FIRSTENERGY CORP
S-3, 1997-11-13
ELECTRIC SERVICES
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<PAGE>   1
 
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON NOVEMBER 13, 1997
                                                    REGISTRATION NO. 333-
================================================================================
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
                                    FORM S-3
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                            ------------------------
 
                               FIRSTENERGY CORP.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
                            ------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                    <C>
                        OHIO                                                34-1843785
            (State or other jurisdiction                                 (I.R.S. Employer
         of incorporation or organization)                             Identification No.)
</TABLE>
 
                              76 SOUTH MAIN STREET
 
                               AKRON, OHIO 44308
                                 (330) 384-5100
  (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
                   registrant's principal executive offices)
 
                                NANCY C. ASHCOM
                              CORPORATE SECRETARY
                               FIRSTENERGY CORP.
                              76 SOUTH MAIN STREET
                               AKRON, OHIO 44308
                                 (330) 384-5504
 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                             of agent for service)
                            ------------------------
                                   Copies to:
                             JOHN H. BYINGTON, ESQ.
                      WINTHROP, STIMSON, PUTNAM & ROBERTS
                             ONE BATTERY PARK PLAZA
                         NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10004-1490
 
    APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: As soon as
practicable after the Registration Statement becomes effective.
    If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. [ ]
    If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box. [X]
    If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]
    If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [ ]
 
    If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. [ ]
                            ------------------------
 
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<S>                                     <C>               <C>               <C>               <C>
===============================================================================================================
 
<CAPTION>
                                                              PROPOSED          PROPOSED
             TITLE OF EACH                                     MAXIMUM           MAXIMUM
          CLASS OF SECURITIES             AMOUNT TO BE     OFFERING PRICE       AGGREGATE         AMOUNT OF
           TO BE REGISTERED                REGISTERED        PER UNIT(1)    OFFERING PRICE(1) REGISTRATION FEE
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                     <C>               <C>               <C>               <C>
Common Stock, $.10 par value........... 10,000,000 shares     $25 7/16        $254,375,000         $77,084
===============================================================================================================
</TABLE>
 
(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in
    accordance with Rule 457 under the Securities Act of 1933 based on the
    average of the reported high and low sales of the Common Stock reported on
    the New York Stock Exchange on November 10, 1997.
 
    The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or
dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall
file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration
statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of
the Securities Act of 1933 or until this registration statement shall become
effective on such date as the commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a),
may determine.
<PAGE>   2
 
     INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A
     REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE
     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR
     MAY OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
     BECOMES EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR
     THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE
     SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE
     UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS
     OF ANY SUCH STATE.
 
PROSPECTUS
- -----------
(SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, ISSUED NOVEMBER 13, 1997)
                               FIRSTENERGY CORP.
 
                                      LOGO
                                      LOGO
                             STOCK INVESTMENT PLAN
                               10,000,000 SHARES
                                  COMMON STOCK
                           (PAR VALUE $.10 PER SHARE)
                               ------------------
 
    The FirstEnergy Corp. Stock Investment Plan (the "Plan") provides a way for
shareholders and employees of FirstEnergy Corp. (the "Company") and its
subsidiaries, as well as others, to purchase shares of the Company's common
stock. Participants in the Plan may:
    - Reinvest all or a portion of cash dividends paid on shares of the Company
      or its subsidiaries registered in their names, as well as any common stock
      credited to their Plan accounts, to purchase shares of Company common
      stock.
    - Make an initial investment in Company common stock with a cash payment of
      at least $250 or, if already a shareholder or employee of the Company or
      its subsidiaries, make an investment in Company common stock with optional
      cash investments at any time of at least $25 per payment. Cash investments
      are limited to a maximum of $100,000 per calendar year.
    - Receive certificates for whole shares of common stock credited to their
      Plan accounts upon request.
    - Deposit certificates representing Company common stock into the Plan for
      safekeeping.
    - Sell shares of common stock credited to their Plan accounts through the
      Plan.
    Cash dividends and cash investments under the Plan will be used to purchase
shares of Company common stock which, at the option of the Company, will be
either newly issued shares or will be purchased on behalf of Plan participants
in the open market by an Independent Agent appointed by the Company. The price
of shares purchased in the open market under the Plan will be the weighted
average price paid by the Independent Agent for the shares over the purchase
period. The price of newly issued shares acquired under the Plan will be the
average of the high and low prices of the Company's common stock as reported in
The Wall Street Journal's report of New York Stock Exchange Composite
Transactions for the investment date. In both cases, the purchase price will
include a transaction fee which is not expected to exceed $.09 per share. The
Company will receive all of the proceeds resulting from the purchase of newly
issued shares under the Plan. The Company does not receive any part of the
proceeds resulting from the purchase of shares in the open market under the Plan
other than a portion of the related transaction fees designed to cover
administrative costs. The cost to the Company to implement the Plan is estimated
to be $150,000. Some or all of these costs may be recovered through the
transaction fees.
    The price of shares sold by a participant under the Plan will be the
weighted average price at which the Independent Agent or other designated broker
sells these shares and the other shares that aggregated for sale with them. The
sale price received by a participant will be reduced by a transaction fee which
is not expected to exceed $.09 per share.
    Fees payable by a Plan participant will be added to the purchase price for
shares purchased, and deducted from the selling price for shares sold, under the
Plan. (See Questions 15 and 22.)
    This Prospectus describes the provisions of the Plan and should be retained
by participants for future reference. The Company's common stock is listed on
the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "FE".
  THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
 EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
   AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
                               CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
                               ------------------
 
                The date of this Prospectus is            , 1997
<PAGE>   3
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                             <C>
AVAILABLE INFORMATION.........................................................      1
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE.............................      1
THE COMPANY...................................................................      2
DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN.......................................................      3
     Purpose..................................................................      3
     Administration...........................................................      3
     Participation............................................................      4
     Dividend Reinvestment....................................................      5
     Cash Investments.........................................................      5
     Investment Dates.........................................................      6
     Purchases................................................................      7
     Safekeeping Option For Common Stock Certificates.........................      8
     Sales, Certificate Withdrawals And Closing Plan Accounts.................      8
     Reports To Participants..................................................     10
     Tax Consequences.........................................................     10
     Other Information........................................................     10
USE OF PROCEEDS...............................................................     12
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK...................................................     12
LEGAL MATTERS.................................................................     14
EXPERTS.......................................................................     14
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   4
 
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
     The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and, in accordance therewith, files
reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission"). Such reports, proxy statements and other
information concerning the Company can be inspected and copied at the public
reference facilities maintained by the Commission at Room 1024, Judiciary Plaza,
450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549; Northwestern Atrium Center, 500
West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60604; and Seven World Trade
Center, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10048. Copies of such materials can be
obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at its principal
office at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates.
The information described above can also be obtained from the Web site
maintained by the Commission (http://www.sec.gov). In addition, material filed
by the Company can be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange,
20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. Inquiries concerning such reports and
other information may also be directed to the Company at the address and phone
number indicated herein under "The Company".
 
     The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form
S-3 with respect to the offering made hereby. This Prospectus does not contain
all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement and the exhibits
thereto. Copies of the Registration Statement and the exhibits thereto may be
inspected without charge at offices of the Commission, and copies of all or any
portion thereof may be obtained from the Commission upon payment of the
prescribed fees.
                            ------------------------
 
               INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
 
     The following documents filed by the Company or its subsidiaries with the
Commission are incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and made a part
hereof as of their respective dates:
 
     1. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996 of:
 
        (a) Ohio Edison Company
 
        (b) Centerior Energy Corporation
 
     2. Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1997,
        June 30, 1997 and September 30, 1997 of:
 
        (a) Ohio Edison Company
 
        (b) Centerior Energy Corporation
 
     3. Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company dated November 10, 1997.
 
     4. Current Reports on Form 8-K of Ohio Edison Company dated January 28,
        1997, April 1, 1997, and November 12, 1997.
 
     5. Current Reports on Form 8-K of Centerior Energy Corporation dated
        January 28, 1997, February 6, 1997, June 18, 1997, July 30, 1997, and
        September 19, 1997.
 
     All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Prospectus and prior to the
termination of this offering shall be deemed to be
 
                                        1
<PAGE>   5
 
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and to be a part hereof from the
date of filing of such documents. Such documents and the documents enumerated
above are hereinafter referred to as "Incorporated Documents"; provided,
however, that the documents enumerated above or subsequently filed by the
Company pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15 of the Exchange Act in each year
during which this offering is in effect prior to the filing with the Commission
of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K covering such year shall not be
Incorporated Documents or be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus or be
a part hereof from and after such filing of such Annual Report on Form 10-K. Any
statement contained in an Incorporated Document shall be deemed to be modified
or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement
contained herein or in any other subsequently filed Incorporated Document
modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or
superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to
constitute a part of this Prospectus.
 
     You may obtain information concerning the business and affairs of the
Company and its subsidiaries by requesting copies of and reading the
Incorporated Documents.
 
     THE COMPANY UNDERTAKES TO PROVIDE WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM A
COPY OF THIS PROSPECTUS HAS BEEN DELIVERED, ON THE WRITTEN OR ORAL REQUEST OF
ANY SUCH PERSON, A COPY OF ANY DOCUMENT REFERRED TO ABOVE WHICH HAS BEEN
INCORPORATED IN THIS PROSPECTUS BY REFERENCE OTHER THAN EXHIBITS TO SUCH
DOCUMENT (UNLESS SUCH EXHIBITS ARE SPECIFICALLY INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO
SUCH DOCUMENT). REQUESTS FOR SUCH COPIES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO: INVESTOR
SERVICES, FIRSTENERGY CORP., 76 SOUTH MAIN STREET, AKRON, OHIO 44308-1890,
TELEPHONE: (800) 736-3402.
 
     NO PERSON IS AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION
NOT CONTAINED, OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE, IN THIS PROSPECTUS, AND, IF GIVEN
OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATION MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING
BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL OR A
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY OF THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY IN ANY
JURISDICTION TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER IN SUCH
JURISDICTION. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE
HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS
BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE THE DATE HEREOF.
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
     The principal executive office of the Company is located at 76 South Main
Street, Akron, Ohio 44308. Its telephone number is (330) 384-5100.
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   6
 
                            DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN
 
     The following questions and answers describe the terms and conditions of
the Plan. We suggest that you keep this Prospectus for future reference.
 
PURPOSE
 
 1. Q. What is the purpose of the Plan?
 
    A. The purpose of the Plan is to provide shareholders and employees of the
       Company and its subsidiaries, as well as others, a way to purchase shares
       of the Company's common stock. Purchases can be made by investing cash
       and/or reinvesting cash dividends.
 
ADMINISTRATION
 
 2. Q. Who administers the Plan?
 
    A. The Company will administer the Plan. This will include keeping the Plan
       records and serving as custodian for shares held in the Plan. If the
       Company elects to meet the purchase requirements of participants through
       purchases of shares of common stock in the open market, funds for
       investment will be promptly deposited into an escrow account for the
       benefit of Plan participants. An Independent Agent appointed by the
       Company will then act on behalf of participants in buying such shares.
       The Independent Agent, or such other registered securities broker
       designated by the Company, will sell Plan shares on behalf of
       participants.
 
       The Company reserves the right to interpret and regulate the Plan as
       deemed necessary or desirable. Neither the Company nor its Independent
       Agent will be liable for any act done in good faith or for any omission
       to act in good faith, including, without limitation, any claim of
       liability arising out of failure to close a participant's account upon
       the participant's death prior to receipt of written notice of such death,
       or with respect to the prices at which shares of common stock are
       purchased or sold for the participant's account and the times when such
       purchases and sales are made, or with respect to any loss or fluctuation
       in the market value after the purchase or sale of such shares. However,
       the Company shall not be relieved from any liability imposed under any
       federal, state or other applicable securities law that cannot be waived.
 
 3. Q. Who should I contact with questions concerning the Plan?
 
    A. You may call the Company's Investor Services toll-free at 1-800-736-3402.
       Or, you may write to the following address:

                                   FIRSTENERGY CORP.
                                   INVESTOR SERVICES
                                   76 S. MAIN STREET
                                   AKRON, OH 44308-1890
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   7
 
PARTICIPATION
 
 4. Q. Who is eligible to participate in the Plan?
 
    A. All registered shareholders and employees of the Company and its
       subsidiaries are eligible to participate. In addition, any person or
       entity who is not a registered shareholder or employee is eligible to
       participate provided that in the case of citizens or residents of a
       country other than the United States, its territories and possessions,
       their participation would not violate local laws applicable to the
       Company, the Plan or the participant.
 
 5. Q. How do I enroll in the Plan or change my method of participation?
 
    A. SHAREHOLDERS -- Current registered shareholders can enroll by completing
       and signing a Plan Enrollment Form.
 
       EMPLOYEES -- Employees can enroll by completing and signing a Plan
       Enrollment Form/Payroll Deduction Authorization Form (Form 133, available
       from department secretary). If voluntary payroll deductions are not
       desired, this form must be accompanied by a cash payment.
 
       OTHER PERSONS OR ENTITIES -- If you are not a registered shareholder or
       employee, you can enroll by making an initial cash investment of at least
       $250 and completing and signing a Plan Enrollment Form. The Enrollment
       Form requires each person to certify that he/she is of legal age and to
       provide information necessary to open an account, such as the stock
       registration desired, address and taxpayer identification number.
 
       You may change the method of participation at any time by completing and
       signing another Plan Enrollment Form. In the case of an employee who is
       using payroll deductions to invest in the Plan, the amount of the
       deduction can be changed or canceled by completing and signing another
       Plan Enrollment Form/Payroll Deduction Authorization Form.
 
 6. Q. What dividend payment options are provided under the Plan?
 
    A. The Plan provides complete flexibility in regard to how dividends are
       paid. You are asked to provide payment instructions by completing both
       Parts (A) and (B) of the Dividend Reinvestment and Payment Instructions
       Section of the Plan Enrollment Form. Part (A) contains payment
       instructions for shares that are currently held, or may be held in the
       future, by you in certificate form. Part (B) contains payment
       instructions for shares that are currently held, or may be held in the
       future, by the Company in an account for you. Dividend payment options
       are as follows:
 
       REINVEST DIVIDENDS ON ALL SHARES -- All dividends are reinvested to
       purchase shares of Company common stock.
 
       PAY CASH DIVIDENDS ON ALL SHARES -- All dividends are paid in cash. (See
       below for direct deposit information.)
 
       PAY CASH DIVIDENDS ON PORTION OF SHARES -- You may elect to have a
       portion of dividends paid in cash and reinvest the remaining dividends to
       purchase shares of Company common stock by selecting the number of
       shares, the percent, or the dollar amount of dividends to be paid in
       cash. (See below for direct deposit information.)
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   8
 
       If you elect to receive all or a portion of your dividends in cash, your
       cash dividends may be deposited directly into your checking, savings or
       credit union account at any financial institution that accepts electronic
       direct deposits. Receiving your payments by direct deposit ensures that
       the funds will be deposited into your bank account on the payment date.
       If you are interested in direct deposit of dividends, you should complete
       the appropriate section on the Enrollment Form or call Investor Services
       for a Direct Deposit Authorization Form.
 
 7. Q. When must my Plan Enrollment Form be received by the Company?
 
    A. For dividends to be reinvested, your Enrollment Form must be received by
       the Company on or before the record date for the dividend payment;
       otherwise, reinvestment of dividends will start with the next succeeding
       dividend payment. The dividend record and payment dates for preferred
       stock dividends vary and can be obtained by contacting the Company. The
       dividend record and payment dates for common stock dividends, which must
       be declared by the Board of Directors, are expected to be as follows:
 
         Record dates -- Fifth business day of February, May, August, November
         Payment dates -- March 1, June 1, September 1, December 1
 
       For initial cash investments, a properly completed Enrollment Form and
       the initial cash payment must be received by the Company before a cash
       Investment Date, which will be the 1st and 15th day of each month.
       Otherwise, the investment will be made on the next succeeding cash
       Investment Date.
 
DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT
 
 8. Q. What is meant by dividend reinvestment?
 
    A. If you have elected to reinvest all or a portion of your dividends, the
       Company will take those dividends and purchase shares of Company common
       stock for you. The amount reinvested will be reduced by any amount that
       is required to be withheld under any applicable tax or other statutes and
       by applicable transaction fees. See the "Purchases" section for more
       detailed information.
 
CASH INVESTMENTS
 
 9. Q. Who is eligible to make cash investments?
 
    A. All persons and entities that are eligible to participate in the Plan are
       eligible to make cash investments. See Question 4 for Plan eligibility
       requirements.
 
10. Q. What are the minimum and maximum cash investments?
 
    A. If you are not a registered shareholder or employee of the Company or its
       subsidiaries, the initial cash investment must be at least $250.
 
       If you are a registered shareholder or employee of the Company or its
       subsidiaries, the minimum cash investment is $25 per payment; however,
       for employees who elect to use payroll deduction to make cash
       investments, the minimum deduction is $10.
 
       The maximum amount of cash investments is $100,000 per calendar year.
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   9
 
11. Q. How do I make a cash investment?
 
    A. If you are not a current Plan participant, you must enclose a check with
       your Plan Enrollment Form.
 
       If you are a current Plan participant, you can make a cash investment by
       sending a check or by signing up for automatic electronic investments as
       discussed below. When sending a check, you should attach a cash
       investment form which is attached to your Plan statements. You may also
       send a check without a cash investment form; however, your stock
       registration and tax identification number should be included on your
       check for account identification purposes, along with a cover letter
       requesting that the check be used to purchase common stock of the
       Company. If you are sending a cash payment to open a new account, you
       must send a letter of instruction providing the name, address and tax
       identification number (include an IRS Form W-9) for the new account.
 
       All checks should be made payable to "FirstEnergy Corp." and sent to
       FirstEnergy Investor Services at 76 South Main Street, Akron, OH
       44308-1890. For the protection of participants, the Company discourages
       sending cash or endorsed second-party checks. Cash investments received
       from foreign shareholders must be in United States dollars.
 
       You may authorize monthly automatic electronic cash investments by
       completing the appropriate section on the Enrollment Form or by
       completing an Automatic Electronic Investment Authorization Form
       available from Investor Services. This enables you to make regular
       investments, if you choose, without the inconvenience of writing and
       mailing checks. If you authorize automatic electronic cash investments,
       funds will be withdrawn from your bank or credit union account around the
       25th day of each month and will be invested on the next Investment Date
       following the withdrawal. Your bank, savings association or credit union
       must be a member of the National Automated Clearinghouse Association. You
       may change the amount automatically withdrawn or the financial
       institution at any time by completing a new Automatic Electronic
       Investment Authorization Form, and you may stop automatic electronic cash
       investments by notifying Investor Services in writing.
 
       Cash investments, pending purchase of common stock through the Plan, will
       be credited to your Plan account and held in a bank account which will be
       separated from funds of the Company. No interest will be paid by the
       Company on cash held for investment.
 
       You may request the return of a cash investment upon written request
       received by the Company not later than 48 hours prior to the applicable
       investment date.
 
INVESTMENT DATES
 
12. Q. When are the Investment Dates for Plan purchases?
 
    A. Investment Dates for reinvested dividends are the dividend payment dates.
       Payment dates for common stock dividends are expected to be March 1, June
       1, September 1 and December 1. Payment dates for preferred stock can be
       obtained by contacting the Investor Services.
 
       Investment Dates for cash investments are the 1st and 15th day of each
       month. Cash investments must be received by the Company by the business
       day before the Investment Date in order to be
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   10
 
       invested on such Investment Date. Otherwise, the cash investments will be
       held by the Company and invested on the next Investment Date.
 
       In order to receive dividends on shares of common stock purchased with
       cash investments, the shares must be purchased on an Investment Date
       prior to the dividend record date. Record dates for common stock
       dividends are expected to be the fifth business day of February, May,
       August and November.
 
PURCHASES
 
13. Q. What is the price of shares purchased under the Plan?
 
    A. Cash dividends and cash investments will be used to purchase shares of
       the Company's common stock which, at the option of the Company, will be
       either newly issued or will be purchased on behalf of Plan participants
       in the open market by an Independent Agent appointed by the Company.
 
       When shares are purchased in the open market, the purchase price per
       share will be the weighted average price of the aggregated shares
       purchased by the Independent Agent during the purchase period plus a
       transaction fee which is not expected to exceed $.09 per share. Purchases
       may begin before the Investment Date and should be completed no more than
       ten days after the Investment Date, although the purchase period could be
       longer. The length of the purchase period is affected by the amount of
       funds to be invested, the availability of shares in the open market and
       market conditions. In regard to purchases made by the Independent Agent,
       neither the Company nor any participant will have any authority or power
       to direct the time or price at which shares may be purchased; the markets
       on which the shares are to be purchased (including any securities
       exchange, the over-the-counter market or negotiated transactions); or the
       selection of the broker or dealer (other than any Independent Agent)
       through whom purchases may be made. The Independent Agent will combine
       the funds of all participants for the purpose of executing purchase
       transactions.
 
       When shares to be purchased are satisfied by newly issued shares, the
       price will be the average of the high and low prices of the Company's
       common stock, as reported in The Wall Street Journal's report of New York
       Stock Exchange Composite Transactions, for the Investment Date (or the
       next preceding day on which the Company's common stock is traded on the
       New York Stock Exchange, if it is not traded on the Investment Date),
       plus a transaction fee which is not expected to exceed $.09 per share.
 
       The primary consideration in determining the source of shares of common
       stock to be used for purchases under the Plan is expected to be the
       Company's need to increase equity capital. If the Company does not need
       to raise funds externally or if the need for funds is satisfied using
       sources other than the issuance of new shares through the Plan, shares of
       common stock purchased for participants under the Plan will be purchased
       in the open market. As of the date of this Prospectus, shares of common
       stock purchased for participants under the Plan are being purchased in
       the open market by an Independent Agent.
 
       If shares cannot be purchased with respect to an Investment Date, or if
       such purchase is deemed to be otherwise inadvisable by the Company or the
       Independent Agent, the dividends and cash
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   11
 
       investments which otherwise would have been invested will be paid or
       returned, as the case may be, to the participants without interest.
 
14. Q. How many shares of common stock will be purchased?
 
    A. The number of shares (including any fraction of a share rounded to three
       decimal places) of common stock purchased for you will be determined by
       dividing the total amount of cash dividends and/or cash investments to be
       invested for you on such Investment Date by the purchase price.
 
       All shares purchased under the Plan are held by the Company and credited
       to your Plan account until such time as you request the withdrawal of
       shares from your Plan account.
 
15. Q. Do I incur any fees for shares purchased under the Plan?
 
    A. Yes. There is a transaction fee for each share purchased to cover
       brokerage commissions and administrative costs of the Plan. This
       transaction fee is not expected to exceed $.09 per share.
 
SAFEKEEPING OPTION FOR COMMON STOCK CERTIFICATES
 
16. Q. What is the purpose and advantages of the safekeeping option?
 
    A. The purpose of the Plan's safekeeping option is to enable you to deposit
       any FirstEnergy common stock certificates into the Plan for safekeeping.
       The shares are held by the Company and credited to your Plan account, and
       the shares are shown on dividend checks and/or Plan account statements
       and otherwise treated in the same manner as shares purchased through the
       Plan. The Company does not offer safekeeping for preferred stock
       certificates.
 
       Benefits of the Plan's safekeeping option include: you will not have to
       worry or bear the cost of protecting stock certificates or replacing
       certificates due to loss, theft or destruction; you can request that a
       certificate for whole shares be issued at no cost to you at any time; and
       because shares held in safekeeping are treated in the same manner as
       shares purchased through the Plan, you may sell them through the Plan in
       a convenient manner.
 
17. Q. How do I use the safekeeping option?
 
    A. At the time of Plan enrollment, you may take advantage of the safekeeping
       option by sending your certificate(s), unsigned, to FirstEnergy Investor
       Services with a Plan Enrollment Form. Or, at any time after enrollment,
       you may send your certificate(s), unsigned, with a signed letter of
       instruction requesting that the Company hold the shares in safekeeping
       and stating whether the dividends for shares being sent are to be
       reinvested or paid in cash. Registered mail is suggested when mailing
       certificates.
 
SALES, CERTIFICATE WITHDRAWALS AND CLOSING PLAN ACCOUNTS
 
18. Q. How do I receive a certificate for or sell a portion of my Plan shares?
 
    A. To receive a certificate for or to sell a portion of the shares credited
       to your Plan account, you must notify the Company of the number of whole
       shares to be issued in certificate form or to be sold.
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   12
 
19. Q. How do I close my Plan account?
 
    A. To close a Plan account, you must notify the Company and provide
       instructions as to whether a certificate is to be issued, the shares are
       to be sold, or both. If both, the number of whole shares for which a
       certificate is to be issued must be specified so that the remainder of
       the shares can be sold. When requested to issue a certificate only, or if
       no instructions are provided, the Company will issue a certificate for
       all whole shares credited to the account and a check for the value of any
       fraction of a share. The check for the fraction will be based on the
       closing sale price of the Company's common stock, as reported in The Wall
       Street Journal's report of New York Stock Exchange Composite
       Transactions, for the trading day immediately preceding the day the
       request is processed by the Company.
 
20. Q. How long will it take to withdraw certificates or close my Plan account?
 
    A. It normally takes three business days from the time a request is received
       by the Company until an account is closed or a certificate is issued.
       However, if we receive your request to close your Plan account between a
       dividend record date and the date that the additional shares purchased
       with your reinvested dividend are credited to your account, your request
       may not be processed until the additional shares are credited to your
       Plan account (approximately two weeks after the dividend payment date).
       The additional shares purchased will be added to your account, and all
       shares will be issued or sold as soon as possible thereafter, depending
       on your instructions. Upon request, however, the Company can issue a
       certificate for or sell all whole shares currently in your Plan account,
       and then close your account by issuing another certificate for or selling
       the additional shares purchased after the shares are credited to your
       Plan account.
 
       The Plan does not provide for the automatic issuance of certificates
       after a purchase, and certificates for fractions of shares will not be
       issued under any circumstances. Certificates representing Plan shares
       will be issued in the name under which your account is maintained. If you
       desire to transfer Plan shares to another registration, you should
       contact the Company for transfer instructions.
 
21. Q. How often are shares sold and at what price?
 
    A. Participants' requests to sell Plan shares will be aggregated by the
       Company and sold at least once a week. (See Question 20 for information
       on requests to sell all shares in and close a Plan account after a
       dividend record date). The Company will place a market order with the
       Independent Agent or broker designated by the Company, who will sell the
       shares as soon as practicable. Neither the Company nor any participant
       will have any authority or power to direct the time or price at which
       shares may be sold.
 
       The price of the shares sold will be the weighted average price of the
       aggregated shares sold by the Independent Agent or designated broker less
       a transaction fee which is not expected to exceed $.09 per share. A check
       for sale of the shares, less the transaction fee, will generally be
       mailed to the participant three business days after the shares are sold.
 
22. Q. Will I incur any fees for shares sold under the Plan?
 
    A. Yes. There is a transaction fee for each share sold to cover brokerage
       commissions and administrative costs of the Plan. This transaction fee is
       not expected to exceed $.09 per share.
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   13
 
REPORTS TO PARTICIPANTS
 
23. Q. What reports will I receive as a Plan participant?
 
    A. If you reinvest some or all of your dividends, you will receive a Plan
       statement about three weeks after each dividend payment date. You will
       also receive a Plan statement about two weeks after any Investment Date
       that you invest cash.
 
       If you receive a dividend check for some or all of your dividends, you
       will receive account information on the stub attached to the check.
 
       In addition to periodic account statements, a FirstEnergy Plan account
       history report is available at any time upon request to the Company. This
       report is a summary of all Plan purchases and withdrawals and provides a
       concise and thorough record for you.
 
       You will receive copies of the same communications sent to other
       registered shareholders of common stock, including the Company's annual
       report, interim reports, notice of annual meeting and proxy statement,
       and income tax information.
 
TAX CONSEQUENCES
 
24. Q. What are the tax consequences of participation in the Plan?
 
    A. You will have the same federal income tax obligations with respect to
       your dividends as shareholders who are not Plan participants. This means
       that dividends reinvested under the Plan are taxable as ordinary income
       even though you did not actually receive them in cash.
 
       The selling of shares, including any fractional share, may give rise to a
       capital gain or loss for federal income tax purposes. Any such gain or
       loss will be determined by the difference between your net proceeds from
       the sale and your tax basis in the shares sold.
 
       The original tax basis of shares acquired through the Plan is equal to
       their purchase price per share, including brokerage commission and other
       fees. See Question 13 for information regarding the purchase price of
       shares acquired through the Plan.
 
       Any capital gain or loss will be long-term or short-term according to
       your holding period and current tax laws. The holding period for the
       shares acquired under the Plan commences the day after the applicable
       Investment Date.
 
       The above tax information is only a general discussion of certain tax
       aspects of an investment in the Plan. You should consult your personal
       tax adviser as to all of the tax consequences of participating in the
       Plan, including the application of current and proposed federal, state,
       local, foreign and other tax laws.
 
OTHER INFORMATION
 
25. Q. What happens if the Company issues a stock dividend or declares a stock
       split?
 
    A. Any shares of common stock distributed by the Company as a stock dividend
       on shares credited to your Plan account, or as a split of these shares,
       will be credited to your Plan account. Stock
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   14
 
dividends or split shares distributed on any shares held by you in certificate
form will be mailed directly to you in the same manner as to shareholders who
are not participating in the Plan.
 
26. Q. If the Company has a rights offering, how will the rights on Plan shares
       be handled?
 
    A. Rights on shares held by you in certificate form and on any shares, both
       whole and fractional, credited to your Plan account will be mailed
       directly to you in the same manner as to shareholders not participating
       in the Plan.
 
27. Q. How will shares I hold in the Plan be voted at meetings of shareholders?
 
    A. You will receive a proxy card which will enable you to vote both shares
       credited to your Plan account and shares held by you in certificate form.
 
28. Q. Can shares credited to my Plan account be pledged?
 
    A. No. Shares credited to your Plan account may not be pledged. If you wish
       to pledge such shares you must request the issuance of a stock
       certificate for such shares.
 
29. Q. Who bears the risk of market price fluctuations affecting the value of
       Plan shares?
 
    A. Each individual participant in the Plan bears the risk of market price
       changes affecting the value of the stock. The Company cannot assure you
       of a profit or protect you against a loss on any shares you hold,
       purchase or sell under the Plan.
 
30. Q. Can the Company terminate my participation in the Plan?
 
    A. If you do not have at least one whole share of common stock credited to
       your Plan account, your participation in the Plan may be terminated by
       the Company upon written notice to you. Additionally, the Company may
       terminate your participation in the Plan after written notice mailed in
       advance to you. If your participation has been terminated, you will
       receive (1) a certificate for all of the whole shares of common stock
       credited to your account, (2) any uninvested dividend or cash investment
       credited to your account and (3) a check for the cash value of any
       fraction of a share of common stock credited to your account. Such
       fraction of a share will be valued at the average of the high and low
       prices of the Company's common stock as reported in The Wall Street
       Journal's report of New York Stock Exchange Composite Transactions for
       the trading day preceding the date of termination.
 
31. Q. May the Plan be changed, suspended or discontinued?
 
    A. The Company reserves the right, for any reason, to modify, suspend or
       terminate any provision of the Plan, or the Plan as a whole, at any time.
       All participants will receive notice of any such modification, suspension
       or termination. Typically, notice of a modification will be provided
       prior to the effectiveness of the modification and notice of suspension
       or termination will be given after the fact, but this may not always be
       the case. If the Plan is suspended, the Company may similarly, for any
       reason, reinstate the Plan at any time. Again, notice will be given to
       participants of the reinstatement and such notice may be given before or
       after the fact.
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   15
 
       Upon any termination of the Plan by the Company, you will receive (1) a
       certificate for all of the whole shares of common stock credited to your
       account, (2) any uninvested dividend or cash investment credited to your
       account and (3) a check for the cash value for any fraction of a share of
       common stock credited to your account. Such fraction of a share will be
       valued at the average of the high and low prices of the Company's common
       stock as reported in The Wall Street Journal's report of New York Stock
       Exchange Composite Transactions for the trading day preceding the date of
       termination.
 
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE PLAN OR THE COMPANY, PLEASE CALL INVESTOR
SERVICES AT 1-800-736-3402.
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
     The proceeds from the sale to the Plan of any newly issued stock will be
used to meet working capital and capital expenditure requirements of the
Company's subsidiaries and for other corporate purposes.
 
                          DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK
 
     Certain provisions of the Company's Articles of Incorporation and Code of
Regulations are summarized or referred to below. The summaries are merely an
outline, do not purport to be complete, do not relate to or give effect to the
provisions of statutory or common law, and are qualified in their entirety by
express reference to such Articles of Incorporation and Code of Regulations.
 
     The Company is authorized by its Articles of Incorporation to issue
300,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $.10 per share, of which
approximately 200,000,000 shares were issued and outstanding as of November 13,
1997. The Company is also authorized by its Articles of Incorporation to issue
5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $100 per share, of which none
were issued and outstanding as of November 13, 1997. The common stock currently
outstanding is, and the common stock offered pursuant to this Prospectus will
be, fully paid and non-assessable.
 
DIVIDEND RIGHTS
 
     Subject only to the prior rights and preferences of any issued and
outstanding shares of the Company's preferred stock, the holders of the common
stock shall be entitled to receive dividends thereon when, as and if declared by
the Board of Directors of the Company out of funds of the Company legally
available therefor. There can be no assurance that funds will be legally
available to pay dividends at any given time or that, if funds are available,
the Board of Directors will declare a dividend.
 
LIQUIDATION RIGHTS
 
     In the event of any dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the holders
of common stock shall be entitled to receive, pro rata, after the prior rights
of the holders of any issued and outstanding shares of the Company's preferred
stock have been satisfied, all of the assets of the Company that remain
available for distribution after payment in full of all liabilities of the
Company.
 
                                       12
<PAGE>   16
 
VOTING RIGHTS
 
     The holders of common stock of the Company are entitled to one vote on each
matter submitted for their vote at any meeting of the shareholders of the
Company for each share of the Company's common stock held of record as of the
record date for such meeting. Under the Company's Articles of Incorporation, the
voting rights, if any, of the Company's preferred stock may differ from the
voting rights of the Company's common stock. The holders of common stock are not
entitled to cumulate their votes for the election of directors. The Company's
Articles of Incorporation provide that the Board of Directors be divided into
three classes with the term of office of the respective classes to expire in
successive years.
 
     In order to amend or repeal, or adopt any provision inconsistent with, the
provisions of the Company's Articles of Incorporation dealing with (a) the right
of the Board of Directors to establish the terms of unissued shares or to
authorize the acquisition by the Company of its outstanding shares; (b) the
absence of cumulative voting and preemptive rights; or (c) the requirement that
80% of the voting power of the Company's outstanding shares must approve the
foregoing, 80% of the voting power of the Company's outstanding shares must
approve. In addition, the approval of 80% of the voting power of the Company's
outstanding shares must be obtained to amend or repeal the provisions of the
Company's Code of Regulations dealing with (a) the time and place of
shareholders' meetings, the manner in which special meetings of shareholders are
called or the way business is conducted at such meetings; (b) the number,
election and terms of directors, the manner of filling vacancies on the Board of
Directors, the removal of directors or the manner in which directors are
nominated; or (c) the indemnification of officers or directors. Amendment of the
provision of the Code of Regulations that requires the approval of 80% of the
voting power of the Company's outstanding shares in the instances enumerated
above requires the same level of approval.
 
     Adoption of amendments to the Company's Articles of Incorporation (other
than those requiring 80% approval as specified above), adoption of a plan of
merger, consolidation or reorganization, authorization of a sale or other
disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company not made in
the usual and regular course of its business or adoption of a resolution of
dissolution, and any other matter which would otherwise require a two-thirds
approving vote, require the approval of two-thirds of the voting power of the
Company's outstanding shares, unless the Company's Board of Directors provides
otherwise, in which case, these matters will require the approval of a majority
of the voting power of the Company's outstanding shares and the approval of a
majority of the voting power of any shares entitled to vote as a class.
 
NO PREEMPTIVE OR CONVERSION RIGHTS
 
     Holders of common stock have no preemptive or conversion rights and are not
subject to further calls or assessments by the Company. There are no redemption
or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock.
 
LISTING
 
     The outstanding common stock of the Company is traded on the New York Stock
Exchange.
 
                                       13
<PAGE>   17
 
TRANSFER AGENTS AND REGISTRARS
 
     The Transfer Agent and Registrar for the common stock of the Company is
FirstEnergy Securities Transfer Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of the
Company.
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
     The legality of the common stock offered hereby has been passed upon for
the Company by Anthony J. Alexander, Esq., Executive Vice President and General
Counsel of the Company. As of November 8, 1997, Mr. Alexander owned 12,612
shares of the Company's common stock.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
     The financial statements and the related financial statement schedules
incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Annual Reports on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996 of Ohio Edison Company and Centerior
Energy Corporation have been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public
accountants, as stated in their reports included and incorporated by reference
into such Annual Reports on Form 10-K. The financial statements and the related
financial statement schedules thereto are incorporated by reference herein in
reliance upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing
in giving said reports.
 
                                       14
<PAGE>   18
 
                PART II. INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.*
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                  <C>
Securities and Exchange Commission filing fee......................   $ 77,084
Costs of printing and engraving....................................     30,000
Legal fees and expenses............................................     30,000
Accounting fees and expenses.......................................     10,000
Miscellaneous expenses.............................................      2,916
                                                                       -------
     Total.........................................................   $150,000
                                                                       =======
</TABLE>
 
       ----------------------
 
       * All expenses except for the Securities and Exchange Commission filing
         fee are estimated.
 
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
 
     Section 1701.13 (E) of the Ohio Statute gives a corporation incorporated
under the laws of Ohio power to indemnify any person who is or has been a
director, officer or employee of that corporation, or of another corporation at
the request of that corporation, against expenses, judgments, fines and amounts
paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection
with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, criminal
or civil, to which he or she is or may be made a party because of being or
having been such director, officer or employee, provided that in connection
therewith, such person is determined to have acted in good faith in what he or
she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interest of the
corporation of which he or she is a director, officer or employee, without
reasonable cause, in the case of a criminal matter, to believe that his or her
conduct was unlawful. The determination as to the conditions precedent to the
permitted indemnification of such person is made by the directors of the
indemnifying corporation acting at a meeting at which, for this purpose, any
director who is a party to or threatened with any such action, suit or
proceeding may not be counted in determining the existence of a quorum and may
not vote. If, because of the foregoing limitations, the directors are unable to
act in this regard, such determination may be made by the majority vote of the
corporation's voting shareholders (or without a meeting upon two-thirds written
consent of such shareholders), by judicial proceeding or by written opinion of
legal counsel not retained by the corporation or any person to be indemnified
during the five years preceding the date of determination.
 
     Section 31 of the Company's Code of Regulations provides in relevant part
as follows:
 
          "The Corporation shall indemnify, to the full extent then permitted by
     law, any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party
     to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether
     civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact
     that he is or was a member of the Board of Directors or an officer,
     employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request
     of FirstEnergy as a director, trustee, officer, employee or agent of
     another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
     enterprise."
 
                                      II-1
<PAGE>   19
 
     Section 1701.13(E) of the Ohio Statute provides that the indemnification
thereby permitted shall not be exclusive of any other rights that directors,
officers or employees may have, including rights under insurance, purchased by
the corporation. The Company has insurance covering, subject to certain
deductible provisions, its liabilities and expenses which might arise in
connection with its lawful indemnification of its directors and officers for
certain of such directors' and officers' liabilities and expenses and also
covering, subject to certain deductible provisions, its officers against certain
other liabilities.
 
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT
   NO.                                          DESCRIPTION
- ---------       ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>      <C>    <C>
4(a)      --    Company's Articles of Incorporation (physically filed and designated in
                Registration No. 333-21011 as Exhibit (3)-1).
4(b)      --    Code of Regulations of the Company (physically filed and designated in
                Registration No. 333-21011 as Exhibit (3)-2).
4(c)      --    Form of Common Stock Certificate (to be filed by Amendment).
4(d)      --    FirstEnergy Corp. Stock Investment Plan (set forth in full in the
                Prospectus, to which reference is hereby made).
5         --    Opinion of Anthony J. Alexander, Esq., Executive Vice President and General
                Counsel of the Company, as to the securities being registered (to be filed
                by Amendment).
23(a)     --    Consent of Anthony J. Alexander, Esq. (contained in Exhibit 5).
23(b)     --    Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP (to be filed by Amendment).
</TABLE>
 
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS.
 
     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
 
     (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales of the registrant's
securities are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration
statement:
 
          (i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
     Securities Act of 1933;
 
          (ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
     the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent
     post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate,
     represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the
     registration statement; and
 
          (iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of
     distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any
     material change to such information in the registration statement;
 
provided, however, that paragraphs (i) and (ii) do not apply if the information
required to be included in a post-effective amendment in those paragraphs is
contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or
Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by
reference in the registration statement.
 
     (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered
 
                                      II-2
<PAGE>   20
 
therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
     (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.
 
     (4) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section
13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where
applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to
Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.
 
     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Act may be
permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant
pursuant to the provisions described under Item 15 above, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act
and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of such Registrant
in the successful defense of an action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.
 
                                      II-3
<PAGE>   21
 
                                   SIGNATURES
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Akron and State of Ohio, on the 13th day of November,
1997.
 
                                              FirstEnergy Corp.
 
                                              By /s/ W. R. HOLLAND
 
                                               ---------------------------------
                                               W. R. Holland
                                               Chairman of the Board
                                               and Chief Executive Officer
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the date indicated.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
               NAME                                TITLE                        DATE
- -----------------------------------  ----------------------------------  -------------------
<S>                                  <C>                                 <C>
 
/s/ W.R. HOLLAND                     Chairman of the Board and Chief       November 13, 1997
- -----------------------------------  Executive Officer (Principal
W.R. Holland                         Executive Officer)
/s/ H.P. BURG                        President and Director (Principal     November 13, 1997
- -----------------------------------  Financial Officer)
H.P. Burg
 
/s/ HARVEY L. WAGNER                 Controller (Principal Accounting      November 13, 1997
- -----------------------------------  Officer)
Harvey L. Wagner
 
/s/ ROBERT M. CARTER                 Director                              November 13, 1997
- -----------------------------------
Robert M. Carter
 
/s/ CAROL A. CARTWRIGHT              Director                              November 13, 1997
- -----------------------------------
Carol A. Cartwright
 
/s/ WILLIAM F. CONWAY                Director                              November 13, 1997
- -----------------------------------
William F. Conway
 
/s/ R.L. LOUGHHEAD                   Director                              November 13, 1997
- -----------------------------------
R.L. Loughhead
 
/s/ RUSSELL W. MAIER                 Director                              November 13, 1997
- -----------------------------------
Russell W. Maier
 
/s/ GLENN H. MEADOWS                 Director                              November 13, 1997
- -----------------------------------
Glenn H. Meadows
 
/s/ PAUL J. POWERS                   Director                              November 13, 1997
- -----------------------------------
Paul J. Powers
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-4
<PAGE>   22
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
               NAME                                TITLE                        DATE
- -----------------------------------  ----------------------------------  -------------------
<S>                                  <C>                                 <C>
 
/s/ CHARLES W. RAINGER               Director                              November 13, 1997
- -----------------------------------
Charles W. Rainger
 
/s/ ROBERT C. SAVAGE                 Director                              November 13, 1997
- -----------------------------------
Robert C. Savage
 
/s/ GEORGE M. SMART                  Director                              November 13, 1997
- -----------------------------------
George M. Smart
 
/s/ JESSE T. WILLIAMS, SR.           Director                              November 13, 1997
- -----------------------------------
Jesse T. Williams, Sr.
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-5
<PAGE>   23
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 
<TABLE>
<S>        <C>
4(a)       Company's Articles of Incorporation (physically filed and designated in
           Registration No. 333- 21011 as Exhibit (3)-1).
4(b)       Code of Regulations of the Company (physically filed and designated in
           Registration No. 333-21011 as Exhibit (3)-2).
4(c)       Form of Common Stock Certificate (to be filed by amendment).
4(d)       FirstEnergy Corp. Stock Investment Plan (set forth in full in the Prospectus,
           to which reference is hereby made).
5          Opinion of Anthony J. Alexander, Esq., Executive Vice President and General
           Counsel of the Company, as to the securities being registered (to be filed by
           amendment).
23(a)      Consent of Anthony J. Alexander, Esq. (contained in Exhibit 5).
23(b)      Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP (to be filed by amendment).
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-6


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