FirstEnergy Corp. - FE STOCK NEWS

FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Company (FE PA), a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), has reached a $225 million settlement in its base rate review, pending approval from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. The agreement aims to expand bill assistance for low-income customers and enable electric grid investments for improved service reliability.

Key points of the settlement include:

• Increased vegetation management investments
• Support for the Long-Term Infrastructure Improvement Plan III
• Selective underground placement of distribution facilities
• Increased funding for Hardship Fund grants
• Improved enrollment in the Pennsylvania Customer Assistance Program
• Hiring 10% more field workforce

If approved, the settlement would result in average monthly bill increases ranging from 1.9% to 6.2% for residential customers using 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month, effective January 1, 2025.

FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) has reached a settlement agreement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to resolve a previously disclosed investigation. The settlement requires FirstEnergy to pay a civil penalty of $100 million, which the company had already reserved in its second quarter 2024 earnings.

Brian X. Tierney, President and CEO of FirstEnergy, stated that the company is focused on investing in its regulated electric companies to improve customer experience and support the energy transition. FirstEnergy operates one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers across six states and managing approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines.

Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L), a FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) subsidiary, has relaunched its EV Driven residential electric vehicle charging incentives program in New Jersey. The program offers up to $7,000 in incentives to eligible customers for property preparation for EV charger installation. This includes up to $1,500 for customer electrical upgrades and up to $5,500 for utility upgrades. The $39.8 million program, approved by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities in 2022, aims to support the state's goal of increasing EV adoption to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. New Jersey ranks in the top five states for EV sales nationally. The program's relaunch follows a $4.1 million reallocation from non-residential portions after the initial residential incentives were fully awarded in September 2023.

FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Company (FE PA), operating as Met-Ed, has energized a new transformer at its substation in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. This upgrade will enhance electric service reliability for over 7,000 customers in Lebanon, North Lebanon Township, and West Lebanon Township. The new transformer replaces a failed unit from June, ensuring long-term grid stability for the area's underground distribution network.

The installation is part of FirstEnergy's Energize365 program, a multi-year grid evolution initiative with planned investments of $26 billion between 2024 and 2028. This program aims to create a smarter, more secure grid to meet future energy demands, including electric vehicles and clean energy sources. Additional investments are planned for another Met-Ed substation in West Lebanon in the next 18 to 24 months.

Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L), a FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) subsidiary, is upgrading two power lines in Morris and Monmouth counties in New Jersey. This is part of the $95 million New Jersey Reliability Improvement Project, approved in February. The upgrades, set to complete in November, include:

• Replacing infrastructure with stronger wires and poles
• Upgrading fuses and installing remote-access devices
• Installing TripSaver devices
• Additional tree trimming and vegetation management

The project will enhance 10 miles of lines in each county, benefiting over 4,300 customers. It's the first of 18 line upgrades in a two-phase effort to improve reliability, with the second phase targeted for completion by 2028.

FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) subsidiary Potomac Edison has begun construction on a new substation in Morgan County, West Virginia, aimed at enhancing reliability for 1,800 customers in the area. The $4 million project, part of the Energize365 program, will replace an existing substation with a more accessible and reliable facility. Key features include:

- Fed by a more reliable 138-kV power line
- New automated reclosing devices to limit outages
- Smart technology for faster fault location and restoration
- Expected completion in 2025
- Serving 1,600 customers in Great Cacapon and 200 in Little Orleans, Maryland

This initiative is part of FirstEnergy's broader $26 billion investment plan for 2024-2028, focusing on grid modernization and accommodating future energy needs.

FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) subsidiary Mon Power is upgrading equipment at eight transmission substations in West Virginia to enhance electric service for over 13,000 customers. The project involves replacing existing equipment with new communication equipment and electrical relays to reduce the frequency and severity of power outages. The upgrades are taking place in Preston, Wood, Taylor, Roane, Braxton, and Hancock counties, with completion expected by year-end.

This initiative is part of FirstEnergy's Energize365 program, a multi-year grid evolution plan with planned investments of $26 billion between 2024 and 2028. The program aims to create a smarter, more secure grid to meet future challenges, including electric vehicle adoption and clean energy integration.

CRA International (NASDAQ: CRAI) has announced an upcoming auction process for FirstEnergy Corp.'s (NYSE: FE) Ohio subsidiaries to procure full requirements service for their Standard Service Offer customers. The auction, scheduled for October 1, 2024, will use a descending-price clock format and will be managed by CRA International as the Auction Manager.

Key dates include:

• Information Session for prospective bidders: August 21, 2024
• Part 1 Applications acceptance: August 22 - September 3, 2024
• Part 2 Application submission window: Begins September 9, 2024

The auction process is subject to approval from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO). Interested parties can find more information on the Auction Information Website at firstenergycbp.com.

Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L), a FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) company, has installed 64 artificial bat roosts along transmission rights-of-way in New Jersey as part of a collaborative research study with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). The project aims to protect endangered bat species, including the Indiana, northern long-eared, and little brown bats, by providing alternative roosting habitats. The 16-foot tall structures are built on wooden posts and placed strategically in Warren, Morris, and Union counties.

EPRI researchers will monitor the roosts for two years using acoustic monitors and guano catchers to assess their effectiveness and identify ideal conditions for bat occupation. This initiative is part of JCP&L's ongoing efforts to protect wildlife, which also includes safely relocating osprey nests and monitoring over 60 nesting sites this year.