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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