EXHIBIT 12.1
FIRSTENERGY CORP.
CONSOLIDATED RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
Year Ended December 31,
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1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
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(Dollars in Thousands)
EARNINGS AS DEFINED IN REGULATION S-K:
Income before extraordinary items and cumulative effect of
accounting changes........................................... $ 441,396 $ 568,299 $ 598,970 $ 654,946 $ 686,401
Interest and other charges, before reduction for
amounts capitalized.......................................... 608,618 585,648 556,194 591,192 970,780
Provision for income taxes..................................... 321,699 394,827 376,802 474,457 549,476
Interest element of rentals charged to income (a).............. 283,869 279,519 271,471 258,561 246,416
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Earnings as defined.......................................... $1,655,582 $1,828,293 $1,803,437 $1,979,156 $2,453,073
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FIXED CHARGES AS DEFINED IN REGULATION S-K:
Interest expense............................................... $ 542,819 $ 509,169 $ 493,473 $ 519,131 $ 891,833
Subsidiaries' preferred stock dividend requirements............ 65,299 76,479 62,721 72,061 78,947
Adjustments to subsidiaries' preferred stock dividends
to state on a pre-income tax basis........................... 43,370 44,829 32,098 43,931 54,059
Interest element of rentals charged to income (a).............. 283,869 279,519 271,471 258,561 246,416
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Fixed charges as defined..................................... $ 935,357 $ 909,996 $ 859,763 $ 893,684 $1,271,255
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
CONSOLIDATED RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED
CHARGES (b).................................................... 1.77 2.01 2.10 2.21 1.93
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<FN>
(a) Includes the interest element of rentals where determinable plus 1/3 of rental expense where no readily defined interest
element can be determined. (b) These ratios exclude fixed charges applicable to the guarantee of the debt of a coal supplier
aggregating $3,828,000 for the year ended December 31, 1998. The guarantee and related coal supply contract debt expired
December 31, 1999.
</FN>