Exhibit 99
FirstEnergy Corp.                       For Release:  October 7, 2002
76 South Main Street
Akron, Ohio 44308

News Media Contact:                     Investor Contact:
Ralph DiNicola                          Kurt Turosky
(330) 384-5939                          (330) 384-5500


                 FIRSTENERGY UPDATES INFORMATION ON DAVIS-BESSE

         FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) today provided an update of cost
and schedule estimates by its subsidiary, FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company
(FENOC), related to the reactor head replacement at the Davis-Besse Nuclear
Power Station.

         The estimated range for reactor head replacement costs remains
unchanged at $55 million to $75 million - most of which will be capitalized. Net
replacement energy costs on a pre-tax basis also remain the same - approximately
$20 million per month for this past July and August; and $10 million to $15
million per month for non-summer months.

         Other costs associated with restoring the plant to service, initially
estimated at $50 million to $70 million, have increased because of additional
work that will be performed in order to enhance the reliability and performance
of plant equipment.

         The additional work primarily is related to extent-of-condition
projects inside the containment building, as well as other
accelerated maintenance projects - including approximately $27 million in
projects that had been planned for future refueling and maintenance outages. As
a result, other costs associated with restoration work are now expected to
increase in 2002 by an estimated $65 million and in 2003 by an estimated $50
million - much of which is expected to be incurred after the plant returns to
service. Most of these other costs associated with restoration will be expensed.
FirstEnergy estimates that the outage costs and net replacement energy costs
will reduce 2002 earnings by approximately $0.46 to $0.53 per share.

         The additional extent-of-condition work includes redesigning and
rebuilding of the containment sump, expanded work on air coolers, and more
extensive recoating of equipment and structures; and the other accelerated
maintenance activities include reactor coolant pump maintenance, cooling tower
basin repairs, and valve maintenance.

                                     (more)

                                        2



         With respect to the restart schedule announced in May, structural work
to support replacement of the reactor head has been completed, all significant
modifications are progressing on schedule, and all major work is expected to be
finished by year-end. Based on the additional work discussed in this news
release and associated regulatory review, FENOC now expects the plant to be
ready for restart early next year, rather than by year-end. This change in
schedule is designed to further ensure that related work is completed in
accordance with all applicable requirements, with the continued understanding
that restart is subject to NRC review and approval.

         On-peak energy supply to replace output from Davis-Besse has been fully
hedged through 2002, and provisions have been made to substantially hedge that
supply until restart.

         Excluding the impact of maintenance and replacement energy costs
related to the Davis-Besse restoration, and of any potential impact from Emdersa
- an Argentinian distribution company pending sale that was acquired through the
GPU merger - FirstEnergy expects 2002 earnings to be at the high end of the
company's earnings guidance of $3.30 to $3.45 per share of common stock. Prior
earnings guidance for 2003 did not include the impact of expenses or replacement
energy costs related to the restoration issue.

         Davis-Besse is operated by FirstEnergy Corp.'s FENOC subsidiary.
FirstEnergy is a registered public utility holding company headquartered in
Akron, Ohio. Forward-Looking Statement: This news release includes
forward-looking statements based on information currently available to
management. Such statements are subject to certain risk and
uncertainties. These statements typically contain, but are not limited to, the
terms "anticipate," "potential," "expect," "believe," "estimate," and similar
words. Actual results may differ materially due to the speed and nature of
increased competition and deregulation in the electric utility industry,
economic or weather conditions affecting future sales and margins, changes in
markets for energy services, changing energy market prices, legislative and
regulatory changes or approvals (including revised environmental requirements),
availability and cost of capital, inability to accomplish or realize anticipated
benefits of strategic goals and other similar factors.

                                    (100702)

                                        3