EXHIBIT (5)


                               OHIO EDISON COMPANY
                              76 South Main Street
                                Akron, Ohio 44308
                                  330-384-5793



Ohio Edison Company                               June 5, 1996
76 South Main Street
Akron, Ohio  44308


Gentlemen:

                  In  connection  with  the  proposed  issue  and  sale of up to
$50,000,000  principal  amount of  Mortgage  Bonds of Ohio Edison  Company  (the
"Company") ("New Bonds"), I have examined,  among other things, the registration
statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration  Statement"),  including the prospectus
comprising  a part  thereof,  which is to be filed under the  Securities  Act of
1933.

                  I am of the  opinion  that  when said  Registration  Statement
shall become effective; when the pertinent provisions of the Trust Indenture Act
of 1939 have been complied with; when your General  Mortgage  Indenture and Deed
of  Trust,  to be dated as of June 1,  1996,  to the Bank of New  York,  and any
supplemental  indenture or any board resolution,  and any officer's  certificate
pursuant to a supplemental indenture or board resolution, establishing the terms
of the New Bonds shall have been duly  authorized,  executed  and  delivered  in
accordance  with said  Indenture;  and when the New Bonds  shall  have been duly
authorized,  executed,  authenticated  and  delivered  in  accordance  with said
Indenture,  as to be amended and  supplemented by such  supplemental  indenture,
board resolution or officer's  certificate,  and have been duly issued, sold and
paid for, the New Bonds will be legally  issued and binding  obligations  of the
Company.

                  I hereby  consent to the filing of this  opinion as an exhibit
to the  Registration  Statement as presently to be filed or thereafter  amended,
and to the statements with respect to me under "LEGAL OPINIONS" and "EXPERTS" in
the prospectus  included in the Registration  Statement and to the disclosure in
the Registration Statement in response to Item 10 of Form S-3.

                                                  Very truly yours,



                                                  ANTHONY J. ALEXANDER
                                                  Senior Vice President and
                                                   General Counsel