EXHIBIT 99


FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company        For Immediate Release
10 Center Road
Perry, Ohio 44081

News Media Contact:
Todd Schneider
(330) 620-2895


Perry Plant Expected to Return to Service Next Week

         Perry,  OH --  FirstEnergy  Nuclear  Operating  Company  (FENOC)  today
announced  that the  1,260-megawatt  Perry  Nuclear  Power  Plant is expected to
return to service next week,  following  repairs to an emergency  service  water
pump.

         The plant was removed  from  service on Saturday  May 22,  2004,  after
routine testing indicated that the pump was not maintaining a normal flow level.
An  initial  inspection  found a broken  coupling  on the  pump's  shaft,  and a
complete review is under way.

         A new pump and new  couplings,  made of  stronger  material,  are being
installed to help ensure  better  reliability.  The plant will return to service
after  the  equipment  has  been  thoroughly  tested  and the  review  has  been
completed.

         The Perry  Plant is  operated  by FENOC and is located in Perry,  Ohio.
FENOC is a subsidiary of Akron, OH-based FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE).


Forward  Looking  Statements:   This  press  release  includes   forward-looking
statements  based  on  information  currently  available  to  management.   Such
statements  are subject to certain  risks 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),  adverse  regulatory  or  legal  decisions  and  the  outcome  of
governmental  investigations  (including  revocation  of  necessary  licenses or
operating   permits),   availability   and  cost  of  capital,   the  continuing
availability  and operation of generating  units, the inability to accomplish or
realize anticipated benefits of strategic goals, the ability to improve electric
commodity  margins and to experience  growth in the distribution  business,  the
ability to access the public securities markets,  further investigation into the
causes of the August 14, 2003,  regional power outage and the outcome,  cost and
other effects of present and potential legal and administrative  proceedings and
claims related to that outage,  a denial of or material change to  FirstEnergy's
Application  related to its Rate Stabilization Plan, the risks and other factors
discussed  from  time  to  time  in the  registrants'  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission  filings,  including  their  annual  report on Form 10-K for the year
ended  December 31, 2003,  their Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2004,
and other similar factors. FirstEnergy expressly disclaims any current intention
to update any  forward-looking  statements  contained in this press release as a
result of new information, future events, or otherwise.


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