<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 $(4,999,000) 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>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    9,077,552
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<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     5,403,076
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              18,223,051
<COMMON>                                        23,707
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    3,702,533
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            709,804
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               4,436,044
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          313,460
<PREFERRED>                                    660,195
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         6,606,324
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             228,470
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 119,980
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  518,674
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       21,404
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                62,848
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<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    3,893,795
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<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   2,842,848
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   3,106,711
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        787,084
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               9,961
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 797,045
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       450,348
<NET-INCOME>                                   316,175
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                        0
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       253,017
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<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         797,740
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.40
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