Exhibit 99

FirstEnergy Corp.                                  For Release:  July 24, 2003
76 South Main Street
Akron, Ohio 44308
www.firstenergycorp.com

News Media Contact:                                Investor Contact:
Ralph DiNicola                                     Kurt Turosky
(330) 384-5939                                     (330) 384-5500


                 FIRSTENERGY UPDATES INFORMATION ON DAVIS-BESSE

         FirstEnergy  Corp.  (NYSE:  FE) today updated  schedule and cost
estimates  associated  with efforts to return its Davis-Besse Nuclear Power
Station to safe and reliable service.

         Final decisions have been made on modifications to the high-pressure
injection pumps, which is expected to result in the plant's being available for
restart in the fall. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission continues its inspection
activity and will make a final determination on when the plant will return to
service.

         The modifications utilize proven experience from similar pumps in
France and will provide additional safety margin, based on extensive preliminary
testing done by FirstEnergy. The pump modifications and numerous other safety
enhancements made to the plant will increase 2003 incremental operating and
maintenance expenses - initially estimated at $50 million for the year - to
approximately $80 million. Through June 30, such expenses for 2003 totaled $58
million.

         Replacement power cost estimates for Davis-Besse remain unchanged at
$15 million per month for the non-summer months and $20 to $25 million per month
for the summer months of July and August. Through June 30, these costs for 2003
totaled $93 million. On-peak replacement energy for the expected length of the
Davis-Besse outage is fully hedged.

                                     (more)

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         Davis-Besse is operated by the FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company, a
subsidiary of FirstEnergy. FirstEnergy is a registered public utility holding
company headquartered in Akron, Ohio.

Forward-Looking Statement: This news release includes forward-looking statements
based on information currently available to management. Such statements are
subject to certain risk and uncertainties. These statements typically contain,
but are not limited to, the terms "anticipate," "potential," "expect,"
"believe," "estimate," and similar words. Actual results may differ materially
due to the speed and nature of increased competition and deregulation in the
electric utility industry, economic or weather conditions affecting future sales
and margins, changes in markets for energy services, changing energy and
commodity market prices, replacement power costs being higher than anticipated
or inadequately hedged, maintenance costs being higher than anticipated,
legislative and regulatory changes (including revised environmental
requirements), availability and cost of capital, inability of the Davis-Besse
Nuclear Power Station to restart (including because of any inability to obtain a
favorable final determination from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission) in the
fall of 2003, inability to accomplish or realize anticipated benefits of
strategic goals and other similar factors.

                                    (072403)


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