SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) May 8, 2002 Commission Registrant; State of Incorporation; I.R.S. Employer File Number Address; and Telephone Number Identification No. ----------- ----------------------------------- ------------------ 333-21011 FIRSTENERGY CORP. 34-1843785 (An Ohio Corporation) 76 South Main Street Akron, Ohio 44308 Telephone (800)736-3402 Item 5. Other Events On May 8, 2002, FirstEnergy Corp. completed the sale of a 79.9 percent interest in its Avon Energy Partners Holdings subsidiary to Aquila, Inc. (formerly UtiliCorp United) in exchange for a $150 million payment at closing and six annual payments of $19 million, guaranteed by Aquila at the holding company level, commencing on the first anniversary of the closing. As previously filed on Form 8-K dated March 18, 2002, Avon's debt of approximately $1.7 billion, which is non-recourse to FirstEnergy, would no longer be included on FirstEnergy's consolidated balance sheet. Aquila and FirstEnergy together will own all of the outstanding shares of Avon through a jointly owned subsidiary, with each company having a 50-percent voting interest. FirstEnergy's 20.1 percent economic interest in the joint venture will be accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Item 7. Exhibits Exhibit No. Description ----------- ----------- 99 Press Release of FirstEnergy Corp. announcing the completion to sell 79.9% of Avon Energy Partners Holdings in the United Kingdom to Aquila, Inc. (formerly UtiliCorp United Inc.). SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. May 9, 2002 FIRSTENERGY CORP. ----------------- Registrant /s/ Harvey L. Wagner --------------------------------------- Harvey L. Wagner Vice President and Controller