Exhibit (c) 2


FirstEnergy and GPU Joint News Release
June 12, 2001



               FIRSTENERGY AND GPU REACH STIPULATED SETTLEMENT
                   WITH MAJOR PARTIES TO MERGER CASE IN PA

      FirstEnergy Corp.  (NYSE:FE) and GPU, Inc. (NYSE:GPU) announced today that
they filed on June 11,  2001,  a  stipulated  settlement  with the  Pennsylvania
Public Utility  Commission  (PUC) that was reached with several parties in their
pending  merger  case  before the PUC.  Parties  to the case may  comment on the
stipulation by noon Wednesday, June 13, 2001. The PUC is expected to rule on the
case on Thursday, June 14, 2001.

      In addition  to the  companies,  parties  reaching  agreement  include the
Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate,  Penelec Industrial Customer Alliance,
MetEd  Industrial  Users Group, and Citizens for  Pennsylvania's  Future.  Other
parties may decide to join in the settlement.

      The stipulated  settlement is available on FirstEnergy's  Web site under
merger news at: www.firstenergycorp.com.

      GPU,  Inc.,  headquartered  in Morristown,  New Jersey,  is a registered
public utility holding company providing utility and utility-related  services
to customers  throughout the world. GPU serves 4.6 million customers  directly
through  its  electric  companies  - GPU  Energy in the U.S.,  GPU Power UK in
England,  and GPU Emdersa in Argentina.  It serves an  additional  1.4 million
customers  indirectly through GPU GasNet,  its gas transmission  subsidiary in
Australia.   The  company's  independent  power  project  business  units  own
interests  in and  operate  eight  projects  in  five  countries.  GPU's  2000
revenues  were  $5.2  billion  and its  total  assets  were  more  than  $19.3
billion.  GPU's other  subsidiaries  include  MYR Group,  Inc.,  GPU  Advanced
Resources,  Inc., GPU Nuclear,  Inc., GPU Service,  Inc., GPU Telcom Services,
Inc., and GPU Diversified Holdings LLC. (www.gpu.com)

      FirstEnergy  Corp.  is  a  diversified  energy  services  holding  company
headquartered in Akron, Ohio. Its various subsidiaries own more than $18 billion
in  assets  and  produce   approximately   $7.2  billion  in  annual   revenues.
FirstEnergy's electric utility operating companies - Pennsylvania Power Company,
Ohio  Edison  Company,  The  Illuminating  Company and Toledo  Edison  Company -
comprise the nation's  10th largest  investor-owned  electric  system,  based on
serving 2.2 million customers in Pennsylvania and Ohio.


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Contacts for:

FirstEnergy Corp.                   GPU, Inc.
Investors:                          Investors:
Kurt E. Turosky                     Joanne Barbieri
330-384-5500                        973-401-8720

News Media:                         News Media:
Ralph J. DiNicola                   Jeff Dennard
330-384-5939                        973-401-8333