History of FirstEnergy in Timeline

FirstEnergy Corp. is an electric utility company headquartered in Akron, Ohio, formed in 1997 through the merger of Ohio Edison and Centerior Energy. It operates through subsidiaries and affiliates in electricity distribution, transmission, generation, and energy management. Serving 6 million customers across seven states (Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York) within a 65,000-square-mile area, its ten electric utility operating companies constitute one of the largest investor-owned utilities in the U.S. In 2018, FirstEnergy was ranked 219 on the Fortune 500.

1930: Consolidation of electric companies

In 1930, Ohio Edison Company began with the consolidation of 200 electric companies.

1935: Public Utility Holding Company Act

The Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 made it difficult for utilities to operate across state lines.

1950: Ohio Edison's utility operating companies

By 1950, Ohio Edison ended up with two utility operating companies, Pennsylvania Power and Ohio Edison.

1974: Piping of coal ash waste slurry began

Since 1974, FirstEnergy had piped coal ash waste slurry from its Bruce Mansfield Power Plant to Little Blue Run Lake.

1986: Formation of Centerior Energy Corporation

In 1986, Centerior Energy Corporation was formed from the affiliation of two public utilities.

1986: UtiliCorp Purchases Virginia Electric and Power Company's West Virginia service area

In 1986, UtiliCorp purchased Virginia Electric and Power Company's West Virginia service area and renamed it West Virginia Power.

1989: Standley H. Hoch becomes CEO of GPU

In 1989, Standley H. Hoch became the CEO of GPU with the goals of cutting costs and fighting to repeal the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935.

1996: MYR Group Created

In 1996, GPU created MYR Group as a publicly traded company.

1996: Reorganization of General Public Utilities

In 1996, General Public Utilities was reorganized and renamed GPU, Inc. It also formed a new division, GPU Energy.

1996: Allegheny Power System brand name usage

In 1996, the brand name Allegheny Power was used on customer bills, trucks and company equipment of Allegheny Power System.

August 8, 1997: Incorporation of FirstEnergy Services Corp.

On August 8, 1997, FirstEnergy Services Corp. was incorporated to provide intracompany services.

November 7, 1997: Formation of FirstEnergy

On November 7, 1997, FirstEnergy was formed when Ohio Edison acquired Centerior Energy.

1997: Attempted merger with Duquesne Light Company

In 1997, Allegheny Power System's attempted merger with Duquesne Light Company was withdrawn.

1997: Merger with Ohio Edison

In 1997, Centerior merged with Ohio Edison to form FirstEnergy.

1997: Merger of Ohio Edison and Centerior Energy

In 1997, Ohio Edison merged with Centerior Energy to establish FirstEnergy Corp.

1997: Merger to form FirstEnergy

In 1997, Ohio Edison merged with Centerior to form FirstEnergy.

March 31, 1998: First filed merger of FirstEnergy Services Corp.

On March 31, 1998, FirstEnergy Services Corp. had its first filed merger.

1999: Purchase of West Virginia operations

In 1999, Allegheny Power purchased the West Virginia operations of UtiliCorp United's West Virginia Power.

September 1, 2001: Name change to FirstEnergy Solutions Corp.

On September 1, 2001, FirstEnergy Services Corp. was renamed FirstEnergy Solutions Corp.

2001: Merger with GPU, Inc.

In 2001, FirstEnergy merged with GPU, Inc., incorporating GPU's operating companies into FirstEnergy.

2001: Acquisition of MYR Group

Through the 2001 acquisition of GPU, FirstEnergy also acquired MYR Group, a subsidiary that GPU had created as a publicly traded company.

August 14, 2003: Northeast Blackout

On August 14, 2003, a major power outage affected 55 million people in the Northeast and Midwest of the United States and Ontario due to FirstEnergy's failure to trim trees around high voltage lines.

2008: Settlement with the EPA

In 2008, FirstEnergy was required to pay US$1.5 billion by 2011 as part of a settlement to end a lawsuit filed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency regarding pollution control equipment.

2008: Energy efficiency standards law passed

In 2008, Ohio lawmakers passed an energy efficiency standards law with the goal of reducing energy use by 22 percent by 2025.

April 2009: Plans to modify R.E. Burger Power Station

In April 2009, FirstEnergy announced plans to modify its R.E. Burger Power Station in Shadyside, Ohio, to generate electricity with biomass instead of coal.

November 2009: Purchase of compressed-air energy storage generation plant rights

In November 2009, FirstEnergy purchased the rights to develop a compressed-air energy storage generation plant in Norton, Ohio.

February 2010: Merger announcement with FirstEnergy

In February 2010, Allegheny Energy announced plans to merge with FirstEnergy.

February 24, 2011: Merger approval by Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission

On February 24, 2011, the merger between Allegheny Energy and FirstEnergy was approved by the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission.

February 25, 2011: Merger finalized

On February 25, 2011, the merger between Allegheny Energy and FirstEnergy officially closed.

2011: Payment to EPA as part of settlement

In 2011, FirstEnergy was required to pay US$1.5 billion as part of a settlement to end a lawsuit filed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency regarding pollution control equipment.

July 2012: Consent decree from Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

In July 2012, a consent decree from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection forced FirstEnergy to close the Little Blue Run Lake.

November 2012: Temporary suspension of lobbying campaign

In November 2012, FirstEnergy temporarily suspended its "behind-the-scene lobbying campaign" to persuade lawmakers to gut the energy efficiency law.

July 2013: Suspension of compressed-air energy storage generation plant plan

In July 2013, FirstEnergy suspended its plan to develop a compressed-air energy storage generation plant in Norton, Ohio, citing market conditions.

2013: Naming rights deal with the Cleveland Browns

In 2013, FirstEnergy's naming rights deal with the Cleveland Browns for FirstEnergy Stadium began.

2014: Support for Ohio Senate Bill 310

In 2014, FirstEnergy supported the 2014 Ohio Senate Bill 310 which reversed energy efficiency standards and cut their work on improving energy efficiency, despite stating the programs were cost-effective.

2015: Charles E. Jones becomes president and CEO

Charles E. Jones was the president and chief executive officer of FirstEnergy Corp. from 2015.

November 2016: FirstEnergy announces exit from competitive businesses

In November 2016, FirstEnergy announced its intent to exit the competitive businesses and become a fully regulated company.

2016: Deadline to stop dumping coal ash

Per the July 2012 consent decree, FirstEnergy must stop dumping coal ash at the Little Blue Run Lake site by 2016.

August 2017: Warning of FirstEnergy Solutions Corp. bankruptcy

In August 2017, Robert E. Murray warned that FirstEnergy Solutions Corp. was in danger of bankruptcy.

2017: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 resulted in FirstEnergy having an effective federal tax rate of 0% or less in 2019.

February 2018: Plans to deactivate Pleasants Power Station

In February 2018, FirstEnergy announced plans to deactivate or sell Pleasants Power Station in West Virginia.

March 2018: Closure announcements of nuclear power stations

In March 2018, FirstEnergy announced the closure of Perry Nuclear Generating Station and Davis–Besse Nuclear Power Station in Ohio and Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Station in Pennsylvania.

March 31, 2018: FirstEnergy Solutions Corp. files for bankruptcy

On March 31, 2018, FirstEnergy Solutions Corp. filed for bankruptcy, raising concerns about the U.S. power sector.

August 2018: Closure announcements of coal-fired plants

In August 2018, FirstEnergy announced the closure of two coal-fired plants, the W.H. Sammis Power Plant and the Bruce Mansfield Power Plant.

2018: Fortune 500 ranking

In 2018, FirstEnergy ranked 219 on the Fortune 500 list of the largest public corporations in the United States by revenue.

July 2019: Rescinded closure of nuclear plants

In July 2019, the closure of the Perry and Davis–Besse plants were rescinded when Ohio passed a subsidy to support the nuclear plants.

October 14, 2019: FirstEnergy Solutions Corp. files amended bankruptcy plan

On October 14, 2019, FirstEnergy Solutions Corp. filed its eighth amended bankruptcy plan.

2019: Report on effective federal tax rate

A 2019 report found that FirstEnergy "paid an effective federal tax rate of 0% or less" as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

2019: Support for House Bill 6

In 2019, FirstEnergy spent over $60 million to support House Bill 6, a law that raised electricity rates to provide subsidies for their power plants, leading to the Ohio nuclear bribery scandal.

March 2020: COVID-19 pandemic measures

During the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, FirstEnergy stopped power shutoffs and restored connections, also offering alternate payment programs to customers facing hardship.

July 21, 2020: Ohio nuclear bribery scandal accusations

On July 21, 2020, Larry Householder and others were accused of accepting bribes from FirstEnergy in exchange for benefits related to Ohio House Bill 6, leading to a drop in the company's stock price.

October 29, 2020: Termination of Charles E. Jones

Charles E. Jones was the president and chief executive officer of FirstEnergy Corp. from 2015 until his termination on October 29, 2020.

2020: Emergence from bankruptcy

In 2020, FirstEnergy Solutions Corp. emerged from bankruptcy and was incorporated in Delaware as Energy Harbor Corp.

July 22, 2021: FirstEnergy fined for bribery scandal

On July 22, 2021, FirstEnergy was fined $230 million for its involvement in the Ohio nuclear bribery scandal.

June 2022: Resolution urging FirstEnergy to relinquish naming rights

In June 2022, the Cleveland city council passed a resolution urging FirstEnergy to relinquish the naming rights deal for FirstEnergy Stadium.

June 2022: Planned closure of coal-fired plants

The closure of the W.H. Sammis Power Plant in Stratton, Ohio and the Bruce Mansfield Power Plant in Shippingport, Pennsylvania was planned by June 2022.

September 16, 2022: Steven E. Strah was acting chief executive officer

Steven E. Strah was acting chief executive officer of FirstEnergy until September 16, 2022.

March 27, 2023: Brian X. Tierney appointment announced

On March 27, 2023, FirstEnergy Corp. announced Brian X. Tierney as president and CEO.

April 13, 2023: Termination of naming rights deal with Cleveland Browns

On April 13, 2023, the Cleveland Browns and FirstEnergy agreed to immediately terminate the naming rights deal for FirstEnergy Stadium, restoring the venue's name to Cleveland Browns Stadium.

May 2023: Consolidation of operations to West Akron campus

In May 2023, FirstEnergy vacated their longtime headquarters and Brecksville offices to consolidate operations in their West Akron campus.

June 1, 2023: Brian X. Tierney becomes president and CEO

Brian X. Tierney became president and CEO of FirstEnergy Corp. on June 1, 2023.

2024: Coal-generated electricity versus solar power

In 2024, FirstEnergy generated 15,665,952 MWh from coal compared to 29,937 MWh from solar power, and emitted significant amounts of CO2.

August 2025: Subsidies ended after Ohio House Bill 15 signed

In August 2025, the subsidies ended after Ohio House Bill 15 was signed into law.

2025: Energy use reduction goal

In 2008, Ohio lawmakers passed an energy efficiency standards law with the goal of reducing energy use by 22 percent by 2025.

2029: Original end date of naming rights deal with the Cleveland Browns

The naming rights deal between FirstEnergy and the Cleveland Browns for FirstEnergy Stadium was originally set to run through the end of the 2029 NFL season.