period last year.
 
 
Higher pension expense in the third quarter of 2009 reduced earnings by $0.11 per share. Reduced pension plan asset value, due to market performance during 2008, resulted in a decrease in the plan’s funded status, leading to increased expense in 2009.
 
 
  
Incremental property additions increased depreciation expense by $0.04 per share.
 
 
Lower general taxes increased earnings by $0.02 per share, primarily due to lower kilowatt-hour, gross receipts, and payroll taxes.
 
 
  
Higher nuclear decommissioning trust income increased earnings by $0.23 per share. The gain realized from the sale of securities held in the trusts was due to a strategic repositioning of the assets to limit risks to the trusts and capture the strong market performance during the first nine months in 2009. Increased investment income from corporate-owned life insurance (COLI) contributed $0.02 per share to earnings.
 
 
  
Net financing costs (excluding a premium on early partial redemption of FE Corp. notes due 2011) reduced earnings by $0.01 per share. Higher interest expense reduced earnings by $0.05 per share primarily due to interest associated with the issuance of first mortgage bonds (FMBs) and senior notes at the distribution companies in the fourth quarter of 2008 and the first nine months of 2009.  Higher capitalized interest related to the construction program increased earnings by $0.04 per share.
 
 
  
Earnings in the third quarter of 2008 included tax adjustments that increased earnings in that quarter by $0.12 per share when compared to the third quarter of 2009.
 
 
 
Three special items were recognized during the third quarter of 2009: (i) a $0.30 per share decrease in earnings for costs associated with the early retirement of $1.2 billion of debt at FirstEnergy Corp.; (ii) a $0.07 per share decrease in earnings associated with organizational restructuring charges; and (iii) a $0.03 per share increase in earnings related to an adjustment to the impairment of securities held in trust for nuclear decommissioning activities.
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Report to the Financial Community - 3rd Quarter 2009
3
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
2009 Earnings Guidance
 
Normalized non-GAAP* earnings guidance for 2009, excluding special items, is narrowed from $3.70 to $3.85 per share to $3.70 to $3.80 per share.  Year-to-date normalized non-GAAP earnings now stand at $3.00 per share.
 

 

 
* The 2009 GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliation statements can be found on page 14 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
 Irene M. Prezelj  Rey Y. Jimenez
 Vice President, Investor Relations
 Director, Investor Relations  Manager, Investor Relations
 (330) 384-5415
 (330) 384-3859  (330) 761-4239
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Report to the Financial Community - 3rd Quarter 2009
4

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
FirstEnergy Corp.
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)
 (In millions, except for per share amounts)
 
     
Three Months Ended September 30
   
Nine Months Ended September 30
 
     
2009
   
2008
   
Change
   
2009
   
2008
   
Change
 
   
Revenues
                                 
(1 )
Electric utilities
$ 2,940     $ 3,469     $ (529 )   $ 8,751     $ 9,247     $ (496 )
(2 )
Unregulated businesses
  468       435       33       1,262       1,179       83  
(3 )
Total Revenues
  3,408       3,904       (496 )     10,013       10,426       (413 )
                                                   
                                                   
   
Expenses
                                             
(4 )
Fuel
  302       356       (54 )     890       1,000       (110 )
(5 )
Purchased power
  1,313       1,306       7       3,480       3,376       104  
(6 )
Other operating expenses
  665       794       (129 )     2,103       2,374       (271 )
(7 )
Provision for depreciation
  188       168       20       550       500       50  
(8 )
Amortization of regulatory assets
  261       291       (30 )     903       795       108  
(9 )
Deferral of new regulatory assets
  -       (58 )     58       (136 )     (261 )     125  
(10 )
General taxes
  192       201       (9 )     587       596       (9 )
(11 )
Total Expenses
  2,921       3,058       (137 )     8,377       8,380       (3 )
(12 )
Operating Income
  487       846       (359 )     1,636       2,046       (410 )
                                                   
   
Other Income (Expense)
                                             
(13 )
Investment income, net
  191       40       151       207       73       134  
(14 )
Interest expense
  (355 )     (192 )     (163 )     (755 )     (559 )     (196 )
(15 )
Capitalized interest
  35       15       20       96       36       60  
(16 )
Total Other Expense
  (129 )     (137 )     8       (452 )     (450 )     (2 )
(17 )
Income Before Income Taxes
  358       709       (351 )     1,184       1,596       (412 )
(18 )
Income taxes
  128       238       (110 )     430       585       (155 )
(19 )
Net Income
  230       471       (241 )     754       1,011       (257 )
(20 )
Less: Noncontrolling interest income (loss)
  (4 )     -       (4 )     (14 )     1       (15 )
(21 )
Earnings Available to FirstEnergy Corp.
$ 234     $ 471     $ (237 )   $ 768     $ 1,010     $ (242 )
                                                   
(22 )
Earnings Per Share of Common Stock
                                             
(23 )
Basic
$ 0.77     $ 1.55     $ (0.78 )   $ 2.52     $ 3.32     $ (0.80 )
(24 )
Diluted
$ 0.77     $ 1.54     $ (0.77 )   $ 2.51     $ 3.29     $ (0.78 )
                                                   
(25 )
Weighted Average Number of
                                             
   
Common Shares Outstanding
                                             
(26 )
Basic
  304       304       -       304       304       -  
(27 )
Diluted
  306       307       (1 )     306       307       (1 )
                                                   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Report to the Financial Community - 3rd Quarter 2009
5
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
FirstEnergy Corp.
Consolidated Income Segments
(Unaudited)
 (In millions)
 
     
Three Months Ended September 30, 2009
 
                                 
                 
Ohio
             
     
Energy
   
Competitive
   
Transitional
   
Other &
       
     
Delivery
   
Energy
   
Generation
   
Reconciling
       
     
Services (a)
   
Services (b)
   
Services (c)
   
Adjustments (d)
   
Consolidated
 
   
Revenues
                           
(1 )
Electric sales
$ 2,067     $ 444     $ 737     $ -     $ 3,248  
(2 )
Other
  136       46       2       (24 )     160  
(3 )
Internal revenues
  -       617       -       (617 )     -  
(4 )
Total Revenues
  2,203       1,107       739       (641 )     3,408  
                                           
                                           
   
Expenses
                                     
(5 )
Fuel
  -       302       -       -       302  
(6 )
Purchased power
  1,011       205       714       (617 )     1,313  
(7 )
Other operating expenses
  373       331       (9 )     (30 )     665  
(8 )
Provision for depreciation
  112       69       -       7       188  
(9 )
Amortization of regulatory assets
  244       -       17       -       261  
(10 )
Deferral of new regulatory assets
  -       -       -       -       -  
(11 )
General taxes
  160       27       2       3       192  
(12 )
Total Expenses
  1,900       934       724       (637 )     2,921  
(13 )
Operating Income
  303       173       15       (4 )     487  
                                           
   
Other Income (Expense)
                                     
(14 )
Investment income (loss)
  46       159       -       (14 )     191  
(15 )
Interest expense
  (118 )     (46 )     -       (191 )     (355 )
(16 )
Capitalized interest
  1       18       -       16       35  
(17 )
Total Other Income (Expense)
  (71 )     131       -       (189 )     (129 )
                                           
(18 )
Income Before Income Taxes
  232       304       15       (193 )     358  
(19 )
Income tax expense
  93       121       6       (92 )     128  
(20 )
Net Income
  139       183       9       (101 )     230  
(21 )
Less: Noncontrolling interest loss
  -       -       -       (4 )     (4 )
(22 )
Earnings (Loss) Available to FirstEnergy Corp.
$ 139     $ 183     $ 9     $ (97 )   $ 234  
                 
(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,
         
   
noncontrolling interests and elimination of intersegment transactions.
                   
                                           
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Report to the Financial Community - 3rd Quarter 2009
6
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
FirstEnergy Corp.
Consolidated Income Segments
(Unaudited)
(In millions)
 
     
Three Months Ended September 30, 2008
 
                                 
                 
Ohio
             
     
Energy
   
Competitive
   
Transitional
   
Other &
       
     
Delivery
   
Energy
   
Generation
   
Reconciling
       
     
Services (a)
   
Services (b)
   
Services (c)
   
Adjustments (d)
   
Consolidated
 
   
Revenues
                           
(1 )
Electric sales
$ 2,487     $ 381     $ 781     $ -     $ 3,649  
(2 )
Other
  170       79       32       (26 )     255  
(3 )
Internal revenues
  -       786       -       (786 )     -  
(4 )
Total Revenues
  2,657       1,246       813       (812 )     3,904  
                                           
   
Expenses
                                     
(5 )
Fuel
  -       356       -       -       356  
(6 )
Purchased power
  1,248       221       623       (786 )     1,306  
(7 )
Other operating expenses
  430       285       110       (31 )     794  
(8 )
Provision for depreciation
  99       67       -       2       168  
(9 )
Amortization of regulatory assets
  263       -       28       -       291  
(10 )
Deferral of new regulatory assets
  (76 )     -       18       -       (58 )
(11 )
General taxes
  169       26       1       5       201  
(12 )
Total Expenses
  2,133       955       780       (810 )     3,058  
(13 )
Operating Income
  524       291       33       (2 )     846  
                                           
   
Other Income (Expense)
                                     
(14 )
Investment income (loss)
  48       13       1       (22 )     40  
(15 )
Interest expense
  (102 )     (44 )     (1 )     (45 )     (192 )
(16 )
Capitalized interest
  1       13       -       1       15  
(17 )
Total Other Expense
  (53 )     (18 )     -       (66 )     (137 )
                                           
(18 )
Income Before Income Taxes
  471       273       33       (68 )     709  
(19 )
Income taxes
  188       109       14       (73 )     238  
(20 )
Net Income
  283       164       19       5       471  
(21 )
Less: Noncontrolling interest income
  -       -       -       -       -  
(22 )
Earnings Available to FirstEnergy Corp.
$ 283     $ 164     $ 19     $ 5     $ 471  
                                           
(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,
         
   
noncontrolling interests and elimination of intersegment transactions.
                                 
                                           
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Report to the Financial Community - 3rd Quarter 2009
7
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
FirstEnergy Corp.
Consolidated Income Segments
(Unaudited)
(In millions)
 
     
Three Months Ended Sep. 30, 2009 vs. Three Months Ended Sep. 30, 2008
 
                                 
                 
Ohio
             
     
Energy
   
Competitive
   
Transitional
   
Other &
       
     
Delivery
   
Energy
   
Generation
   
Reconciling
       
     
Services (a)
   
Services (b)
   
Services (c)
   
Adjustments (d)
   
Consolidated
 
   
Revenues
                           
(1 )
Electric sales
$ (420 )   $ 63     $ (44 )   $ -     $ (401 )
(2 )
Other
  (34 )     (33 )     (30 )     2       (95 )
(3 )
Internal revenues
  -       (169 )     -       169       -  
(4 )
Total Revenues
  (454 )     (139 )     (74 )     171       (496 )
                                           
   
Expenses
                                     
(5 )
Fuel
  -       (54 )     -       -       (54 )
(6 )
Purchased power
  (237 )     (16 )     91       169       7  
(7 )
Other operating expenses
  (57 )     46       (119 )     1       (129 )
(8 )
Provision for depreciation
  13       2       -       5       20  
(9 )
Amortization of regulatory assets
  (19 )     -       (11 )     -       (30 )
(10 )
Deferral of new regulatory assets
  76       -       (18 )     -       58  
(11 )
General taxes
  (9 )     1       1       (2 )     (9 )
(12 )
Total Expenses
  (233 )     (21 )     (56 )     173       (137 )
(13 )
Operating Income
  (221 )     (118 )     (18 )     (2 )     (359 )
                                           
   
Other Income (Expense)
                                     
(14 )
Investment income (loss)
  (2 )     146       (1 )     8       151  
(15 )
Interest expense
  (16 )     (2 )     1       (146 )     (163 )
(16 )
Capitalized interest
  -       5       -       15       20  
(17 )
Total Other Income (Expense)
  (18 )     149       -       (123 )     8  
                                           
(18 )
Income Before Income Taxes
  (239 )     31       (18     (125 )     (351 )
(19 )
Income taxes
  (95 )     12       (8     (19 )     (110 )
(20 )
Net Income
  (144 )     19       (10     (106 )     (241 )
(21 )
Less: Noncontrolling interest income (loss)
  -       -       -       (4 )     (4 )
(22 )
Earnings Available to FirstEnergy Corp.
$ (144 )   $ 19     $ (10   $ (102 )   $ (237 )
                                           
(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,
         
   
noncontrolling interests and elimination of intersegment transactions.
                                 
                                           
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Report to the Financial Community - 3rd Quarter 2009
8
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
FirstEnergy Corp.
Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
 (In millions)
 
 
           
  Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
         
           
   
As of
 
As of
 
  Assets
 
Sep. 30, 2009
 
Dec. 31, 2008
 
  Current Assets:
         
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 838   $ 545  
    Receivables
    1,392     1,471  
     Other
    1,540     1,037  
  Total Current Assets
    3,770     3,053  
               
  Property, Plant and Equipment
    18,749     17,723  
  Investments
    3,107     3,017  
  Deferred Charges and Other Assets
    9,048     9,728  
  Total Assets
  $ 34,674   $ 33,521  
               
  Liabilities and Capitalization
             
  Current Liabilities:
             
Currently payable long-term debt
  $ 2,020   $ 2,476  
Short-term borrowings
    1,653     2,397  
Accounts payable
    692     794  
Other
    1,371     1,431  
  Total Current Liabilities
    5,736     7,098  
               
  Capitalization:
             
Total equity
    8,493     8,315  
Long-term debt and other long-term obligations
    11,647     9,100  
  Total Capitalization
    20,140     17,415  
  Noncurrent Liabilities
    8,798     9,008  
  Total Liabilities and Capitalization
  $ 34,674   $ 33,521  
               
 
 
                       
  General Information
                     
 
Three Months Ended Sep. 30
   
Nine Months Ended Sep. 30
 
                       
 
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
  Debt redemptions
$ (1,332 )   $ (14 )   $ (2,213 )   $ (733 )
  New long-term debt issues
$ 2,472     $ 82     $ 4,151     $ 631  
  Short-term borrowings increase (decrease)
$ (764 )   $ (216 )   $ (764 )   $ 1,489  
  Property additions
$ (432 )   $ (560 )   $ (1,575 )   $ (2,177 )
                               
 
                       
  Adjusted Capitalization
                     
 
As of September 30, 2009
   
As of December 31, 2008
 
       
% Total
         
% Total
 
  Total equity
$ 8,493  *     35 %   $ 8,315  **   36 %
  Long-term debt and other long-term obligations
  11,647       48 %     9,100     40 %
  Currently payable long-term debt
  2,020       8 %     2,476     11 %
  Short-term borrowings
  1,653       7 %     2,397     10 %
  Adjustments:
                           
      Sale-leaseback net debt equivalents
  1,428       6 %     1,428     6 %
  JCP&L securitization debt and cash
  (1,144 )     -4 %     (842 )   -3 %
  Total
$ 24,097       100 %   $ 22,874     100 %
                             
 *Includes $(1,401) million of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss                            
 **Includes $(1,380) million of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss                            
                             
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Report to the Financial Community - 3rd Quarter 2009
9
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
FirstEnergy Corp.
Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
 (In millions)
 
                       
 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
                   
 
Three Months Ended Sep. 30
   
Nine Months Ended Sep. 30
 
 
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
 Cash flows from operating activities
                     
 Net income
$ 230     $ 471     $ 754     $ 1,011  
 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
         
Depreciation and net amortization of regulatory assets
  449       401       1,317       1,034  
Deferred purchased power and other costs
  (100 )     (43 )     (235 )     (138 )
Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits, net
  352       149       421       278  
Deferred rents and lease market valuation liability
  39       39       (20 )     (62 )
Cash collateral, net
  (133 )     (46 )     (85 )     21  
Electric service prepayment programs
  -       (19 )     (10 )     (58 )
Pension trust contribution
  (500 )     -       (500 )     -  
Change in working capital and other
  25       160       (178 )     (655 )
 Cash flows provided from operating activities
  362       1,112       1,464       1,431  
 Cash flows provided from (used for) financing activities
  191       (316 )     617       911  
 Cash flows used for investing activities
  (615 )     (685 )     (1,788 )     (2,290 )
 Net change in cash and cash equivalents
$ (62 )   $ 111     $ 293     $ 52  
                               
 
                                   
 Deferrals and Amortizations
                                 
 
Three Months Ended Sep. 30
   
Nine Months Ended Sep. 30
 
 
2009
   
2008
   
Change
   
2009
   
2008
   
Change
 
 Ohio Rate Certainty Plan Amortizations (Deferrals)
                               
Ohio transition costs
$ 5     $ 86     $ (81 )   $ 70     $ 231     $ (161 )
Shopping incentives & interest
  26       26       -       228       68       160  
RCP distribution reliability costs and interest
  (3 )     (46 )     43       (14 )     (130 )     116  
RCP fuel & interest
  (5 )     14       (19 )     (9 )     7       (16 )
                                               
 Ohio Amended ESP Amortizations (Deferrals)
                                             
Uncollectible customer accounts
$ 5     $ -     $ 5     $ (2 )   $ -     $ (2 )
Economic development costs & interest
  19       -       19       25       -       25  
Generation cost rider true-up & interest
  (23 )     -       (23 )     (13 )     -       (13 )
CEI fuel & interest
  -       -       -       (141 )     -       (141 )
Distribution reliability
  12       -       12       12       -       12  
                                               
 Ohio Transmission Amortization
                                             
MISO transmission costs
$ 10     $ 28     $ (18 )   $ 96     $ 43     $ 53  
                                               
 Pennsylvania Amortizations (Deferrals)
                                             
PJM transmission costs
$ 61     $ (14 )   $ 75     $ 92     $ (83 )   $ 175  
NUG costs
  23       10       13       64       32       32  
                                               
 New Jersey Amortization
                                             
NUG costs
$ 72     $ 80     $ (8 )   $ 198     $ 208     $ (10 )
                                               
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Report to the Financial Community - 3rd Quarter 2009
10
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
FirstEnergy Corp.
Statistical Summary
(Unaudited)
 
 Electric Sales Statistics (kWh in millions)
                                   
     
Three Months Ended Sep. 30
   
Nine Months Ended Sep. 30
 
 Electric Distribution Deliveries
 
2009
   
2008
   
Change
   
2009
   
2008
   
Change
 
 Ohio
- Residential
  4,083     4,508     -9.4 %   12,599     13,114     -3.9 %
 
- Commercial
  3,647     3,974     -8.2 %   10,695     11,383     -6.0 %
 
- Industrial
  4,813     5,782     -16.8 %   13,849     17,193     -19.4 %
 
- Other
  82     93     -11.8 %   262     277     -5.4 %
 
Total Ohio
  12,625     14,357     -12.1 %   37,405     41,967     -10.9 %
 Pennsylvania
- Residential
  2,702     2,867     -5.8 %   8,637     8,797     -1.8 %
 
- Commercial
  2,833     2,973     -4.7 %   8,266     8,588     -3.7 %
 
- Industrial
  2,201     2,548     -13.6 %   6,480     7,723     -16.1 %
 
- Other
  20     20     0.0 %   60     61     -1.6 %
 
Total Pennsylvania
  7,756     8,408     -7.8 %   23,443     25,169     -6.9 %
 New Jersey
- Residential
  2,727     2,971     -8.2 %   7,123     7,523     -5.3 %
 
- Commercial
  2,568     2,699     -4.9 %   7,060     7,343     -3.9 %
 
- Industrial
  616     717     -14.1 %   1,855     2,133     -13.0 %
 
- Other
  22     22     0.0 %   65     66     -1.5 %
 
Total New Jersey
  5,933     6,409     -7.4 %   16,103     17,065     -5.6 %
 Total Residential
    9,512     10,346     -8.1 %   28,359     29,434     -3.7 %
 Total Commercial
  9,048     9,646     -6.2 %   26,021     27,314     -4.7 %
 Total Industrial
    7,630     9,047     -15.7 %   22,184     27,049     -18.0 %
 Total Other
    124     135     -8.1 %   387     404     -4.2 %
 Total Distribution Deliveries
  26,314     29,174     -9.8 %   76,951     84,201     -8.6 %
 Electric Sales Shopped
                                   
 Ohio
- Residential
  636     596     6.7 %   637     1,616     -60.6 %
 
- Commercial
  722     896     -19.4 %   725     2,545     -71.5 %
 
- Industrial
  1,239     686     80.6 %   1,247     1,976     -36.9 %
 
Total Ohio
  2,597     2,178     19.2 %   2,609     6,137     -57.5 %
  Pennsylvania
- Residential
  46     31     48.4 %   127     92     38.0 %
 
- Commercial
  200     187     7.0 %   605     568     6.5 %
 
- Industrial
  415     526     -21.1 %   1,218     1,599     -23.8 %
 
Total Pennsylvania
  661     744     -11.2 %   1,950     2,259     -13.7 %
  New Jersey
- Commercial
  1,154     676     70.7 %   2,645     1,849     43.1 %
 
- Industrial
  496     552     -10.1 %   1,432     1,644     -12.9 %
 
Total New Jersey
  1,650     1,228     34.4 %   4,077     3,493     16.7 %
 Total Electric Sales Shopped
  4,908     4,150     18.3 %   8,636     11,889     -27.4 %
 Electric Generation Sales
                                   
 Retail - Regulated
  21,406     25,024     -14.5 %   68,315     72,312     -5.5 %
 Retail - Competitive
  3,500     2,961     18.2 %   5,888     8,623     -31.7 %
  Total Retail
    24,906     27,985     -11.0 %   74,203     80,935     -8.3 %
 Wholesale
    6,350     7,074     -10.2 %   16,538     18,336     -9.8 %
 Total Electric Generation Sales
  31,256     35,059     -10.8 %   90,741     99,271     -8.6 %
                                       
 
 
                         
  Operating Statistics   Three Months Ended Sep. 30        Nine Months Ended Sep. 30      
       
2009
 
2008
     
2009
 
2008
     
  Capacity Factors:                          
   
Nuclear
 
98.7%
 
99.4%
     
84.4%
 
90.7%
     
   
Fossil - Baseload
 
71.9%
 
91.5%
     
74.0%
 
83.9%
     
   
Fossil - Load Following
 
23.0%
 
65.4%
     
30.9%
 
64.9%
     
 
Generation Output:
                         
   
Nuclear
 
50.5%
 
39.5%
     
44.6%
 
38.8%
     
   
Fossil - Baseload
 
40.8%
 
40.8%
     
43.3%
 
40.3%
     
   
Fossil - Load Following
 
8.7%
 
19.5%
     
12.1%
 
20.8%
     
   
Peaking
 
0.0%
 
0.3%
     
0.0%
 
0.1%
     
 
 
 
 
 
       Three Months Ended Sep. 30    Nine Months Ended Sep. 30  
   Weather    2009    2008    Normal    2009    2008    Normal  
 
Composite Heating-Degree-Days
 
70
 
46
 
92
 
3,630
 
3,526
 
3,627
 
 
Composite Cooling-Degree-Days
 
538
 
628
 
650
 
734
 
882
 
887
 
                             
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Report to the Financial Community - 3rd Quarter 2009
11
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
FirstEnergy Corp.
Statistical Summary
(Unaudited)
 
Summary of Generation Sales and Power Purchases
 
 
  Generation Sales
3Q 2009
3Q 2008
Change
 (In thousands of MWH)
FES
3rd Party
Total
FES
3rd Party
Total
FES
3rd Party
Total
  Retail Sales
                   
 
FES Retail -
                 
 
     OH Franchise
       1,927
 
       1,927
       1,980
 
       1,980
           (53)
 
            (53)
 
     Penn Power
          419
 
          419
          433
 
          433
           (14)
 
            (14)
 
     Non-Franchise
       1,154
 
       1,154
          548
 
          548
          606
 
          606
 
Total FES Retail
       3,500
 
       3,500
       2,961
 
       2,961
          539
 
          539
 
Ohio Edison
       2,835
       1,726
       4,561
       5,396
              2
       5,398
      (2,561)
       1,724
          (837)
 
CEI
 
       2,134
       1,332
       3,466
       4,471
              1
       4,472
      (2,337)
       1,331
       (1,006)
 
Toledo Edison
       1,262
          739
       2,001
       2,309
               -
       2,309
      (1,047)
          739
          (308)
 
     Subtotal - OH
       6,231
       3,797
     10,028
     12,176
              3
     12,179
      (5,945)
       3,794
       (2,151)
 
Penn Power
        (19)
          485
          466
          132
          415
          547
         (151)
            70
             (81)
 
Penelec
 
       1,773
       1,420
       3,193
       1,556
       1,897
       3,453
         217
          (477)
          (260)
 
Met-Ed
 
       2,057
       1,379
       3,436
       1,769
       1,895
       3,664
         288
          (516)
          (228)
 
     Subtotal - PA
       3,811
       3,284
       7,095
       3,457
       4,207
       7,664
         354
          (923)
          (569)
 
JCPL
 
               -
       4,283
       4,283
               -
       5,181
       5,181
               -
          (898)
          (898)
  Total Retail Sales
     13,542
     11,364
     24,906
     18,594
       9,391
     27,985
      (5,052)
        1,973
      (3,079)
  Wholesale Sales
                 
 
FES -
                   
 
     MISO
 
       3,620
 
       3,620
       3,240
 
       3,240
        380
 
          380
 
     PJM
 
          602
 
          602
       1,103
 
       1,103
        (501)
 
          (501)
 
Total FES
       4,222
 
       4,222
       4,343
 
       4,343
        (121)
 
          (121)
 
Met-Ed
   
          530
          530
 
          591
          591
 
            (61)
            (61)
 
Penelec
   
          798
          798
 
          786
          786
 
            12
            12
 
JCPL
   
          800
          800
 
       1,216
       1,216
 
          (416)
          (416)
 
Other
                     -                       -
               -
          138
               -
          138
        (138)
               -
          (138)
  Total Wholesale Sales
       4,222
       2,128
       6,350
       4,481
       2,593
       7,074
        (259)
          (465)
          (724)
 
Total Generation Sales
     17,764
     13,492
     31,256
     23,075
     11,984
     35,059
     (5,311)
        1,508
      (3,803)
 
 
  Power Purchases
3Q 2009
3Q 2008
Change
 (In thousands of MWH)
FES
3rd Party
Total
FES
3rd Party
Total
FES
3rd Party
Total
 
FES -
                   
 
     MISO
 
               -
 
               -
          818
 
          818
         (818)
 
          (818)
 
     PJM
 
       1,506
 
       1,506
       1,403
 
       1,403
         103
 
          103
 
Total FES
       1,506
 
       1,506
       2,221
 
       2,221
         (715)
 
          (715)
 
Ohio Edison
 
       1,812
       1,812
 
              2
              2
 
       1,810
       1,810
 
CEI
   
       1,399
       1,399
 
              1
              1
 
       1,398
       1,398
 
Toledo Edison
 
          776
          776
 
               -
               -
 
          776
          776
 
     Subtotal - OH
 
       3,987
       3,987
 
              3
              3
 
       3,984
       3,984
 
Penn Power
 
          509
          509
 
          435
          435
 
            74
            74
 
Penelec
   
       2,235
       2,235
 
       2,777
       2,777
 
          (542)
          (542)
 
Met-Ed
   
       1,969
       1,969
 
       2,581
       2,581
 
          (612)
          (612)
 
     Subtotal - PA
 
       4,713
       4,713
 
       5,793
       5,793
 
       (1,080)
       (1,080)
 
JCPL
   
       5,416
       5,416
 
       6,653
       6,653
 
       (1,237)
       (1,237)
 
Total
 
       1,506
     14,116
     15,622
       2,221
     12,449
     14,670
        (715)
       1,667
          952
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Report to the Financial Community - 3rd Quarter 2009
12
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
FirstEnergy Corp.
Statistical Summary
(Unaudited)
 
 
Summary of Generation Sales and Power Purchases
 
  Generation Sales
Sep. YTD 2009
Sep. YTD 2008
Change
  (In thousands of MWH)
FES
3rd Party
Total
FES
3rd Party
Total
FES
3rd Party
Total
  Retail Sales
                   
 
FES Retail -
                 
 
     OH Franchise
       1,927
 
       1,927
       5,463
 
       5,463
     (3,536)
 
      (3,536)
 
     Penn Power
       1,201
 
       1,201
       1,386
 
       1,386
        (185)
 
         (185)
 
     Non-Franchise
       2,760
 
       2,760
       1,774
 
       1,774
          986
 
          986
 
Total FES Retail
       5,888
 
       5,888
       8,623
 
       8,623
     (2,735)
 
      (2,735)
 
Ohio Edison
     11,665
        4,266
     15,931
     15,912
              8
     15,920
     (4,247)
       4,258
            11
 
CEI
 
       8,959
        3,255
     12,214
     13,058
              3
     13,061
     (4,099)
       3,252
         (847)
 
Toledo Edison
       4,899
        1,752
       6,651
       6,843
              6
       6,849
     (1,944)
       1,746
         (198)
 
     Subtotal - OH
     25,523
        9,273
     34,796
     35,813
            17
     35,830
   (10,290)
       9,256
     (1,034)
 
Penn Power
          225
        1,331
       1,556
          696
          989
       1,685
        (471)
          342
        (129)
 
Penelec
 
       5,641
        4,116
       9,757
       4,785
       5,656
     10,441
          856
      (1,540)
        (684)
 
Met-Ed
 
       6,092
        4,088
     10,180
       5,138
       5,646
     10,784
          954
      (1,558)
        (604)
 
     Subtotal - PA
     11,958
        9,535
     21,493
     10,619
     12,291
     22,910
       1,339
      (2,756)
      (1,417)
 
JCPL
 
               -
      12,026
     12,026
               -
     13,572
     13,572
               -
      (1,546)
      (1,546)
  Total Retail Sales
     43,369
      30,834
     74,203
     55,055
     25,880
     80,935
   (11,686)
       4,954
      (6,732)
  Wholesale Sales
                 
 
FES -
                   
 
     MISO
 
       8,604
 
       8,604
       7,047
 
       7,047
     1,557
 
       1,557
 
     PJM
 
       1,544
 
       1,544
       3,474
 
       3,474
     (1,930)
 
      (1,930)
 
Total FES
 
     10,148
 
     10,148
     10,521
 
     10,521
        (373)
 
        (373)
 
Met-Ed
   
        1,622
      1,622
 
       1,756
       1,756
 
          (134)
    (134)
 
Penelec
   
        2,303
      2,303
 
       2,261
       2,261
 
            42
           42
 
JCPL
   
        2,464
       2,464
 
       3,427
       3,427
 
         (963)
        (963)
 
Other
 
              1
                -
               1
          371
               -
          371
        (370)
               -
        (370)
  Total Wholesale Sales
     10,149
        6,389
     16,538
     10,892
       7,444
     18,336
        (743)
      (1,055)
     (1,798)
 
Total Generation Sales
     53,518
      37,223
     90,741
     65,947
     33,324
     99,271
   (12,429)
       3,899
     (8,530)
 
 
  Power Purchases
Sep. YTD 2009
Sep. YTD 2008
Change
  (In thousands of MWH)
FES
3rd Party
Total
FES
3rd Party
Total
FES
3rd Party
Total
 
FES -
                   
 
     MISO
 
       1,407
 
       1,407
       3,997
 
       3,997
     (2,590)
 
      (2,590)
 
     PJM
 
       4,780
 
       4,780
       4,387
 
       4,387
          393
 
          393
 
Total FES
 
       6,187
 
       6,187
       8,384
 
       8,384
     (2,197)
 
      (2,197)
 
Ohio Edison
 
        4,479
       4,479
 
              8
              8
 
       4,471
       4,471
 
CEI
   
        3,418
       3,418
 
              3
              3
 
       3,415
       3,415
 
Toledo Edison
 
        1,839
       1,839
 
              6
              6
 
       1,833
       1,833
 
     Subtotal - OH
 
        9,736
       9,736
 
            17
            17
 
       9,719
       9,719
 
Penn Power
 
        1,397
       1,397
 
       1,037
       1,037
 
          360
          360
 
Penelec
   
        6,571
       6,571
 
       8,202
       8,202
 
      (1,631)
      (1,631)
 
Met-Ed
   
        5,889
       5,889
 
       7,685
       7,685
 
      (1,796)
      (1,796)
 
     Subtotal - PA
 
      13,857
     13,857
 
     16,924
     16,924
 
      (3,067)
      (3,067)
 
JCPL
   
      15,356
     15,356
 
     18,088
     18,088
 
      (2,732)
      (2,732)
 
Total
 
       6,187
      38,949
     45,136
       8,384
     35,029
     43,413
     (2,197)
       3,920
       1,723
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Report to the Financial Community - 3rd Quarter 2009
13
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
FirstEnergy Corp.
Special Items, EPS Reconciliations and Liquidity
(Unaudited)
 (In millions, except for per share amounts)
 
   Special Items                  
       
Three Months Ended Sep. 30
   
Nine Months Ended Sep. 30
   
       
2009
     
2008
   
2009
   
2008
   
   
Pre-tax Items - Income Increase (Decrease)
                         
   
Regulatory charges (a)
$ (2 )     $ -     $ (263 )   $ -    
   
Trust securities impairment (b)
  17         (25 )     (22 )     (63 )  
   
Organizational restructuring/strike costs (c)
  (37 )       -       (67 )     -    
   
Gain on sale of non-core assets (d)
  -         -       254       32    
   
Litigation settlement (d)
  -         -       -       15    
   
Debt call premium/hedge write-off (e)
  (139 )       -       (142 )     -    
     
Total-Pretax Items
$ (161 )     $ (25 )   $ (240 )   $ (16 )  
   
Income tax resolution
$ -       $ -     $ 13     $ -    
   
EPS Effect
$ (0.34 )     $ (0.05 )   $ (0.48 )   $ (0.03 )  
   
(a)
$216 million included in "Amortization of regulatory 
 
(d)
 
Included in "Revenues-Other"
         
      assets"; $10 million included in "Purchased power";       (e)    Included in "Interest expense"          
      $37 million included in "Other operating expenses"                      
   
(b)
Included in "Investment income"
                                 
   
(c)
$65 million included in "Other operating expenses";
                   
      $2 million included in "General taxes"                    
 
 
2009 Earnings Per Share (EPS)
 
 
(Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP)
 
                     
     
ACTUAL 
Three Months Ended Sep. 30
   
ACTUAL
 Nine Months
Ended Sep. 30
   
Guidance for
Year 2009
 
                     
 
Basic EPS (GAAP basis)
  $ 0.77     $ 2.52     $ 3.71 - $3.81  
 
Excluding Special Items:
                       
 
Regulatory charges
    -       0.56       0.56  
 
Trust securities impairment
    (0.03 )     0.04       0.04  
 
Organizational restructuring/strike costs
    0.07       0.14       0.14  
 
Debt redemption premiums
    0.30       0.30       0.30  
 
Income tax resolution
    -       (0.04 )     (0.53 )
 
Gain on sale of non-core assets
    -       (0.52 )     (0.52 )
 
Basic EPS (Non-GAAP basis)
  $ 1.11     $ 3.00     $ 3.70 - $3.80  
                           
 
 
Liquidity position as of October 23, 2009
       
               
 
Company
 
Type
Maturity
Amount (M)
Available (M)
 
 
  FirstEnergy(1)
 
Revolving
Aug. 2012
$2,750
$1,124
 
 
  FirstEnergy & FirstEnergy Solutions
Bank Lines
Various(2)
120
20
 
 
  OH & PA Utilities
 
Receivables Financing
Various(3)
550
306
 
 
  (1) FirstEnergy Corp. and subsidiary borrowers
Subtotal:
$3,420
$1,450
 
 
  (2) $100M matures March 31, 2011; $20M uncommitted line of credit with no
Cash:
-
893
 
 
      maturity date
 
Total:
$3,420
$2,343
 
 
  (3) $370 matures February 22, 2010; $180M matures December 18, 2009
     
               
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Report to the Financial Community - 3rd Quarter 2009
14
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
Recent Developments



Financial Matters

Rating Agency Update
On August 3, 2009, Moody's Investor Service upgraded the senior secured debt ratings of FirstEnergy’s seven regulated utilities as follows:  CEI  and TE were upgraded to Baa1 from Baa2, and Jersey Central Power & Light Company (JCP&L), Met-Ed, OE, Penelec and Pennsylvania Power Company (Penn) were upgraded to A3 from Baa1.

Financing Activities
On August 7, 2009, FES issued 5, 12 and 30-year unsecured senior notes totaling $1.5 billion. The notes bear interest at an annual rate of 4.80%, 6.05%, and 6.80%, respectively. Proceeds were used to pay down borrowings under the FirstEnergy companies’ Revolving Credit Facility and other general corporate purposes.

On August 14, 2009, $177 million of pollution control revenue bonds (PCRBs) were issued on behalf of FirstEnergy Generation Corp. (FGCO) relating to air quality compliance expenditures at the Sammis Plant. The bonds have a fixed rate coupon of 5.7% and a maturity date of August 1, 2020.

On August 18, 2009, CEI issued $300 million of FMBs.  The FMBs have a coupon rate of 5.5% and a maturity date of August 15, 2024. A portion of the proceeds will be used to replace $150 million of CEI’s 7.43% Series D Secured Notes due 2009. The remaining proceeds were used to repay a portion of CEI’s short-term borrowings and other general corporate purposes.

On September 1, 2009, FirstEnergy Corp. completed a cash tender offer for $1.2 billion of 6.45% notes, Series B, due 2011. $250 million is left outstanding on the 2011 6.45% FE Corp. notes.

On September 2, 2009, FirstEnergy’s regulated utilities contributed $500 million to the pension plan.
 
On September 30, 2009, Penelec issued $500 million of unsecured notes with $250 million maturing in 2020 and $250 million maturing in 2038. The 2020 and 2038 coupons were 5.20% and 6.15%, respectively. Proceeds were used to pay down short-term borrowings, including $250 million borrowed under the FirstEnergy companies’ Revolving Credit Facility.

On October 1, 2009, FGCO and FirstEnergy Nuclear Generation Corp. (NGC), purchased $81.6 million of PCRBs subject to mandatory purchase.  Subject to market conditions, FGCO and NGC plan to remarket the purchased PCRBs in the near future.

Summary of New Issuances
Obligor
Principal
(in millions)
Rate
Interest
Rate Mode
Maturity Date
FES
$400
4.80%
Fixed
2/15/2015
FES
$600
6.05%
Fixed
8/15/2021
FES
$500
6.80%
Fixed
8/15/2039
FGCO
$177
5.70%
Fixed
8/1/2020
CEI
$300
5.50%
Fixed
8/15/2024
Penelec
$250
5.20%
Fixed
4/1/2020
Penelec
$250
6.15%
Fixed
10/1/2038

 

 
 
Consolidated Report to the Financial Community - 3rd Quarter 2009
15
 
 

 
 
 

 

 
Regulatory Matters


Ohio Regulatory Update
On August 6, 2009, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) withdrew proposed rules it had forwarded to the Joint Committee on Agency Rules Review (JCARR) regarding implementation of the alternative energy portfolio standards created by Senate Bill 221, incorporating energy efficiency requirements, long-term forecasting and planning for greenhouse gas reporting and carbon dioxide control. On October 15, 2009, the PUCO issued modified rules.  On October 16 and October 19, 2009, the PUCO submitted revised rules to JCARR for review.
 
On August 19, 2009, the PUCO approved the Ohio Utilities’ (OE, CEI and TE) proposal to accelerate the recovery of deferred costs. The principal amount plus carrying charges through August 31, 2009, for these deferrals was approximately $300 million.  Accelerated recovery began September 1, 2009, for collection during the 18 non-summer months through May 31, 2011.

On September 2, 2009, FirstEnergy announced a second Request for Proposal (RFP) to secure Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) for customers of the Ohio Utilities. The RFP includes solar and other renewable energy RECs generated in Ohio. The RECs, combined with those acquired in an initial RFP conducted earlier this year, will be used to help meet the renewable energy requirements established under Senate Bill 221 for 2009, 2010, and 2011.

On October 20, 2009, the Ohio Utilities filed an application with the PUCO for a Market Rate Offer (MRO) to provide electric generation service to retail customers who do not choose alternative energy suppliers. The proposed MRO establishes a Competitive Bidding Process (CBP) to secure generation supply and pricing beginning June 1, 2011. The MRO filing proposes a descending clock, slice-of-system auction similar to the one conducted in May 2009, with a staggered solicitation process.  Solicitations would occur in June and October 2010 for 12, 24 and 36 month products, and would transition into a process in which one-third of the load for the Ohio utilities would be procured each year for three-year products.  The Ohio Utilities have requested PUCO approval by January 18, 2010.

New Jersey Solar Renewable Energy Certificates
On July 30, 2009, JCP&L in collaboration with another New Jersey electric utility, Atlantic City Electric Company (ACE), announced an RFP to secure Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SREC) as part of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities' effort to support new solar energy projects. The RFP process was established to help create long-term agreements to purchase and sell SRECs to provide a stable basis for financing new solar generation projects in the companies' service areas. A total of 61 megawatts (MW) of solar generating capacity – 19 for ACE and 42 MW for JCP&L – will be solicited to help meet New Jersey Renewable Portfolio Standards. The first solicitation was conducted in August 2009; subsequent solicitations will occur over the next three years.

Met-Ed and Penelec Default Service Plan
On August 12, 2009, Met-Ed and Penelec filed a settlement agreement with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PPUC) for the generation procurement plan covering the period January 1, 2011, through May 31, 2013, reflecting settlement on all but two issues. The settlement plan is designed to provide adequate and reliable service as required by Pennsylvania law through a prudent mix of long-term, short-term and spot-market generation supply as required by Act 129. The settlement plan proposes a staggered procurement schedule, which varies by customer class. If approved, generation procurement would begin in January 2010.

On September 2, 2009, the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) issued a Recommended Decision (RD) and adopted the two companies’ positions on two reserved issues.  Exceptions to the ALJ RD were filed on September 22, 2009, with reply exceptions being filed on October 2, 2009.  The PPUC final decision is expected in November 2009.
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Report to the Financial Community - 3rd Quarter 2009
16
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Pennsylvania Smart Meter Plan
On August 14, 2009, Penn, Met-Ed and Penelec (the Companies) filed a Smart Meter Technology, Procurement and Installation Plan with the PPUC as required by Act 129.  The plan includes proposed tariff riders to recover the costs of implementation of the plan and an assessment period of 24 months to assess needs, select technology, secure vendors, train personnel, install and support test equipment and establish a detailed meter deployment schedule consistent with the requirements of Act 129.  At the end of the assessment period, the Companies will submit to the PPUC a supplement to the plan to set forth in detail the Companies’ proposal for the full scale deployment of smart meters. The Companies are asking the PPUC to approve, as part of the plan, both the proposed recovery mechanism and the recovery of costs of the assessment period, currently estimated at $29.5 million, through such mechanism. A PPUC technical conference was conducted on October 20, 2009, evidentiary hearings are scheduled for mid-November and the ALJ’s RD is expected in late January 2010.


Operational Matters


Fremont Energy Center
On September 22, 2009, FirstEnergy announced it expects to complete construction of the Fremont Energy Center by the end of 2010.  Originally acquired in January 2008, the Fremont Energy Center includes two natural gas combined-cycle combustion turbines and a steam turbine capable of producing 544 MW of load-following capacity and 163 MW of peaking capacity. With the accelerated construction schedule, the remaining cost to complete the project is expected to be $180 million.

Nuclear Outage
On October 12, 2009, the Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Station Unit 2, located in Shippingport, Pennsylvania, began a scheduled refueling and maintenance outage. During the outage, 60 of the 157 fuel assemblies will be exchanged and safety inspections conducted.  In addition, numerous improvement projects will be completed to ensure continued safe and reliable operations.  Prior to the outage, the unit had operated safely and reliably for 350 consecutive days.

PJM Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) Integration
On August 17, 2009, FirstEnergy filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to consolidate its transmission assets and operations into PJM Interconnection (PJM). Currently the company's transmission assets and operations are divided between PJM and the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (MISO). The consolidation would move the transmission assets that are part of FirstEnergy's American Transmission Systems, Incorporated (ATSI) subsidiary and the generation assets of FES – which are located within the footprint of the Ohio Utilities and Penn – into PJM.  If approved, the consolidation is expected to facilitate providing customers with the benefits of a more fully developed retail choice market, and the company with the operating efficiencies of a single RTO – with one set of rules, procedures and protocols.  To ensure a definitive ruling at the same time FERC rules on its request to integrate ATSI into PJM, on October 19, 2009, FirstEnergy filed a related complaint with FERC on the issue of allocating Regional Transmission Expansion Plan costs to the ATSI footprint for high-voltage transmission projects approved prior to FirstEnergy’s integration into PJM.

FirstEnergy has requested that FERC rule on its application by December 17, 2009, to provide time to permit management to make a decision on whether to integrate ATSI into PJM prior to the 2010 Base Residual Auction for capacity.  Subject to a satisfactory FERC ruling, the integration is expected to be complete on June 1, 2011, to coincide with delivery of power under the next competitive generation procurement process for the Ohio Utilities.

Voluntary Early Retirement Program
FirstEnergy’s Voluntary Enhanced Retirement Option (VERO) enrollment period concluded September 16, 2009. The VERO was accepted by a total of 397 non-represented employees and 318 union employees.
 
 
 
Consolidated Report to the Financial Community - 3rd Quarter 2009
17
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

FirstEnergy Solutions Offers Economic Support Program
On September 22, 2009, FES introduced “Powering Our Communities,” an innovative program that offers economic support to communities in the OE, CEI, and TE service areas that purchase discounted electric generation supply from FES through government aggregation programs. The new program will provide up-front grants to local Ohio communities and long-term electric generation price savings.

Smart Grid Proposal
On August 6, 2009, FirstEnergy filed an application for economic stimulus funding with the U.S. Department of Energy under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that proposed investing $114 million on smart grid technologies to improve the reliability and interactivity of its electric distribution infrastructure in its three-state service area. The application requests $57 million – which represents half of the funding needed for targeted projects in communities served by FirstEnergy’s electric utility companies.  FirstEnergy will seek to recover the remainder of the funds through retail rates.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Report to the Financial Community - 3rd Quarter 2009
18
 
 

 
 

 
 
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 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 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 Pennsylvania, the impact of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio's regulatory process on the Ohio Companies, associated with the distribution rate case, 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, revised environmental requirements, including possible greenhouse gas emission regulations, the potential impacts of the U.S. Court of Appeals' July 11, 2008 decision requiring revisions to the Clean Air Interstate 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 that certain generating units may need to be shut down) or levels of emission reductions related to the Consent Decree resolving the New Source Review litigation or other similar potential regulatory initiatives or actions, 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, Metropolitan Edison Company's and Pennsylvania Electric Company's transmission service charge filings with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, the continuing availability of generating units and their ability 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, the changing market conditions that could affect the value of assets held in FirstEnergy's nuclear decommissioning trusts, pension trusts and other trust funds, and cause it to make additional contributions sooner, or in an amount that is larger than currently anticipated, the ability to access the public securities and other capital and credit markets in accordance with FirstEnergy's financing plan and the cost of such capital, changes in general economic conditions affecting the company, the state of the capital and credit markets affecting the company, interest rates and any actions taken by credit rating agencies that could negatively affect FirstEnergy's access to financing or its costs or increase its requirements to post additional collateral to support outstanding commodity positions, letters of credit and other financial guarantees, the continuing decline of the national and regional economy and its impact on the company's major industrial and commercial customers, issues concerning the soundness of financial institutions and counterparties with which FirstEnergy does business, and the risks and other factors discussed from time to time in its Securities and Exchange Commission filings, and other similar factors. A credit rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold debt and it may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time.  Each rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating that may be assigned to our securities.  The foregoing review of factors should not be construed as exhaustive. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all such factors, nor assess the impact of any such factor on FirstEnergy's 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. FirstEnergy expressly disclaims 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 - 3rd Quarter 2009
19