Exhibit (c) 2

GPU and FirstEnergy Joint News Release
September 28, 2001


               GPU, FIRSTENERGY EXTEND MERGER TERMINATION DATE

Morristown,  NJ -- GPU,  Inc. and  FirstEnergy  Corp.  announced  today that, in
accordance with the terms of their merger  agreement,  the termination  date for
their  agreement  has been  extended  until  December 31,  2001.  The merger was
approved  earlier this week by the New Jersey Board of Public  Utilities and now
awaits approval by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

GPU,  Inc.,  headquartered  in  Morristown,  NJ, 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 US, GPU Power UK in England, and 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 seven
projects in five countries.  GPU's 2000 revenues were $5.2 billion and its total
assets were more than $19 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. (http://www.gpu.com)

FirstEnergy  is a  diversified  energy  services  holding  company.  Its various
subsidiaries  own  approximately  $18 billion in assets and produce more than $7
billion in annual revenues. FirstEnergy's electric utility operating companies -
Ohio Edison Company,  Pennsylvania Power Company,  The Illuminating  Company and
Toledo Edison  Company - comprise the nation's  tenth largest  electric  system,
serving 2.2 million  electric  customers in Ohio and  Pennsylvania.  FirstEnergy
subsidiaries  and affiliates  provide a wide range of energy and  energy-related
products  and  services,  including  the  generation  and  sale of  electricity;
exploration and production of oil and natural gas; transmission and marketing of
natural gas;  mechanical and electrical  contracting  and  construction;  energy
management; telecommunications; and e-commerce.


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Contacts:

GPU:
Ned Raynolds
973-401-8294

FirstEnergy:
Ralph DiNicola
330-384-5939