In 2025, FirstEnergy mobilized nearly 800 employees and community partners across Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland and New Jersey to plant over 30,000 trees—surpassing its annual goal and bringing the total since 2020 to 131,000. Volunteers participated in 151 events, contributing 3,438 hours and focusing more than half of the plantings in underserved communities. Highlights by state included nearly 14,000 trees planted in Ohio at 70 events, more than 6,000 in Pennsylvania at 16 events, over 7,000 in West Virginia and Maryland at 50 events, and more than 2,000 in New Jersey at 15 events. FirstEnergy’s Green Teams also established 26 community gardens covering 113,289 square feet to support pollinators. Looking ahead, the company aims to plant at least 26,000 native red maple, hickory, oak and dogwood trees in 2026 in partnership with nonprofits, schools and parks, furthering air quality and watershed health goals.

FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Company, serving more than two million customers through Met-Ed, Penelec, Penn Power and West Penn Power, has filed a Default Service Plan with the state commission outlining how it will procure electricity for customers who do not select an alternate supplier. Since generation supply represents roughly 60 percent of a typical customer bill in Pennsylvania, the plan emphasizes a competitive auction process run by CRA International to secure the lowest possible prices. Proposed enhancements include semi-annual rate adjustments, quarterly opt-in requirements for variable rate plans, automatic reversion to the standard default service rate when fixed-term contracts expire, and supplier guidelines designed to cap pass-through charges and encourage bids below the utility’s reference rate. FE PA also plans three auctions in 2027 (January, April and November) and two per year from 2028 through 2031. The Public Utility Commission is expected to rule by year-end.

Potomac Edison, a FirstEnergy subsidiary serving roughly 285,000 customers in seven Maryland counties, has secured approval for an $11.1 million pilot program to support up to 28 zero-emission school buses and associated charging infrastructure. The initiative covers the approximate $250,000 premium per bus compared with diesel models, funds necessary electrical system upgrades, and provides full technical and administrative support for site selection, installation and training. The five-year program also incorporates vehicle-to-grid technology trials to assess how idle bus batteries can feed energy back to the grid during peak periods or emergencies, enhancing reliability and offering potential cost-savings for both school districts and Potomac Edison.