Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
VESPOLI LEILA L
  2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
FIRSTENERGY CORP [FE]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Exec. Vice Pres & Gen. Counsel
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
76 SOUTH MAIN STREET
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
02/20/2009
(Street)

AKRON, OH 44308
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)
6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock 02/20/2009   A   7,685.291 (1) A $ 52.03 68,495.628 D  
Common Stock 02/20/2009   D   7,685.291 (1) D $ 52.03 60,810.337 D  
Common Stock               1,966.0795 I By Savings Plan

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)
6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)
8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)
9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)
10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Phantom / Retirement $ 1 (2)               (3)   (3) Common Stock 9,961.132   9,961.132 D  
Phantom 3/05d Retirement $ 1 (2)               (4)   (4) Common Stock 983.247   983.247 D  
Phantom 3/07d $ 1 (2)             03/01/2007 03/01/2010 Common Stock 5,696.385   5,696.385 D  
Phantom 3/08d $ 1 (2)             03/01/2008 03/01/2011 Common Stock 5,673.695   5,673.695 D  
Rsup10 $ 1 (2)             03/03/2011 03/03/2011 Common Stock 6,152   6,152 D  
Rsup4 $ 1 (2)             03/01/2009 03/01/2009 Common Stock 4,107   4,107 D  
Rsup6 $ 1 (2)             03/01/2010 03/01/2010 Common Stock 5,840   5,840 D  
Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 29.71             03/01/2004 03/01/2013 Common Stock 45,000   45,000 D  
Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 38.76             03/01/2005 03/01/2014 Common Stock 48,800   48,800 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
VESPOLI LEILA L
76 SOUTH MAIN STREET
AKRON, OH 44308
      Exec. Vice Pres & Gen. Counsel  

Signatures

 Edward J. Udovich, POA   02/23/2009
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) On February 17, 2009, the Board authorized the cash payout of the 2006 grant of performance shares, no earlier than February 20, 2009, based on the average high and low prices of FirstEnergy's stock on each trading date during the month of December, 2008. Based on performance, the amount of the cash payout was increased by 45.6%.
(2) 1 for 1
(3) This transaction reflects the extension and vesting of phantom stock to retirement or other termination of employment under arrangements approved by the Compensation Committee.
(4) These transactions reflect the extension of the expiration date of phantom stock from 3/1/2005 to "retirement" or "other termination of employment" under arrangements approved by the Compensation Committee, and reflects the stock moving to the "retirement" account from the Phantom 3/02D.

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