Penelec Equipment Damaged by Gunfire

Company Offers up to a $10,000 Reward for Tips Leading to Conviction of Those
Responsible

READING, Pa., June 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Three vandalism incidents -
each involving electrical equipment damaged with gunshots - caused more than
5,500 Pennsylvania Electric Company (Penelec) customers in the Clearfield area
to experience power interruptions late Friday into Saturday. Service was
restored by company employees working in the Clearfield area as part of
Penelec's work-continuation plan that was implemented May 21 after members of
IBEW Local 459 went on strike. The vandalism was reported to local police,
Pennsylvania State Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security,
the United States Department of Energy, and the Pennsylvania Public Utility
Commission.

"We will not tolerate malicious acts that put our customers and employees at
risk," said Penelec Regional President James R. Napier. "In an effort to help
prevent similar incidents from causing service interruptions we are offering
up to a $10,000 reward for information which leads to the arrest and
conviction of those involved with Friday's incidents. This type of behavior
serves no purpose, is unfair to our customers who deserve reliable electric
service, and should not reflect on the vast majority of our hard-working
employees who are dedicated to our customers every day."

Customers can report any suspicious behavior by calling Penelec at a special,
toll-free number - 1-800-392-1382, or by calling their local police.

Friday's incidents mark the third time Penelec equipment in the Clearfield
area has been damaged by vandals since the strike began on May 21. The latest
incidents caused unnecessary customer outages and an oil spill from
transformers that were damaged by gunfire. Shell casings were recovered at
the scene on Friday evening.

Penelec, an electric utility operating company of Akron, Ohio-based
FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), serves approximately 590,000 customers in 31
Pennsylvania counties.

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

Scott Surgeoner, +1-610-921-6785