FirstEnergy Corp.
                            -----------------
            Executive and Directors Incentive Compensation Plan
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                 Non-Qualifying Stock Option (NSO) Agreement
                 -------------------------------------------

                                 Option No.:  9A

                                 Number of Options Granted: XXXX NSOs

                                 Option Price:  $27.75 per share

                                 Option Closing Date:  January 26, 2001



This Option Agreement ("Agreement") is entered into as of the 22nd day of
November, 2000, between FirstEnergy Corp., and XXXXX (the "Optionee") and
is not in lieu of salary or any other compensation for services.  For the
purposes of this plan, the term "Company" or "FE" means FirstEnergy Corp.
or its subsidiaries, singularly or collectively.


SECTION ONE - AWARD

On February 17, 1998, the Board of Directors ("Board") of FE adopted the FE
Executive and Director Incentive Compensation Plan ("Plan"), which was
approved by the common stock shareholders on April 30, 1998, and become
effective May 1, 1998.  As of the date of this Agreement, per the terms of
the Plan, FE grants to the Optionee an option ("Option") to purchase the
above number of shares of FE Common Stock ("Shares") at the option price
reflected above.

All Grants are considered NSOs, not subject to the provisions of section
422 of the Code.


SECTION TWO - GENERAL TERMS

This Agreement is subject to the following terms and conditions as outlined
in the Plan:

Vesting Provisions

These Options will become fully vested on November 22, 2004, which is four
(4) years after the date of grant unless it becomes exercisable prior to
that date due to termination of employment (as described below).

Expiration

These Options expire on November 22, 2010 at 2:00 PM, Akron Time unless the
Options expire earlier due to termination of employment (or 2:00 PM on the
last business day prior to such date, if the date falls on a Saturday,
Sunday, or other day when the FirstEnergy General Office is closed).



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<TABLE>
Termination of Employment

<CAPTION>
      Event of Optionee            Vesting            When Options Expire       Further Information
      -----------------            -------            -------------------       -------------------
<S>                           <C>                      <C>                      <C>
Retirement (including early   Vesting continues per    Options expire on        As defined under 6.8
retirement)                   vesting schedule         November 22, 2010        of the Plan

Disability                    Vesting continues per    Options expire on        As defined under 6.8
                              vesting schedule         November 22, 2010        of the Plan

Death (including death        100% vesting on date     All options expire the   Shares exercisable by
after retirement, dis-        of death                 earlier of one year      the beneficiary (per
ability, or Other Termin-                              after date of death or   Article 12 of the
ations other than for Cause)                           expiration of the grant  Plan, or by will or
                                                                                by the laws of
descent
                                                                                and distribution)

Termination for Cause         Vesting stops upon       All vested and unvested  Termination for Cause
                              date you leave Company   options are immediately  is defined in section
                                                       forfeited back to the    2.1.6 of the Plan
                                                       Company

Separation from Company in    25% of the options       All unvested options     Refer to the
Severance
which you qualify for and     will vest for every      are immediately          Benefits Plan
elect benefits under the      whole year you have      forfeited back to the
FirstEnergy Severance Plan    worked since the date    Company.  All vested
                              of the grant, effective  options expire the
                              upon the date that you   earlier of 90 days
                              leave the Company        after you leave the
                                                       Company or expiration
                                                       of the grant

Other Termination             Vesting stops upon       All unvested options     You may be subject to
(including resignation)       date you leave Company   are immediately          the "Forfeiture and
                                                       forfeited back to the    Recovery" provisions
                                                       Company.  All vested     below.

                                                       options expire the
                                                       earlier of 90 days after
                                                       you leave the Company or
                                                       expiration of the grant

</TABLE>
<PAGE>



Change in Control

In the event of a Change in Control (as defined in section 2.1.7 of the
Plan), all options under this Agreement become immediately exercisable as
of the date of the Change of Control and the provisions under the section
entitled "Forfeiture and Recovery" shall not apply.

Forfeiture and Recovery

If it is determined, in the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee
(the "Committee") of the FirstEnergy Board of Directors or its delegate,
that the Optionee has breached any of the covenants below, and unless such
breach has been waived by the Committee or its delegate in writing, all
outstanding Options shall be immediately forfeited back to FE and any
profits resulting from the exercise of Options realized in the twelve (12)
months preceding the date of termination through the date of the breach
shall be returned to FE.  During the term of his/her employment with the
Company and for a

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<PAGE>

period of twenty-four (24) months following termination of employment for
any reason, including without limitation, termination by mutual agreement,
the Optionee expressly covenants and agrees that he/she will not at any
time for himself/herself or on behalf of any other person, firm,
association or other entity do any of the following:

1.  Participate or engage, by virtue of being employed or otherwise,
    directly or indirectly, in the business of selling, servicing, and/or
    manufacturing products, supplies or services of the kind, nature or
    description of those sold by the Company except pursuant to his/her
    employment with the Company;

2.  Directly participate or engage, on the behalf of other parties, in the
    purchase of products, supplies or services of the kind, nature or
    description of those sold by the Company except pursuant to his/her
    employment with the Company;

3.  Solicit, divert, take away or attempt to take away any of the Company's
    Customers or the business or patronage of any such Customers of the
    Company;

4.  Solicit, entice, lure, employ or endeavor to employ any of the
    Company's employees;

5.  Divulge to others or use his/her own benefit any confidential
    information obtained during the course of his/her employment with
    Company relative to sales, services, processes, methods, machines,
    manufacturers, compositions, ideas, improvements, patents, trademarks,
    or inventions belonging to or relating to the affairs of Company;

6.  Divulge to others or use to his/her own benefit any trade secrets
    belonging to the Company obtained during the course of his/her
    employment or that he/she became aware of as a consequence of his/her
    employment.

The term "Customer" shall mean any person, firm, association, corporation
or other entity to which Optionee or the Company has sold the Company's
products or services within the twenty-four (24) month period immediately
preceding the termination of Optionee's employment with the Company or to
which Optionee or the Company is in the process of selling its products or
services, or to which Optionee or the Company has submitted a bid, or is in
the process of submitting a bid to sell the Company's products or services.

FE may offset any amount owed against any compensation due to the Optionee
or against any amounts otherwise due and distributable to the Optionee from
any benefit plan of FE in which the Optionee was a participant, in
accordance with the terms of such benefit plan.  Should it be necessary for
FE to initiate legal action to recover any amounts due, FE shall be
entitled to recover from Optionee, in addition to such amounts due, all
costs, including reasonable attorneys fees, incurred as a result of such
legal action.

Effect on the Employment Relationship

Nothing in this Agreement guarantees employment with the Company, nor does
it confer any special rights or privileges to the Optionee as to the terms
of employment.

Adjustments

In the event of any merger, reorganization, consolidation,
recapitalization, separation, liquidation, stock dividend, stock split,
combination, distribution, or other change in corporate structure of FE
affecting the Common Stock, the Committee will adjust the number and class
of securities in this option in a manner determined appropriate to prevent
dilution or diminution of the Option under this Agreement.

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<PAGE>

Administration
1.  This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of Ohio without
    giving effect to the principles of the conflicts of laws.

2.  The terms and conditions of this Option may be modified by the
    Committee
    (a)  In any case permitted by the terms of the Plan or this Option,
    (b)  with the written consent of the Optionee, or
    (c)  without the consent of the Optionee if the amendment is either not
         adverse to the interests of the Optionee or is required by law.

3.  The administration of this Agreement and the Plan will be performed in
    accordance with Article 3 of the Plan.  All determinations and
    decisions made by the Committee, the Board, or any delegate of the
    Committee as to the provisions of the Plan shall be final, conclusive,
    and binding on all persons.

4.  The terms of this Agreement are governed at all times by the official
    text of the Plan and in no way alter or modify the Plan.

5.  If a term is capitalized but not defined in this Agreement, it has the
    meaning given to it in the Plan.

6.  To the extent a conflict exists between the terms of this Agreement
    and the provisions of the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall
    govern.

SECTION THREE - METHODS OF EXERCISING THE OPTION

Notification to Exercise

To exercise an option, the Optionee must submit to the Administrator of the
Plan the information below either on a form provided by FE, a broker form,
or on a blank sheet of paper:

1.  Number of shares being purchased,
2.  The grant price,
3.  The form of payment,
4.  A statement of intention to exercise,
5.  The signature of the Optionee, (or legal representative in the case of
    death or disability), and
6.  Any representations or disclosures required by any applicable
    securities law.

Method of Payment

Payment for the transaction and associated brokerage fees may be made
through the following methods:

1.  Cash Exercise -- Delivering cash equal to the cost of the exercise.

2.  Stock Swap Exercise -- Surrendering certificates of FE stock previously
    acquired having a Fair Market Value at the time of the exercise equal
    to the amount of the exercise, along with a small amount of cash, not
    to exceed the price of one (1) share of stock.


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3.  Cashless Exercise-- Using the net proceeds from the immediate sale of
    stock to pay for the exercise of the Option, as directed in the written
    notification to exercise the option.

A combination of any of the above based upon Plan administrative rules.

Withholding Tax

FE shall have the right to deduct, withhold, or require the Optionee to
surrender an amount sufficient to satisfy federal (including FICA and
Medicare), state, and/or local taxes required by law to be withheld for any
exercise.

SECTION FOUR - TRANSFER OF OPTION

The Option is not transferable during the life of the Optionee.  Only the
Optionee shall have the right to exercise an option, unless deceased, at
which time the option may be exercised by the Optionee's beneficiary (as
designated under Article 12 of the Plan or by will or by the laws of
descent and distribution).


                                 FirstEnergy Corp.


                                 By _____________________________
                                        Corporate Secretary

        I acknowledge receipt of this NSO Agreement and I accept and agree
with the terms and conditions stated above.


                                ________________________________
                                    (Signature of Optionee)
_____________________
       (Date)

(This is XXX's Ynd grant under the FE Stock Option Program.)
NSO Option Agreement Grant 9A (J. Lash).doc
12/19/00

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