AKRON, Ohio, Dec. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — The nine communities that compose the Northwest Ohio Aggregation Coalition (NOAC) have agreed to extend their contracts with FirstEnergy Solutions Corp. (FES), a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), making FES their electric generation supplier until May 2017. Through its innovative Powering Our Communities program, FES will make a one-time grant to each of the nine communities – totaling nearly $5.4 million – which can be used as the communities see fit. The level of funding is based on the number of customers in each community who participate in the program.

In addition, residents and small businesses in Toledo, Maumee, Northwood, Oregon, Perrysburg, Sylvania, Village of Holland, Lucas County, and Lake Township are expected to receive over $70 million in electric generation savings over the term of the contract, based on current generation prices.

“We are pleased to be supplying electric generation to the approximately 200,000 electric customers in NOAC’s communities for an additional six years,” said President of FirstEnergy Solutions Donny Schneider. “Our Powering Our Communities program has been extremely successful in bringing much-needed support to over 170 communities in the northern Ohio area, providing customers guaranteed, long-term savings on their electric bills – as well as funding for the communities where they live.”

City of Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner said, “This agreement with FirstEnergy Solutions couldn’t have come at a better time, as nearly every household, business and community is struggling to balance their budgets right now. This funding is a great help to Toledo as we seek ways to maintain essential services. And just as important, Toledo customers can save millions in electric generation costs.”

“I’d like to thank FirstEnergy Solutions, and especially Tony Alexander, for their quick response to our community’s need,” said Pete Gerken, President of the Board of Lucas County Commissioners. “We’re pleased to have developed this strong relationship with FirstEnergy Solutions, and we look forward to the electric generation savings and economic development support that this relationship provides.”

The Powering Our Communities program locks in long-term discounted generation prices to residential and small commercial customers in these communities. The attractive fixed price for residential customers, which was negotiated through the original agreement, will continue through May 2011. After that time, the discounts will be based on the Price to Compare (PTC), or the generation price customers would have been charged if they purchased electric generation service from their local electric utility. Beginning June 2011, eligible residential customers will receive 6 percent off the PTC and small businesses will get a 4 percent discount off the PTC through May 2017.

FES provides competitive electric generation supply and other energy-related products and services, and is a licensed supplier in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Michigan and Illinois. To learn more about FirstEnergy Solutions’ governmental aggregation programs and specifically Powering Our Communities, community officials can call FirstEnergy Solutions’ Governmental Aggregation Program Manager Brenda Fargo at (330) 315-6898 or visit www.fes.com.

FirstEnergy is a diversified energy company headquartered in Akron, Ohio. Its subsidiaries and affiliates are involved in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity, as well as energy management and other energy-related services. Its generation subsidiaries control more than 14,000 megawatts of capacity.

Established in October 2000, NOAC was formed as a coalition of local governmental entities initially pledged to work together on issues relating to electric deregulation. Since its founding, the Coalition now coordinates efforts on a wide range of utility issues, focusing primarily on electric, natural gas and telecommunications.

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

Forward-Looking Statements: This news release includes forward-looking statements based on information currently available to management. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties.

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