FIRSTENERGY CORP (FE)

ITEM 2.        Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

FIRSTENERGY CORP.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF

FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in this Form 10-Q discusses the three and six months ended June 30, 2026, and year-over-year comparisons between the three and six months ended June 30, 2026, and 2025, and should be read in conjunction with the Registrants’ interim financial statements and notes included in this Form 10-Q, and the Registrants’ audited financial statements, notes and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Part II, Item 7. in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on February 18, 2026.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Company Overview

FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence and is principally involved in the transmission, distribution and generation of electricity through its reportable segments: Distribution, Integrated and Stand-Alone Transmission. Its electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving over 6 million customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. FirstEnergy’s transmission subsidiaries operate more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions and two regional transmission operation centers. As of June 30, 2026, AGC and MP control 3,610 MWs of net maximum generation capacity.

Segment Overview

See Note 11., “Segment Information,” of the Combined Notes to Financial Statements of the Registrants.

Investment Strategy

FirstEnergy invests in both its regulated operations to improve reliability and the customer experience, and its people to attract, retain and develop talented and engaged employees to carry out its strategy.

FirstEnergy’s customer-focused Energize365 investment plan for the 2026 to 2030 time period is $36 billion, approximately 25% higher than the previous 2025 to 2029 five-year plan, and aims to strengthen the grid, improve reliability and support growing customer demand. Through the Energize365 program, system-wide capital investments from 2026 to 2030 are expected to include 28% in the Distribution segment, 35% in the Integrated segment, and 35% in the Stand-Alone Transmission segment, focused on the following:

•Distribution and Transmission investments to enhance grid reliability and resiliency and support growing customer demand, including through:

•Programs to drive system resiliency through automation technology and communication, including the Ohio Companies’ distribution grid modernization plans, Pennsylvania's LTIIP, New Jersey's EnergizeNJ, and implementing advanced metering infrastructure;

•Operational flexibility projects that are expected to build capacity and support the evolving grid such as projects to support increased data center load;

•Enhancing system performance by implementing new designs and technologies to reduce load at risk;

•Upgrading system conditions that enhance reliability; and

•Transmission projects awarded through the PJM Open Window to address regional expansion projects, including incremental opportunities in the 2026 Open Window, for which the planning period was opened.

•Base distribution projects to address aging infrastructure.

•Generation maintenance projects that maintain operations of fossil electric generation facilities and remain compliant with environmental regulations through the end of their useful life.

FirstEnergy believes there is a continued long-term pipeline of investment opportunities for its existing distribution and transmission infrastructure beyond those opportunities identified through 2030, which are expected to strengthen the grid and cyber security and make the transmission system more reliable, robust, secure and resistant to extreme weather events, with improved operational flexibility.

Finance

FirstEnergy aims to execute its Energize365 investment plan through a strengthened financial position. Energize365 capital investments included in the current five-year plan are expected to be funded with a combination of organic cash flows and the issuance of debt, including hybrid securities. Additionally, FirstEnergy may issue its common equity to fund capital expenditures in its 2026 through 2030 planning period averaging approximately 1% of its now current market capitalization in each year of the

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planning period, subject to market conditions and other factors. FirstEnergy believes it has optimized its financing plan to retain flexibility in an uncertain interest rate environment.

On March 30, 2026, Moody’s revised FE’s outlook to positive from stable. Moody’s also affirmed FE’s ratings, including its Baa3 Issuer and senior unsecured ratings.

Dividend Growth

FirstEnergy continues to return value to shareholders. In February 2026, the FE Board declared a $0.02 per share increase to the quarterly cash common stock dividend to $0.465 per share payable June 1, 2026, which represents a 4.5% increase compared to dividends declared in 2025. Modest dividend growth is expected to enable enhanced shareholder returns, while still allowing for continued substantial regulated investments. Dividend payments are subject to declaration by the FE Board, and future dividend decisions determined by the FE Board may be impacted by earnings, cash flows, credit metrics and general economic and other business conditions.

PJM RTEP Open Window Projects

On February 21, 2025, FET, DominionHV and Transource entered into the Valley Link Operating Agreement, which established the general framework for Valley Link and the Valley Link Subsidiaries to accept, design, develop, construct, own, operate and finance those transmission projects awarded by PJM to Valley Link. This general framework includes parameters regarding the relationship among the three members, confers governance rights to its members so long as certain ownership percentages are maintained, as described below, and defines the list of projects that Valley Link will have the right to develop. Valley Link is the owner of the Valley Link Subsidiaries, which are organized in various states. On February 26, 2025, in response to the PJM 2024 RTEP Open Window #1, PJM awarded two electric transmission projects to Valley Link estimated to be approximately $3 billion, with FET’s share estimated to be approximately $1 billion.

On February 13, 2026, FET and Transource entered into the Grid Growth Operating Agreement, which established the general framework for Grid Growth to accept, design, develop, construct, own, operate and finance certain transmission projects awarded by PJM to certain of the subsidiaries of Grid Growth. This general framework includes parameters regarding the relationship between the two members, confers governance rights to its members so long as certain ownership percentages are maintained and defines the list of projects that Grid Growth will have the right to develop. The relative ownership interests of the members under the Grid Growth Operating Agreement are 50% for each of FET and Transource. Grid Growth is the sole owner of Grid Growth Ohio and owns an 80% interest in Grid Growth EHV, with Transource owning the remaining interest. On February 12, 2026, in response to the PJM 2025 RTEP Open Window #1, PJM awarded a project to Grid Growth estimated to be approximately $1 billion, with FET’s share estimated to be approximately $448 million.

Regulatory Matters - Ohio

On April 5, 2023, the Ohio Companies sought approval from the PUCO for their ESP V. The proposed plan would maintain an eight-year term beginning June 1, 2024, and continue riders recovering costs associated with distribution infrastructure investments and approved grid modernization investments. ESP V additionally proposed new riders that would support reliability, and included provisions supporting affordability and enhancing the customer experience. As more fully described in “Outlook - State Regulation - Ohio,” in Item 2., "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," on October 29, 2024, the Ohio Companies filed a notice of their intent to withdraw ESP V and proposed the terms under which they would resume operating under ESP IV, which was approved by the PUCO on December 18, 2024. On January 22, 2025, the PUCO approved the Ohio Companies’ ESP IV compliance tariffs with an effective date of February 1, 2025, at which point the Ohio Companies resumed operating under ESP IV with certain modifications, as described in “Outlook - State Regulation - Ohio,” in Item 2., "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations". The Ohio Companies’ return to ESP IV was appealed by certain intervenors and the matter remains pending before the Supreme Court of Ohio.

On May 31, 2024, the Ohio Companies filed their application for an increase in base distribution rates based on a 2024 calendar year test period. On January 27, 2025, the Ohio Companies notified the PUCO of their intention to update their application for an increase in base distribution rates to remove ESP V related provisions from the base rate case. On November 19, 2025, the PUCO issued an order in the rate case. On November 26, 2025, the Ohio Companies filed proposed compliance tariffs. On December 19, 2025, the Ohio Companies and other parties filed applications for rehearing and on December 29, 2025, the Ohio Companies filed a memorandum against intervenors’ applications for rehearing. On January 7, 2026, the PUCO issued an entry granting rehearing in order to determine whether its November 19, 2025, base rate case opinion and order should be affirmed, abrogated, or modified on rehearing. On January 9, 2026, the Ohio Companies filed an expedited motion for ruling on the proposed compliance tariffs and on February 4, 2026, PUCO staff issued a letter recommending that most of the Ohio Companies’ proposed compliance tariffs be approved. The Ohio Companies cannot predict the outcome of the rehearing, but do not expect material changes to the November 2025 order. See “Outlook - State Regulation - Ohio,” in Item 2., "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations".

On April 22, 2026, the Ohio Companies filed with the PUCO a notice of their intent to file a three-year rate plan, requesting approval of three consecutive, annual test periods that begin July 1, 2027 and end June 30, 2030. The Ohio Companies filed

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their applications for an increase in their distribution rates on May 22, 2026. The application proposes net increases in the Ohio Companies’ base distribution revenues of approximately $254 million in the first year, approximately $59 million in the second year, and approximately $80 million in the third year, with a return on equity of 10.2% and a capital structure of approximately 47% debt and approximately 53% equity for all three Ohio Companies. On June 12, 2026, PUCO staff issued a deficiency letter requesting additional supplementation in certain areas, which the Ohio Companies provided on June 22, 2026. On July 1, 2026, an administrative law judge deemed the application complete and set a procedural schedule. Evidentiary hearings are set to begin March 1, 2027.

Regulatory Matters - West Virginia

On October 1, 2025, MP and PE filed their integrated resource plan with the WVPSC. To ensure that MP and PE can meet their PJM adequacy requirements, the plan proposes, among other things, near-term market capacity purchases and the addition of 70 MWs of solar generation by 2028 and 1,200 MWs of natural gas combined cycle generation by 2031. On February 13, 2026, MP and PE filed a CPCN to c

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Forward-Looking Statements: This Form 10-K includes forward-looking statements based on information currently available to the Registrants’ management and unless the context requires otherwise, references to “we,” “us,” “our” and “FirstEnergy” refer to the Registrants collectively. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These statements include declarations regarding management's intents, beliefs and current expectations. These statements typically contain, but are not limited to, the terms “anticipate,” “potential,” “expect,” "forecast," "target," "will," "intend," “believe,” "project," “estimate," "plan" and similar words. Forward-looking statements involve estimates, assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, which may include the following (see Glossary of Terms for definitions of capitalized terms):

•The potential liabilities, increased costs and unanticipated developments resulting from government investigations and agreements, including those associated with compliance with or failure to comply with the DPA, and settlements with the OAG's office and the SEC;

•The risks and uncertainties associated with litigation, including the securities class-action lawsuit, regulatory proceedings, arbitration, mediation and similar proceedings;

•Changes in national and regional economic conditions, including recession, volatile interest rates, inflationary pressure, supply chain disruptions, higher fuel costs, and workforce impacts, affecting us and/or our customers and the vendors with which we do business;

•Variations in weather, such as mild seasonal weather variations and severe weather conditions (including events caused, or exacerbated, by climate change, such as wildfires, hurricanes, flooding, droughts, high wind events and extreme heat events) and other natural disasters, which may result in increased storm restoration expenses or material liability and negatively affect future operating results;

•The potential liabilities and increased costs arising from regulatory actions or outcomes in response to severe weather conditions and other natural disasters;

•Legislative and regulatory developments, and executive orders, including, but not limited to, matters related to rates, generation resource adequacy, co-location of generation and large loads, and compliance and enforcement activity;

•The ability to access the public securities and other capital and credit markets in accordance with our financial plans, the cost of such capital and overall condition of the capital and credit markets affecting us, including the increasing number of financial institutions evaluating the impact of climate change on their investment decisions, and the loss of FE’s status as a well-known seasoned issuer;

•The risks associated with physical attacks, such as acts of war, terrorism, sabotage or other acts of violence, and cyber-attacks and other disruptions to our, or our vendors’, information technology system, which may compromise our operations, and data security breaches of sensitive data, intellectual property and proprietary or personally identifiable information;

•The ability to accomplish or realize anticipated benefits through establishing a culture of continuous improvement and our other strategic and financial goals, including, but not limited to, executing Energize365, our transmission and distribution investment plan, executing on our rate filing strategy, controlling costs, improving credit metrics, maintaining investment grade ratings, strengthening our balance sheet and growing earnings;

•Changing market conditions affecting the measurement of certain liabilities and the value of assets held in FirstEnergy's pension trusts may negatively impact our forecasted growth rate, results of operations and may also cause it to make contributions to its pension sooner or in amounts that are larger than currently anticipated;

•Changes in assumptions regarding factors such as economic conditions within our territories, the reliability of our transmission and distribution system, our generation resource planning in West Virginia, or the availability of capital or other resources supporting identified transmission and distribution investment opportunities;

•Human capital management challenges, including among other things, attracting and retaining appropriately trained and qualified employees, and labor disruptions by our unionized workforce;

•Changes to environmental laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, federal and state rules related to climate change, CCRs, and potential changes to such laws and regulations;

•Changes in customers’ demand for power, including, but not limited to, economic conditions, the impact of climate change, and emerging technology, particularly with respect to electrification, energy storage, co-location of generation and large loads, and distributed sources of generation;

•Future actions taken by credit rating agencies that could negatively affect either our access to or terms of financing or our financial condition and liquidity;

•The potential of non-compliance with debt covenants in our credit facilities;

•The ability to comply with applicable reliability standards and energy efficiency and peak demand reduction mandates;

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•Changes to significant accounting policies;

•Any changes in tax laws or regulations, including, but not limited to, the IRA of 2022, the OBBBA, or adverse tax audit results or rulings and potential changes to such laws and regulations;

•The ability to meet our publicly-disclosed goals relating to climate-related matters, opportunities, improvements, and efficiencies, including FirstEnergy’s GHG reduction goals; and

•The risks and other factors discussed from time to time in our SEC filings.

Dividends declared from time to time on FE’s common stock during any period may in the aggregate vary from prior periods due to circumstances considered by the FE Board at the time of the actual declarations. A security rating is not a recommendation to buy or hold securities and is subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating agency. Each rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating.

These forward-looking statements are also qualified by, and should be read together with, the risk factors included in (a) Item 1A., "Risk Factors", (b) Item 7., "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," and (c) other factors discussed herein and in the Registrants’ other filings with the SEC. The foregoing review of factors also should not be construed as exhaustive. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all such factors, nor assess the impact of any such factor on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. We expressly disclaim any obligation to update or revise, except as required by law, any forward-looking statements contained herein or in the information incorporated by reference as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Forward-looking and other statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K regarding FirstEnergy’s Climate Strategy, including FirstEnergy’s GHG emission reduction goals, are not an indication that these statements are necessarily material to investors or required to be disclosed in FE’s filings with the SEC. In addition, historical, current and forward-looking statements regarding climate matters, including GHG emissions, may be based on standards for measuring progress that are still developing, internal controls and processes that continue to evolve and assumptions that are subject to change in the future.

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FIRSTENERGY CORP.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF

FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in this Form 10-K discusses FirstEnergy's 2025 and 2024 results, and year-over-year comparisons between 2025 and 2024. Discussions of 2023 results and year-over-year comparisons between 2024 and 2023 that are not included in this Form 10-K can be found in Item 7., “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of FirstEnergy’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2025.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Company Overview

FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence and is principally involved in the transmission, distribution and generation of electricity through its reportable segments: Distribution, Integrated and Stand-Alone Transmission. Its electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving over 6 million customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. FirstEnergy’s transmission subsidiaries operate more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions and two regional transmission operation centers. In addition, MP and AGC control 3,610 MWs of total generation capacity.

Segment Overview

FirstEnergy's Distribution segment, which consists of the Ohio Companies and FE PA, representing $11.1 billion in rate base as of December 31, 2025, distributes electricity through FirstEnergy’s electric operating companies in Ohio and Pennsylvania. The Distribution segment serves approximately 4.3 million customers in Ohio and Pennsylvania across its distribution footprint and purchases power for its default service or standard service offer requirements. The segment’s results reflect the costs of securing and delivering electric generation to customers, including the deferral and amortization of certain costs.

FirstEnergy's Integrated segment includes the distribution and transmission operations of JCP&L, MP and PE, as well as MP’s regulated generation operations, representing $10.2 billion in rate base as of December 31, 2025. The Integrated segment distributes electricity to approximately 2 million customers in New Jersey, West Virginia and Maryland across its distribution footprint; provides transmission infrastructure in New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and Virginia to transmit electricity and operates 3,610 MWs of regulated generation capacity located primarily in West Virginia and Virginia, which includes three solar generation sites, representing 30 MWs of generation capacity. The segment’s results reflect the costs of securing and delivering electric generation to customers, including the deferral and amortization of certain costs. Additionally, on October 1, 2025, MP and PE filed their integrated resource plan with the WVPSC proposing, among other things, the addition of 70 MWs of solar generation by 2028, and 1,200 MWs of natural gas combined cycle generation by 2031, which are expected to require an estimated capital investment of approximately $2.5 billion, as detailed in the filing. See Note 13., "Regulatory Matters," of the Combined Notes to Financial Statements of the Registrants for additional details.

FirstEnergy's Stand-Alone Transmission segment, which consists of FE's ownership in FET and KATCo, representing $5.4 billion in FirstEnergy-owned rate base as of December 31, 2025, includes transmission infrastructure owned and operated by the Transmission Companies and used to transmit electricity. Th

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