History of FirstEnergy in Timeline

FirstEnergy Corp. is an electric utility company based in Akron, Ohio, formed in 1997 through the merger of Ohio Edison and Centerior Energy. It distributes, transmits, and generates electricity, and provides energy management services. With ten electric utility operating companies, it's one of the largest investor-owned utilities in the U.S., serving 6 million customers across Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York, within a 65,000-square-mile area. The company has over 16,000 megawatts of generation capacity and its distribution lines span over 194,000 miles. FirstEnergy was ranked 219 on the 2018 Fortune 500 list.

1930: Ohio Edison Company Formation

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: Utility Operating Companies

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

1974: Start of Coal Ash Waste Slurry Piping

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

1986: Centerior Energy Corporation Formation

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

1986: UtiliCorp Purchased Virginia Electric

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

1989: Hoch Became CEO of GPU

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

1996: Creation of MYR Group by GPU

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

1996: Reorganization of General Public Utilities

In 1996, General Public Utilities (GPU) was reorganized and renamed GPU, Inc. Also in 1996, it formed a new division, GPU Energy, which became the holding company for GPU's three utility operating companies.

1996: Allegheny Power Brand Name Usage

Starting 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 and its subsidiaries.

1997: Attempted Merger with Duquesne Light Company

In 1997, Allegheny Power attempted to merge with Duquesne Light Company, but the merger was withdrawn by both parties.

1997: Merger with Ohio Edison to form FirstEnergy

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

1997: Merger with Centerior Energy

In 1997, FirstEnergy was established through the merger of Ohio Edison and Centerior Energy. The company's subsidiaries and affiliates are involved in electricity distribution, transmission, and generation, energy management, and other energy-related services.

March 31, 1998: First Filed Merger

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

1999: Purchase of West Virginia Power

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

September 1, 2001: Renamed 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., acquiring Jersey Central Power & Light Company, Pennsylvania Electric Company (Penelec), and Metropolitan Edison Company (Met-Ed).

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.

2008: Lawsuit Settlement

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.

2008: Ohio Lawmakers Mandate Energy Efficiency

In 2008, Ohio lawmakers mandated energy efficiency after agreeing with then-Gov. Ted Strickland to pass a law requiring electric utilities to help customers use less electricity every year.

November 2009: Purchase of Compressed Air Electric Generating Plant Rights

In November 2009, FirstEnergy purchased the rights to develop a compressed air electric generating plant in Norton, Ohio. Ohio Governor Ted Strickland praised the project.

2009: Baseline Year for Energy Reduction Goal

The baseline year for the energy reduction goal mandated by Ohio lawmakers in 2008 was set as 2009.

February 2010: Merger Plans Announced

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

2010: Fremont Energy Center Completion

FirstEnergy decided to complete construction on the Fremont Energy Center, a 707 MW peaking plant powered by natural gas by the end of 2010.

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

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

February 25, 2011: Finalization of Merger with Allegheny Energy

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

2011: Lawsuit Settlement Payment Deadline

By 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.

2011: Merger with Allegheny Energy

In 2011, FirstEnergy merged with Allegheny Energy based in Greensburg, Pennsylvania.

July 2012: Consent Decree for Little Blue Run Lake Closure

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

November 29, 2012: Abandonment of Lobbying Campaign

As of November 29, 2012, FirstEnergy Corp. abandoned its behind-the-scene lobbying campaign to persuade lawmakers to gut a four-year-old law requiring utilities to help customers use less electricity.

2013: Naming Rights Deal

In 2013, FirstEnergy entered into a naming rights deal with the Cleveland Browns for FirstEnergy Stadium.

2015: Charles E. Jones Appointed CEO

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

November 2016: Announcement to Exit Competitive Businesses

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

November 2016: Decision to Exit Competitive Power Business

In November 2016, FirstEnergy made the decision to exit the competitive power business and transition into 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 Bankruptcy

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

2017: Greenhouse Gas Ranking

A 2017 report by the University of Massachusetts Amherst ranked FirstEnergy among the top 100 greenhouse polluters in the country.

February 2018: Plans to Deactivate or Sell Pleasants Power Station

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

March 2018: Announcement of Nuclear Plant Closures

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, while FirstEnergy Corp. remained solvent.

August 2018: Announcement of Coal-Fired Plant Closures

In August 2018, FirstEnergy announced the closure of the W.H. Sammis Power Plant and the Bruce Mansfield Power Plant by June 2022.

2018: Fortune 500 Ranking

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

July 2019: Rescinding of Plant Closures

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

October 14, 2019: Filing of Eighth Amended Bankruptcy Plan

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

March 2020: Response to COVID-19 Pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, FirstEnergy stopped power shutoffs and restored connections for customers affected by non-payment, and offered assistance programs to customers facing hardship.

July 21, 2020: Ohio Nuclear Bribery Scandal Accusations

On July 21, 2020, Larry Householder, former Ohio Republican Party Chairman Matt Borges, and three others were accused of accepting bribes from FirstEnergy in exchange for benefits related to Ohio House Bill 6, leading to the Ohio nuclear bribery scandal, and the company's stock price plummeted.

October 29, 2020: Leadership Transition

On October 29, 2020, FirstEnergy terminated its Chief Executive Officer, Charles E. Jones, along with two other executives for violating company policies and code of conduct, and appointed Steven E. Strah as Acting Chief Executive Officer.

2020: Emergence from Bankruptcy

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

July 22, 2021: Fine for Involvement in Bribery Scandal

On July 22, 2021, FirstEnergy was fined $230 million by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio for their role in the Ohio nuclear bribery scandal.

June 2022: Planned Closure of Coal-Fired Plants

By June 2022, FirstEnergy planned the closure of the W.H. Sammis Power Plant and the Bruce Mansfield Power Plant.

June 2022: Cleveland City Council Resolution

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

September 16, 2022: Steven E. Strah Retirement

Steven E. Strah decided to retire from FirstEnergy on September 16, 2022.

September 17, 2022: John Somerhalder Appointed Interim CEO

John Somerhalder served as interim CEO of FirstEnergy starting September 17, 2022.

March 27, 2023: Brian X. Tierney Announcement as CEO

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

April 13, 2023: Termination of Naming Rights Deal for FirstEnergy Stadium

On April 13, 2023, the Cleveland Browns and FirstEnergy terminated their naming rights deal for FirstEnergy Stadium, restoring the name to Cleveland Browns Stadium.

May 2023: Headquarters Relocation

In May 2023, FirstEnergy moved from their longtime headquarters in Downtown Akron along with their Brecksville offices, consolidating operations in their West Akron campus.

June 1, 2023: End of John Somerhalder's Interim CEO Tenure

John Somerhalder served as interim CEO of FirstEnergy until June 1, 2023.

2025: Energy Use Reduction Goal

The goal of the 2008 law was to reduce energy use to 22 percent less by 2025 than it was in 2009.

2029: Original End Date of Naming Rights Deal

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

Mentioned in this timeline

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