<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 $4,881,000 RELATED TO OTHER
INCOME AND $(21,208,000) RELATED TO EXTRAORDINARY ITEM.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0001031296
<NAME> FIRSTENERGY CORP.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    9,134,634
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  2,532,843
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,151,293
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     5,516,919
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              18,335,689
<COMMON>                                        23,707
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    3,695,002
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            632,753
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               4,351,462
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          319,460
<PREFERRED>                                    660,195
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         6,996,796
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              82,763
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 119,975
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  316,257
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       21,404
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                69,523
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               5,397,854
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               18,335,689
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    2,477,054
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           122,456
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,871,652
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   2,010,435
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        466,619
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              15,236
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 481,855
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       298,249
<NET-INCOME>                                   153,084
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                        0
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       166,977
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      531,648
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         532,258
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .69
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .69