<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE RELATED
FORM 10-Q FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR FIRSTENERGY CORP. AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.  (AMOUNTS IN 1,000'S, EXCEPT
EARNINGS PER SHARE).  INCOME TAX EXPENSE INCLUDES $11,700,000 RELATED TO OTHER
INCOME.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0001031296
<NAME> FIRSTENERGY CORP.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    9,503,471
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  2,455,600
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         948,690
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     5,142,223
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              18,049,984
<COMMON>                                        23,021
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    3,491,170
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            686,907
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               4,201,098
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          334,864
<PREFERRED>                                    660,195
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         7,148,956
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             161,420
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 119,965
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  223,765
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       21,379
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                74,064
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               5,104,278
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               18,049,984
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,199,993
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            88,591
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     877,379
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     954,270
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        245,723
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              21,563
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 267,286
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       143,634
<NET-INCOME>                                   123,652
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                        0
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        83,391
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      535,665
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         253,512
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .56
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .56