Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)

Registration No. 333-153608-02

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT DATED JANUARY 14, 2009

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(To prospectus dated September 22, 2008)

 

$300,000,000

 

 

% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2019

 

 

 

 

Metropolitan Edison Company is offering $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of     % Senior Notes due 2019, which we refer to as the “Senior Notes.” The Senior Notes will be our senior unsecured general obligations and will rank equally with all of our existing and future senior unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness.

 

 

Interest on the Senior Notes will be payable semi-annually in arrears on           and           of each year, beginning on          , 2009, and at maturity. Interest on the Senior Notes will accrue from the date of original issuance. The Senior Notes will mature on January   , 2019.

 

 

We may redeem some or all of the Senior Notes, at any time in whole or from time to time in part, at the redemption price described in this prospectus supplement. The Senior Notes do not provide for a sinking fund. For a more detailed description of the Senior Notes, see “Description of Senior Notes” beginning on page S-11.

 

 

Investing in the Senior Notes involves risks. See “Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement beginning on page S-6 and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

 

 

 

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The underwriters expect to deliver the Senior Notes in book-entry form only through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company for the accounts of its participants, including Clearstream Banking, société anonyme and Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System, against payment in New York, New York on or about January   , 2009.          

 

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

 

     Co-Manager

PNC Capital Markets LLC

 

The date of this prospectus supplement is January   , 2009.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

Prospectus Supplement

 

 

Prospectus

 

 

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus contain information about our company and about the Senior Notes. You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing prospectus issued by us. Neither we nor any underwriter has authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different. Neither we nor any underwriter is making an offer of the Senior Notes in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of this prospectus supplement.

 

In this prospectus supplement, unless the context indicates otherwise, the words “we,” “our,” “ours” and “us” refer to Metropolitan Edison Company and its subsidiaries.

 

We caution you that this prospectus supplement and the periodic reports and other documents that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus contain forward-looking statements based on information currently available to us. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. These statements include declarations regarding our or our management’s intents, beliefs and current expectations. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results could differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve estimates, assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

 

The forward-looking statements contained and incorporated by reference herein are qualified in their entirety by reference to the following important factors, which are difficult to predict, contain uncertainties, are in some cases beyond our control and may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements:

 

 

 

Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus supplement, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of such factors, nor can we assess the impact of any such factors 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. The foregoing review of factors should not be construed as exhaustive.

 

SUMMARY

Issuer		Metropolitan Edison Company.
Securities Offered		We are offering $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of     % Senior Notes due 2019.
Maturity		The Senior Notes will mature on January   , 2019.
Interest		Interest on the Senior Notes will accrue at the per annum rate of     %.
Interest Payment Dates		Interest on the Senior Notes will accrue from the date of original issuance and will be payable semi-annually in arrears on each           and          , commencing on          , 2009, and at maturity.
Redemption		The Senior Notes will be redeemable, at any time in whole or from time to time in part, at our option, at a “make-whole” redemption price as described under “Description of Senior Notes—Optional Redemption” in this prospectus supplement.
Ranking		The Senior Notes will be our senior unsecured general obligations. They will rank equally in right of payment with all of our existing and future senior unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness, and will rank senior to all of our future subordinated indebtedness. As of September 30, 2008, we had approximately $857.5 million of total indebtedness, of which $13.7 million was senior secured indebtedness that would have been effectively senior to the Senior Notes.
Sinking Fund		There is no sinking fund for the Senior Notes.
Limitation on Liens		So long as any Senior Notes are outstanding, we may not issue, assume, guarantee or permit to exist any debt secured by any lien upon any of our operating property (other than excepted property under the Senior Notes indenture), except for certain permitted secured debt,

		without effectively securing the Senior Notes equally and ratably with that debt (but only so long as such debt is secured). See “Description of Debt Securities – Certain Covenants – Limitation on Liens” in the accompanying prospectus.
Limitation on Sale and Lease-back Transactions		So long as any Senior Notes are outstanding, we may not enter into or permit to exist any sale and lease-back transaction with respect to any operating property (except for transactions involving leases for a term, including renewals, of not more than 48 months), if the purchasers’ commitment is obtained more than 18 months after the later of the completion of the acquisition or the completion of construction, development, substantial repair, alteration or improvement of the operating property. See “Description of Debt Securities – Certain Covenants – Limitation on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions” in the accompanying prospectus.
Additional Issuances		We may from time to time, without the consent of the holders of the Senior Notes, create and issue additional senior notes having the same terms and conditions as the Senior Notes so that the further issuance is consolidated and forms a single series with the previously outstanding Senior Notes.
Risk Factors		You should carefully consider, in addition to matters set forth elsewhere in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, each of the factors described in the sections of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-6 and page 1, respectively, and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus before purchasing any Senior Notes. You should carefully consider these risks as well as other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.
Form and Denomination		The Senior Notes will be represented by a global certificate (a “Global Certificate”) deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, or its nominee. See “Description of Senior Notes – Book-Entry” in this prospectus supplement. The Senior Notes will be issuable in fully registered form in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
Use of Proceeds		Proceeds received from the issuance of the Senior Notes are expected to be used to repay our short-term borrowings, as described under “Use of Proceeds” herein.
Ratings		The Senior Notes are expected to be assigned ratings of Baa2 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and BBB by

		Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service, a division of the McGraw Hill Companies, Inc. A rating reflects only the view of a rating agency, and it is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold the Senior Notes. Any rating can be revised upward or downward or withdrawn at any time by a rating agency if such rating agency decides that circumstances warrant that change.
Governing Law		The indenture is, and the Senior Notes will be, governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, is applicable.
Trustee and Paying Agent		The Bank of New York Mellon.
Listing		The Senior Notes will not be listed on any national securities exchange.

 

You should consider, in evaluating us, our business and whether to participate in this offering, the following risk factors in addition to the other information presented in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus to which we refer you for more detailed information on our business, industry and financial and corporate structure. Any of the following risks, as well as other risks and uncertainties, could harm the value of the Senior Notes directly or our business and financial results and thus indirectly cause the value of the Senior Notes to decline, which in turn could cause you to lose all or part of your investment. The risks below are not the only ones facing us or the Senior Notes. Additional risks not currently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial also may impair our business and cause the value or trading price of the Senior Notes to decline.

 

We, FirstEnergy and its other subsidiaries rely on access to the credit and capital markets to finance a portion of our working capital requirements and support our liquidity needs. Access to these markets may be adversely affected by factors beyond our control, including turmoil in the financial services industry, volatility in securities trading markets and general economic downturns. In particular, recent disruptions in the variable-rate demand bond markets could require utilization of a significant portion of the sources of liquidity currently available to FirstEnergy and its subsidiaries, including us.

 

We, FirstEnergy and its other subsidiaries rely upon access to the credit and capital markets as a source of liquidity for the portion of our working capital requirements not provided by cash from operations and to comply with various regulatory requirements. Market disruptions such as those currently being experienced in the United States and abroad may increase our cost of borrowing or adversely affect our ability to access sources of liquidity upon which we rely to finance our operations and satisfy our obligations as they become due. These disruptions may include turmoil in the financial services industry, including substantial uncertainty surrounding particular lending institutions and counterparties with which we do business, unprecedented volatility in the markets where our outstanding securities trade, and general economic downturns in the areas where we do business. If we, FirstEnergy and its other subsidiaries are unable to access credit at competitive rates, or if our short-term or long-term borrowing costs dramatically increase, our ability to finance our operations, meet our short-term obligations and implement our operating strategy could be adversely affected.

 

We and certain of our affiliates are obligors under approximately $2.1 billion aggregate principal amount of pollution control revenue bonds that accrue interest in daily or weekly variable-rate interest modes that permit individual bondholders to tender their bonds for purchase. In late 2008, disruptions in the variable-rate bond markets caused unsuccessful remarketings of a portion of tendered bonds to occur. If these or similar disruptions were to recur and some or all of these variable-rate bonds were tendered and could not be remarketed for any reason (including without limitation due to an unsuccessful remarketing or the inability to replace expiring letters of credit supporting such bonds at competitive rates), a portion of our or the other applicable FirstEnergy subsidiaries’ reimbursement obligations on letters of credit may need to be satisfied in the short-term with liquidity under the revolving credit and other facilities available to us, FirstEnergy and its other subsidiaries, reducing the amount of liquidity available for other purposes. This could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

 

Our electric utility operating affiliates in Ohio are currently in the midst of rate proceedings that have the potential to adversely affect the financial condition of FirstEnergy and its subsidiaries, including us.

 

As required by Amended Substitute Senate Bill 221 (“SB221”), Ohio’s new electricity restructuring law, FirstEnergy’s Ohio utility companies, Ohio Edison Company, The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company and The Toledo Edison Company (collectively, the “Ohio Utilities”) filed on July 31, 2008 with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (“PUCO”) a comprehensive Electric Security Plan (“ESP”) and a Market Rate Offer (“MRO”). The ESP proposed, among other things, to phase in new generation rates for customers beginning in 2009 for up to a three-year period and to resolve a then and still pending distribution rate increase request. The PUCO modified the ESP on December 19, 2008. The Ohio Utilities withdrew the ESP as so modified on December 22, 2008 opting instead to keep the current rate plan in effect, as they believe SB221 requires. Because the Ohio Utilities do not own generating plants, they subsequently completed a

competitive procurement process to ensure a reliable supply of electricity for customers who do not shop for the period January 5, 2009 through March 31, 2009.

 

Subsequent to the competitive procurement process, the PUCO ruled that the Ohio Utilities could not continue existing tariffs in total. Citing inconsistencies with Ohio law and potentially serious financial consequences that could result from the PUCO’s ruling, on January 9, 2009, the Ohio Utilities filed a motion to stay, as well as an application for rehearing and an application for a fuel rider. On January 9, 2009, an order was entered permitting the Ohio Utilities to continue charging current rates until the PUCO rules on the pending filings.

 

The fuel rider is necessary to ensure that the Ohio Utilities recover costs related to their provider-of-last-resort obligation to their customers. The Ohio Utilities believe such recovery is mandated under Ohio and federal law. The Ohio Utilities have requested that the fuel rider remain in place until the PUCO authorizes either an ESP or an MRO which would provide the Ohio Utilities with revenue from retail rates to cover their purchased power costs expenses. Without the fuel rider, providing generation service to their customers at rates that are well below actual costs would cause the Ohio Utilities to incur a cash shortfall of approximately $2 million per day. This would require the Ohio Utilities to make immediate and severe reductions in operating and capital expenses and could have other material adverse impacts on the financial condition and results of operations of not only the Ohio Utilities but also FirstEnergy. Any resulting deteriorating financial metrics of the Ohio Utilities and FirstEnergy may result in a downgrade of their credit ratings.

 

We and FirstEnergy’s other non-Ohio operating utility subsidiaries are not obligated financially to support the Ohio Utilities or to serve any of their customers, but a material adverse impact on the Ohio Utilities and FirstEnergy as a result of the outcome of these regulatory proceedings in Ohio could result in similar adverse impacts on us, including our credit ratings.

 

If an active trading market does not develop for the Senior Notes, you may be unable to sell the Senior Notes or to sell them at a price you deem sufficient.

 

The Senior Notes will be new securities for which there is no established trading market. We do not intend to apply for listing of the Senior Notes on any national securities exchange or to arrange for the Senior Notes to be quoted on any automated system. We provide no assurance as to:

 

 

Even if a trading market develops, the Senior Notes may trade at higher or lower prices than their principal amount or purchase price, depending on many factors, including:

 

 

If a market for the Senior Notes does not develop, purchasers may be unable to resell the Senior Notes for an extended period of time. Consequently, a holder of Senior Notes may not be able to liquidate its investment readily, and the Senior Notes may not be readily accepted as collateral for loans. In addition, market-making activities will be subject to restrictions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act.

 

Please see “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” in the accompanying prospectus. The Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information filed by us with the SEC, which means that we can refer you to important information without restating it in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and should be read with the same care. In addition to the documents referred to under “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” in the accompanying prospectus, at the date of this prospectus supplement, we incorporate by reference our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on October 9, 2008 and November 6, 2008 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 and any future reports that we file with the SEC under the Exchange Act if the filings are made prior to the time that all of the Senior Notes are sold in this offering. You may access a copy of any or all of these filings, free of charge, at FirstEnergy’s website (http://www.firstenergycorp.com) or by writing or calling us at the following address:

 

Metropolitan Edison Company
c/o FirstEnergy Corp.
76 South Main Street
Akron, Ohio 44308-1890
Attn: Shareholder Services
(800) 736-3402

 

Information available on FirstEnergy’s website, other than the reports we file pursuant to the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, does not constitute a part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

 

The following table sets forth our capitalization as of September 30, 2008 and as adjusted for this offering and to give effect to the use of proceeds from this offering.

 

 

 

 

You should read our selected financial data set forth below in conjunction with our historical consolidated financial statements and the related notes and other financial information contained in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

 

 

 

 

We estimate that the net proceeds to us from the sale of the Senior Notes will be approximately $      after giving effect to the estimated underwriting discount and our estimated expenses.

 

We expect to use a portion of the net proceeds to repay our short-term borrowings. As of September 30, 2008, we had short-term borrowings of $315.3 million. As of January 13, 2009, the weighted average annual interest rate on these short-term borrowings was 1.10%.

 

The following table contains our consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated. You should read these ratios in connection with our consolidated financial statements, including the notes to those statements, incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

 

 

 

For purposes of the calculation of our consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges, “earnings” have been computed by adding to “Income before extraordinary items,” total interest and other charges, before reduction for amounts capitalized, provision for income taxes and the estimated interest element of rentals charged to income, and “fixed charges” include interest on long-term debt, other interest expense and the estimated interest element of rentals charged to income.

 

The following table sets forth the pro forma ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the periods indicated. The pro forma ratios give effect to the issuance of the Senior Notes offered hereby and the use of proceeds as described under the “Use of Proceeds” section of this prospectus supplement as if they occurred on December 31, 2007 and September 30, 2008, respectively.

 

 

General

 

The Senior Notes constitute debt securities as described in the accompanying prospectus and will contain all of the terms described in the accompanying prospectus under the heading “Description of Debt Securities.” The Senior Notes will also contain the additional provisions described below.

 

As used in this section, the terms “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Metropolitan Edison Company, and not to any of our subsidiaries.

 

We will issue the Senior Notes under an existing indenture, dated as of July 1, 1999, as supplemented, between us and The Bank of New York Mellon as successor trustee. Please read the indenture because it, and not this description, defines your rights as holders of the Senior Notes. We have filed with the SEC a copy of the indenture as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are a part.

 

We may, without consent of the holders of the Senior Notes, issue additional senior notes having the same terms in all respects as the Senior Notes (except for the public offering price and the issue date and, in some cases, the first interest payment date) so that those additional senior notes will be consolidated and form a single series with the other outstanding Senior Notes.

 

We will issue the Senior Notes in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000.

 

We will issue the Senior Notes in the form of a Global Certificate, which will be deposited with, or on behalf of DTC and registered in the name of DTC’s nominee. Information regarding DTC’s book-entry system is set forth below under “— Book-Entry.”

 

Principal, Maturity and Interest

 

The Senior Notes will mature on January   , 2019, unless earlier redeemed as described under “—Optional Redemption” below.

 

The Senior Notes shall be payable as to principal (and premium, if any) and interest at our agency in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, State of New York, the City of Akron, State of Ohio, the City of Cleveland, State of Ohio or the City of Reading, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in any coin or currency of the United States of America which at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts; provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds shall be required with respect to principal of (and premium, if any), and interest on the Senior Notes so long as such Senior Notes are held by DTC in the form of a Global Certificate.

 

Interest on the Senior Notes will:

 

 

Ranking

 

The Senior Notes will be our senior unsecured general obligations. They will rank equally with all our other existing and future senior unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness, and will rank senior to all of our future subordinated indebtedness. As of September 30, 2008, we had approximately $857.5 million of total indebtedness, of which $13.7 million was senior secured indebtedness that would have been effectively senior to the Senior Notes.

 

Optional Redemption

 

The Senior Notes will be redeemable, at any time in whole or from time to time in part, at our option, at a redemption price equal to the greater of:

 

 

plus, in the case of each of the above clauses, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption.

 

“Business Day” means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, which is not a day on which the corporate trust office of the Trustee or banking institutions or trust companies in The City of New York, New York are generally authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed.

 

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term (“Remaining Life”) of the Senior Notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of such Senior Notes.

 

“Comparable Treasury Price” means with respect to any redemption date, (1) the average of five Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date after excluding the highest and lowest Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if the Independent Investment Banker obtains fewer than five such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.

 

“Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by us or, if such firm is unwilling or unable to select the Comparable Treasury Issue, an independent investment banking institution of national standing selected by us.

 

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means (1) each of Banc of America Securities LLC and Goldman, Sachs & Co. and their respective successors, provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in The City of New York (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), we shall substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer; and (2) any other Primary Treasury Dealer selected by the Independent Investment Banker after consultation with us.

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Independent Investment Banker at 5:00 p.m. New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding such redemption date.

 

“Remaining Scheduled Payments” means, with respect to the Senior Notes to be redeemed, the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Senior Notes that would be due after the related redemption date but for such redemption. If such redemption date is not an interest payment date with respect to such Senior Notes, the amount of the next succeeding scheduled interest payment on those Senior Notes will be reduced by the amount of interest accrued on such Senior Notes to such redemption date.

 

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date,

 

 

The Treasury Rate shall be calculated on the third Business Day preceding the redemption date.

 

Holders of Senior Notes to be redeemed will receive notice thereof by first-class mail at least 30 and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption. If fewer than all of the Senior Notes are to be redeemed, the Trustee will select, not more than 60 days prior to the redemption date, the particular portions thereof for redemption from the outstanding Senior Notes by such method as the Trustee deems fair and appropriate. Any notice of redemption of the Senior Notes may be conditional on our depositing funds with the Trustee, or irrevocably directing the Trustee to apply moneys held by it, sufficient to pay the redemption price thereof, and if such funds are not so deposited or such direction is not given, such notice shall be of no effect.

 

In the event that less than all of the Senior Notes at the time outstanding are called for redemption, we shall not be required (a) to register any transfer or make any exchange of any such Senior Notes for a period of fifteen (15) days next preceding the mailing of the notice of redemption of any such Senior Notes, (b) to register any transfer or make any exchange of any such Senior Notes so called for redemption in its entirety or (c) to register any transfer or make any exchange of any portion of any such Senior Notes which has been called for redemption.

 

Covenants

 

The indenture restricts us from incurring or assuming secured debt or entering into sale and lease-back transactions, except in certain circumstances. The accompanying prospectus describes these covenants (see ‘‘–Limitation on Liens” and “–Limitation on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions” in the accompanying prospectus) and other covenants contained in the indenture in greater detail and should be read prior to investing.

Book-Entry

 

Global Notes

 

The Senior Notes will be represented by a Global Certificate which will be issued in definitive, fully registered, book-entry form. The Global Certificate will be deposited with or on behalf of DTC and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC.

 

DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear

 

Beneficial interests in the Global Certificate will be represented through book-entry accounts of financial institutions acting on behalf of beneficial owners as direct and indirect participants in DTC. Investors may hold interests in the Global Certificate through either DTC (in the United States), Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, Luxembourg, which we refer to as Clearstream, or Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System, which we refer to as Euroclear, in Europe, either directly if they are participants in such systems or indirectly through organizations that are participants in such systems. Clearstream and Euroclear will hold interests on behalf of their participants through customers’ securities accounts in Clearstream’s and Euroclear’s names on the books of their U.S. depositaries, which in turn will hold such interests in customers’ securities accounts in the U.S. depositaries’ names on the books of DTC.

 

We understand that:

 

 

We understand that Clearstream is incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg as a professional depositary. Clearstream holds securities for its customers and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between its customers through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its customers, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Clearstream provides to its customers, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing. Clearstream interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. As a professional depositary, Clearstream is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Commission for the Supervision of the Financial Section. Clearstream customers are recognized financial institutions around the world, including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other organizations and may include the underwriters. Indirect access to Clearstream is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream customer either directly or indirectly.

We understand that Euroclear was created in 1968 to hold securities for participants of Euroclear and to clear and settle transactions between Euroclear participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and any risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Euroclear provides various other services, including securities lending and borrowing and interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. Euroclear is operated by Euroclear Bank S.A./ N.V., which we refer to as the Euroclear Operator, under contract with Euroclear Clearance Systems S.C., a Belgian cooperative corporation, which we refer to as the Cooperative. All operations are conducted by the Euroclear Operator, and all Euroclear securities clearance accounts and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with the Euroclear Operator, not the Cooperative. The Cooperative establishes policy for Euroclear on behalf of Euroclear participants. Euroclear participants include banks (including central banks), securities brokers and dealers, and other professional financial intermediaries and may include the underwriters. Indirect access to Euroclear is also available to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear participant, either directly or indirectly.

 

We understand that the Euroclear Operator is licensed by the Belgian Banking and Finance Commission to carry out banking activities on a global basis. As a Belgian bank, it is regulated and examined by the Belgian Banking and Finance Commission.

 

We have provided the descriptions of the operations and procedures of DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear in this prospectus supplement solely as a matter of convenience. These operations and procedures are solely within the control of those organizations and are subject to change by them from time to time. None of us, the underwriters or the Trustee takes any responsibility for these operations or procedures, and you are urged to contact DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear or their participants directly to discuss these matters.

 

We expect that under procedures established by DTC:

 

 

The laws of some jurisdictions may require that purchasers of securities take physical delivery of those securities in definitive form. Accordingly, the ability to transfer interests in the Senior Notes represented by a Global Certificate to those persons may be limited. In addition, because DTC can act only on behalf of its participants, who in turn act on behalf of persons who hold interests through participants, the ability of a person having an interest in Senior Notes represented by a Global Certificate to pledge or transfer those interests to persons or entities that do not participate in DTC’s system, or otherwise to take actions in respect of such interest, may be affected by the lack of a physical definitive security in respect of such interest.

 

So long as DTC or its nominee is the registered owner of a Global Certificate, DTC or that nominee will be considered the sole owner or holder of the Senior Notes represented by that Global Certificate for all purposes under the indenture and under the Senior Notes. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in a Global Certificate will not be entitled to have Senior Notes represented by that Global Certificate registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated Senior Notes and will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the indenture or under the Senior Notes for any purpose, including with respect to the giving of any direction, instruction or approval to the Trustee. Accordingly, each holder owning a beneficial interest in a Global Certificate must rely on the procedures of DTC and, if that holder is not a direct or indirect participant, on the procedures of the participant through which that holder owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder of Senior Notes under the indenture or a Global Certificate.

Neither we nor the Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of notes by DTC, Clearstream or Euroclear, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records of those organizations relating to the Senior Notes.

 

Payments on the Senior Notes represented by the Global Certificate will be made to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner thereof. We expect that DTC or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment on the Senior Notes represented by a Global Certificate, will credit participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the Global Certificate as shown in the records of DTC or its nominee. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the Global Certificate held through such participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practice as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers registered in the names of nominees for such customers. The participants will be responsible for those payments.

 

Payments on the Senior Notes held beneficially through Clearstream will be credited to cash accounts of its customers in accordance with its rules and procedures, to the extent received by the U.S. depositary for Clearstream.

 

Securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with the Euroclear Operator are governed by the Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and the related Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System, and applicable Belgian law (collectively, the “Terms and Conditions”). The Terms and Conditions govern transfers of securities and cash within Euroclear, withdrawals of securities and cash from Euroclear, and receipts of payments with respect to securities in Euroclear. All securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible basis without attribution of specific certificates to specific securities clearance accounts. The Euroclear Operator acts under the Terms and Conditions only on behalf of Euroclear participants and has no record of or relationship with persons holding through Euroclear participants.

 

Payments on the Senior Notes held beneficially through Euroclear will be credited to the cash accounts of its participants in accordance with the Terms and Conditions, to the extent received by the U.S. depositary for Euroclear.

 

Clearance and Settlement Procedures

 

Initial settlement for the Senior Notes will be made in immediately available funds. Secondary market trading between DTC participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with DTC rules and will be settled in immediately available funds. Secondary market trading between Clearstream customers and/or Euroclear participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with the applicable rules and operating procedures of Clearstream and Euroclear, as applicable, and will be settled using the procedures applicable to conventional Eurobonds in immediately available funds.

 

Cross-market transfers between persons holding directly or indirectly through DTC, on the one hand, and directly or indirectly through Clearstream customers or Euroclear participants, on the other, will be effected through DTC in accordance with DTC rules on behalf of the relevant European international clearing system by the U.S. depositary; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to the relevant European international clearing system by the counterparty in such system in accordance with its rules and procedures and within its established deadlines (European time). The relevant European international clearing system will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to the U.S. depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving the Senior Notes in DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Clearstream customers and Euroclear participants may not deliver instructions directly to their U.S. depositaries.

 

Because of time-zone differences, credits of the Senior Notes received in Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of a transaction with a DTC participant will be made during subsequent securities settlement processing and dated the Business Day following the DTC settlement date. Such credits or any transactions in the Senior Notes settled during such processing will be reported to the relevant Clearstream customers or Euroclear participants on such Business Day. Cash received in Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of sales of the Senior

Notes by or through a Clearstream customer or a Euroclear participant to a DTC participant will be received with value on the DTC settlement date but will be available in the relevant Clearstream or Euroclear cash account only as of the business day following settlement in DTC.

 

Although DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear have agreed to the foregoing procedures to facilitate transfers of the Senior Notes among participants of DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures and such procedures may be changed or discontinued at any time.

 

Certificated Notes

 

We will issue certificated Senior Notes to each person that DTC identifies as the beneficial owner of the Senior Notes represented by a Global Certificate upon surrender by DTC of the Global Certificate if:

 

 

Neither we nor the Trustee will be liable for any delay by DTC, its nominee or any direct or indirect participant in identifying the beneficial owners of the Senior Notes. We and the Trustee may conclusively rely on, and will be protected in relying on, instructions from DTC or its nominee for all purposes, including with respect to the registration and delivery, and the respective principal amounts, of the certificated Senior Notes to be issued.

 

Banc of America Securities LLC, Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. are acting as joint book-running managers of this offering and representatives of the underwriters named below. Under the terms and subject to the conditions contained in an underwriting agreement dated the date hereof, the underwriters named below have severally agreed to purchase, and we have agreed to sell to them, the principal amount of Senior Notes set forth opposite each of their names below.

 

 

The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the several underwriters to pay for and accept delivery of the Senior Notes offered hereby are subject to the approval of certain legal matters by their counsel and to certain other conditions. The underwriters are obligated to take and pay for all of the Senior Notes offered hereby if any Senior Notes are taken. The offering of the Senior Notes by the underwriters is subject to the underwriters’ receipt and acceptance of any order in whole or in part.

 

The underwriters initially propose to offer part of the Senior Notes directly to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement and part to certain dealers at the public offering prices less a concession not in excess of     % of the principal amount of the Senior Notes. Any underwriter may allow, and any dealer may re-allow, a concession not in excess of     % of the principal amount of the Senior Notes to other underwriters or to certain dealers. After the initial offering of the Senior Notes, the offering price and other selling terms of the Senior Notes may from time to time be varied by the underwriters.

 

We estimate that we will incur offering expenses of approximately $485,000.

 

We and the underwriters have agreed to indemnify each other against, or contribute to payments required to be made in respect of, certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

The Senior Notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. The Senior Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange or on any automated dealer quotation system. The underwriters have advised us that they presently intend to make a market for the Senior Notes. The underwriters are not obligated to make a market in the Senior Notes, however, and may cease market-making activities at any time without notice. We cannot give any assurance as to the liquidity of any trading market for the Senior Notes.

 

In order to facilitate the offering of the Senior Notes, the underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the Senior Notes. Specifically, the underwriters may over-allot in connection with the offering, creating a short position in the Senior Notes for their own account. In addition, to cover over-allotments or to stabilize the price of the Senior Notes, the underwriters may bid for, and purchase, the Senior Notes in the open market. Finally, the underwriting syndicate may reclaim selling concessions allowed to an underwriter or a dealer for distributing the Senior Notes in the offering if the syndicate repurchases previously distributed Senior Notes in transactions to cover syndicate short positions, in stabilization transactions or otherwise. Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of the Senior Notes above independent market levels. The underwriters are not required to engage in these activities and may end any of these activities at any time without notice.

 

Selling Restrictions

 

European Economic Area

 

In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the EU Prospectus Directive (as defined below) (each, a “Relevant Member State”), with effect from and including the

date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the “Relevant Implementation Date”), the Senior Notes will not be offered to the public in that Relevant Member State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the Senior Notes which has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant Member State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant Member State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Directive, except that, with effect from and including the Relevant Implementation Date, an offer of Senior Notes may be made to the public in that Relevant Member State at any time:

 

 

For the purposes of this provision, the expression “an offer of Senior Notes to the public” in relation to any Senior Notes in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the Senior Notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase the Senior Notes, as the same may be varied in that Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Member State and the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State.

 

United Kingdom

 

Each underwriter (a) has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the “FSMA”) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of Senior Notes in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to the Company, and (b) has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the Senior Notes in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom. Without limitation to the other restrictions referred to herein, this prospectus supplement is directed only at (1) persons outside the United Kingdom, (2) persons having professional experience in matters relating to investments who fall within the definition of “investment professionals” in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, or (3) high net worth bodies corporate, unincorporated associations and partnerships and trustees of high value trusts as described in Article 49(2) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005. Without limitation to the other restrictions referred to herein, any investment or investment activity to which this prospectus supplement relates is available only to, and will be engaged in only with, such persons, and persons within the United Kingdom who receive this communication (other than persons who fall within (2) or (3) above) should not rely or act upon this communication.

 

We and our affiliates have in the past entered into, and may in the future enter into, investment banking and commercial banking transactions with the underwriters and/or their affiliates for which they in the past received, and may in the future receive, customary fees. In addition, we may also engage the underwriters or their affiliates in respect of financial advisory services for which they have in the past received, and may in the future receive, customary fees.

 

Certain legal matters in connection with the validity of the Senior Notes offered by this prospectus supplement are being passed upon for us by Wendy E. Stark, Esq., our Associate General Counsel, and by Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, New York, New York, our special counsel, and for the underwriters by Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, New York, New York. As of December 31, 2008, Ms. Stark beneficially owned approximately 4,775 shares of common stock of our parent, FirstEnergy, including 3,678 shares of unvested restricted stock units. Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP has in the past represented, and continues to represent us, FirstEnergy and certain of our affiliates on other matters.

 

The financial statements incorporated in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus by reference to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

With respect to our unaudited financial information for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP reported that they have applied limited procedures in accordance with professional standards for a review of such information. However, their separate report dated November 6, 2008 for the quarter and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2008, incorporated by reference herein states that they did not audit and they do not express an opinion on that unaudited financial information. Accordingly, the degree of reliance on their reports on such information should be restricted in light of the limited nature of the review procedures applied. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is not subject to the liability provisions of Section 11 of the Securities Act for their report on the unaudited financial information because that report is not a “report” or a “part” of the registration statement prepared or certified by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the Securities Act.

PROSPECTUS

 

 

Debt Securities

 

 

This prospectus relates to debt securities that Metropolitan Edison Company may offer from time to time. The securities may be offered in one or more series and in an amount or number, at prices and on other terms and conditions that we will determine at the time of the offering.

 

We will provide specific terms of these offerings and securities in supplements to this prospectus. You should read carefully this prospectus, the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement before you invest. This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell any securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

 

Investing in these securities involves certain risks. See “Risk Factors” on page 1 to read about factors you should consider before buying our securities.

 

We may offer these securities directly or through underwriters, agents or dealers. The supplements to this prospectus will describe the terms of any particular plan of distribution, including any underwriting arrangements. See the “Plan of Distribution” section beginning on page 10 of this prospectus for more information.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

This prospectus is dated September 22, 2008

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this document or to which we have referred you. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different. This document may only be used where it is legal to sell our securities.

 

 

 

This prospectus is a part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, utilizing an automatic shelf registration process. We may use this prospectus to offer and sell from time to time any one or a combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will describe in an accompanying prospectus supplement the type, amount or number and other terms and conditions of the securities being offered, the price at which the securities are being offered, and the plan of distribution for the securities. The specific terms of the offered securities may vary from the general terms of the securities described in this prospectus, and accordingly the description of the securities contained in this prospectus is subject to, and qualified by reference to, the specific terms of the offered securities contained in the accompanied prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement may also add to, update or change information contained in this prospectus, including information about us. Therefore, for a complete understanding of the offered securities, you should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

For more detailed information about the securities, you can also read the exhibits to the registration statement. Those exhibits have been either filed with the registration statement or incorporated by reference to earlier SEC filings listed in the registration statement.

 

In this prospectus, unless the context indicates otherwise, the words “Met-Ed,” “the company,” “we,” “our,” “ours” and “us” refer to Metropolitan Edison Company and its consolidated subsidiaries.

 

We caution you that this prospectus and the periodic reports and other documents that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus contain forward-looking statements based on information currently available to us. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. These statements include declarations regarding our or our management’s intents, beliefs and current expectations. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results could differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve estimates, assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

 

The forward-looking statements contained and incorporated by reference herein are qualified in their entirety by reference to the following important factors, which are difficult to predict, contain uncertainties, are in some cases beyond our control and may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements:

 

 

 

Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of such factors, nor can we assess the impact of any such factors 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. The foregoing review of factors should not be construed as exhaustive.

 

We are a wholly owned electric utility operating subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp., or FirstEnergy. FirstEnergy is a diversified energy company headquartered in Akron, Ohio. We engage in the transmission, distribution and sale of electric energy in an area of approximately 3,300 square miles in eastern and south central Pennsylvania. We also engage in the sale, purchase and interchange of electric energy with other electric companies. The area we serve has a population of approximately 1.2 million.

 

We are a Pennsylvania corporation, and our principal executive offices are located at 76 South Main Street, Akron, Ohio 44308-1890. Our telephone number is (800) 736-3402.

 

 

Investing in our securities involves risks. Before purchasing any securities we offer, you should carefully consider the risk factors that are incorporated by reference herein from the section captioned “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2008 and June 30, 2008, together with all of the other information included in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement and any other information that we have incorporated by reference, including annual, quarterly and other reports filed with the SEC subsequent to the date hereof. Any of these risks, as well as other risks and uncertainties, could harm our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. See also “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in this prospectus.

 

 

We intend to use the net proceeds we receive from issuance of these debt securities for general corporate purposes, unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement relating to a specific issue of debt securities. General corporate purposes may include, but are not limited to, financing and operating activities, capital expenditures, acquisitions, maintenance of our assets and refinancing our existing indebtedness.

 

 

The following table contains our consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated. You should read these ratios in connection with our consolidated financial statements, including the notes to those statements, incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

 

 

 

 

For purposes of the calculation of our consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges, “earnings” have been computed by adding to “Income before extraordinary items” total interest and other charges, before reduction for amounts capitalized, provision for income taxes and the estimated interest element of rentals charged to income, and “fixed charges” include interest on long-term debt, other interest expense, subsidiaries’ preferred stock dividend requirements and the estimated interest element of rentals charged to income.

 

 

The debt securities that we may offer from time to time by this prospectus will be our senior unsecured debt securities and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt under an indenture, dated as of July 1, 1999, as supplemented, between us and The Bank of New York Mellon, as successor trustee. The indenture gives us broad authority to set the particular terms of each series of debt securities, including the right to modify certain of the terms contained in the indenture. The particular terms of a series of debt securities and the extent, if any, to which the particular terms of a series of debt securities and the extent, if any, to which such particular terms modify the terms of the indenture or otherwise vary from the terms and provisions set forth below will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to those debt securities.

The indenture contains the full text of the matters described in this section. Because this section is a summary, it does not describe every aspect of the debt securities or the indenture. This summary is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to all the provisions of the indenture, including definitions of terms used in the indenture. You should read the indenture incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Whenever we refer to particular sections or defined terms of the indenture in this prospectus or in a prospectus supplement, these sections or defined terms are incorporated by reference herein or in the prospectus supplement. This summary also is subject to and qualified by reference to the description of the particular terms of the debt securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement or supplements. Certain capitalized terms used in this prospectus are defined in the indenture.

 

If applicable, the prospectus supplement relating to an issue of debt securities will describe any special United States federal income tax considerations relevant to those debt securities.

 

There is no requirement under the indenture that future issues of our debt securities be issued under the indenture. We will be free to use other indentures or documentation, containing provisions different from those included in the indenture or applicable to one or more issues of debt securities, in connection with future issues of other debt securities. The provisions of any such other indentures or documentation will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

General

 

The indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of debt securities that we may issue under the indenture. The indenture provides that the debt securities may be issued in one or more series. The debt securities may be issued at various times and may have differing maturity dates and may bear interest at differing rates. We need not issue all debt securities of one series at the same time and, unless otherwise provided, we may reopen a series, without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of that series, for issuances of additional debt securities of that series.

 

Prior to the issuance of each series of debt securities, the terms of the particular securities will be specified in a supplemental indenture, a board resolution or one or more officer’s certificates authorized pursuant to a board resolution. We refer you to the applicable prospectus supplement for a description of the following terms of the particular series of debt securities offered thereby:

 

 

 

Events of Default

 

The following constitute events of default under the indenture:

 

 

If an event of default occurs and is continuing, either the trustee or the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding senior notes may declare the principal amount of and interest on all of the senior notes to be due and payable immediately. At any time after an acceleration of the senior notes has been declared, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the monies due has been obtained or entered, if we pay or deposit with the trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and the principal and any premium which has become due on the senior notes otherwise than by acceleration and all amounts due to the trustee and all defaults have been cured or waived, then our payment or deposit will cause an automatic waiver of the event of default and its consequences and will cause an automatic rescission and annulment of the acceleration of the senior notes.

 

The indenture provides that the trustee generally will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of the senior notes unless those holders have offered to the trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it. Subject to the provisions for indemnity and certain other limitations contained in the indenture, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding senior notes generally will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding senior notes generally will have the right to waive any past default or event of default (other than a default in the payment of principal or any premium or interest on the senior notes) on behalf of all holders of the senior notes. The indenture provides that no holder of the senior notes may institute any action against us under the indenture unless it has previously given to the trustee written notice of the occurrence and continuance of an event of default and unless the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the senior notes then outstanding affected by the event of default have requested the trustee to institute the action and have offered the trustee reasonable indemnity, and the trustee has not instituted the action within 60 days of the request. Furthermore, no holder of the senior notes will be entitled to institute any action if and to the extent that the action would affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of other holders of the senior notes. Notwithstanding that the right of a holder of the senior notes to institute a proceeding with respect to the indenture is subject to certain conditions precedent, each holder of a senior note has the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the senior note when due and to institute suit for the enforcement of such payment, and those rights may not be impaired without the consent of such holders.

 

The indenture provides that the trustee, within 90 days after the occurrence of a default with respect to the senior notes, is required to give holders of the senior notes notice of any default known to the trustee, unless cured or waived, but, except in the case of default in the payment of principal of, or premium, if any,

or interest on, any senior notes, the trustee may withhold notice if it determines in good faith that it is in the interest of holders of those senior notes to do so. We are required to deliver to the trustee each year an officer’s certificate as to whether or not we are in compliance with the conditions and covenants under the indenture.

 

Modification with Consent of Holders

 

Modification and amendment of the indenture by an indenture or indentures supplemental thereto may be effected by us and the trustee with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding senior notes, provided that no modification or amendment may, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding senior note affected by such modification or amendment,

 

 

Modification without Consent of Holders

 

Modification and amendment of the indenture by an indenture or indentures supplemental thereto may be effected by us and the trustee without the consent of the holders of any senior notes:

 

 

 

A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of the indenture (or any supplemental indenture) which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more series of the senior notes, or which modifies the rights of the holders of the senior notes of one or more series with respect to that covenant or provision, will be deemed not to affect the rights under the indenture of the holders of the senior notes of any other series.

 

Defeasance and Discharge

 

The indenture provides that we will be discharged from any and all obligations in respect to the senior notes and the indenture (except for certain obligations such as obligations to register the transfer or exchange of the senior notes, replace stolen, lost or mutilated senior notes and maintain paying agencies) if, among other things, we paid or caused to be paid the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on all outstanding senior notes, as and when the same shall have become due and payable, we shall have delivered to the trustee for cancellation the outstanding senior notes, or we have irrevocably deposited with the trustee, in trust for the benefit of the holders of senior notes, money or certain United States government obligations, or any combination of money and certain United States government obligations, which will provide money in an amount sufficient, without reinvestment, to make all payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, the senior notes on the dates payments are due in accordance with the terms of the indenture and the senior notes; provided that unless all of the senior notes mature within 90 days of the deposit by redemption or otherwise, we will also have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of the senior notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the defeasance or discharge of the indenture. After we have been discharged from our obligations under the indenture, the holders of the senior notes may look only to the deposit for payment of the principal of, and interest and any premium on, the senior notes.

 

Consolidation, Merger and Sale or Disposition of Assets

 

We may not consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or entity or sell or otherwise dispose of our properties as or substantially as an entirety to any person unless, among other things:

 

 

Upon any consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or other disposition of our properties substantially as an entirety, permissible under the provision described in the immediately preceding paragraph, the successor corporation formed by the consolidation or into which we are merged or to which the transfer is made will succeed to us, and be substituted for us, and may exercise every right and power of ours, under the indenture with the same effect as if the successor corporation had been named as Metropolitan Edison Company in the indenture, and we will be released from all obligations under the indenture. For purposes of the indenture, the conveyance or other transfer by us of (i) all or any portion of our facilities for the generation of electric energy or (ii) all of our facilities for the transmission of electric energy, in each case considered alone or in any combination with properties described in any other clause of the indenture, will in no event be deemed to constitute a conveyance or other transfer of all our properties, as or substantially as an entirety.

 

Certain Covenants

 

Limitation on Liens

 

The indenture provides that, so long as any senior notes are outstanding, we may not issue, assume, guarantee or permit to exist any Debt (as defined below) that is secured by any mortgage, security interest,

pledge or lien, or Lien, of or upon any of our Operating Property (as defined below), whether owned at the date of the indenture or subsequently acquired, without effectively securing such senior notes (together with, if we so determine, any of our other indebtedness ranking equally with such senior notes) equally and ratably with that Debt (but only so long as that Debt is so secured).

 

The foregoing restriction will not apply to:

 

 

However, the foregoing restriction will not apply to our issuance, assumption or guarantee, or permission to exist, of Debt secured by a Lien which would otherwise be subject to the foregoing restrictions up to an aggregate amount which, together with the principal amount of all of our other secured Debt then outstanding (not including secured Debt permitted under any of the foregoing exceptions) and the Value (as defined below) of all Sale and Lease-Back Transactions (as defined below) existing at that time (other than any Sale and Lease-Back Transactions the proceeds of which have been applied to the retirement of certain indebtedness, Sale and Lease-Back Transactions in which the property involved would have been permitted to be subjected to a Lien under any of the foregoing exceptions in clauses (1) to (7) and Sale and Lease-Back Transactions that are permitted by the first sentence of “— Limitation on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions” below), does not exceed the greater of 15% of Tangible Assets and 15% of Capitalization (as those terms are defined below). As of June 30, 2008, our Tangible Assets were $2.5 billion and our Capitalization was $1.6 billion.

 

Limitation on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions

 

The indenture provides that, so long as any senior notes are outstanding, we may not enter into or permit to exist any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction with respect to any Operating Property, if the purchasers’ commitment is obtained more than 18 months after the later of the completion of the acquisition, construction

or development of that Operating Property or the placing in operation of that Operating Property or of that Operating Property as constructed or developed or substantially repaired, altered or improved.

 

This restriction will not apply if:

 

 

Certain Definitions

 

Set forth below is a summary of certain defined terms used in the indenture. Reference is made to the indenture for the full description of all such terms, as well as any other terms used herein for which no definition is provided.

 

“Capitalization” means the total of all the following items appearing on, or included in, our consolidated balance sheet: (i) liabilities for indebtedness maturing more than 12 months from the date of determination; and (ii) common stock, preferred stock, Hybrid Preferred Securities, premium on capital stock, capital surplus, capital in excess of par value and retained earnings (however the foregoing may be designated), less, to the extent not otherwise deducted, the cost of shares of our capital stock held in our treasury. Capitalization will be determined in accordance with GAAP, and may be determined as of a date not more than 60 days prior to the happening of the event for which such determination is being made.

 

“Debt” means any outstanding debt for money borrowed evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds, or other securities or any guarantees thereof.

 

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, applied on a basis consistent with those used in the preparation of our financial statements.

 

“Operating Property” means (i) any interest in real property owned by us; and (ii) any asset owned by us that is depreciable in accordance with GAAP excluding, in either case, any interest of ours as lessee under any lease (except for a lease that results from a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction) which has been or would be capitalized on our books in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Sale and Lease-Back Transaction” means any arrangement with any person or entity providing for the leasing to us of any Operating Property (except for leases for a term, including any renewals, of not more than 48 months), which Operating Property has been or is to be sold or transferred by us to such person; provided, however, Sale and Lease-Back Transaction does not include any arrangement first entered into prior to the date of the indenture.

 

“Tangible Assets” means the amount shown as total assets on our consolidated balance sheet, less the following: (i) intangible assets including, but without limitation, goodwill, trademarks, trade names, patents, and unamortized debt discount and expense and (ii) appropriate adjustments, if any, on account of minority interests. Tangible Assets will be determined in accordance with GAAP and practices applicable to the type of

business in which we are engaged and that are approved by the independent accountants regularly retained by us, and may be determined as of a date not more than 60 days prior to the happening of the event for which the determination is being made.

 

“Value” means, with respect to a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, as of any particular time, the amount equal to the greater of (i) the net proceeds to us from the sale or transfer of the property leased pursuant to the Sale and Lease-Back Transaction and (ii) the net book value of the property leased, as determined by us in accordance with GAAP, in either case multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which will be equal to the number of full years of the term of the lease that is part of the Sale and Lease-Back Transaction remaining at the time of determination and the denominator of which will be equal to the number of full years of the term of the lease, without regard, in any case, to any renewal or extension options contained in the lease.

 

Resignation or Removal of the Senior Note Trustee

 

The trustee may resign at any time upon at least 30 days’ prior written notice to us specifying the day upon which the resignation is to take effect and that resignation will take effect immediately upon the later of the appointment of a successor trustee and the day specified by the trustee.

 

The trustee may be removed at any time by an instrument or concurrent instruments in writing delivered to the trustee and signed by the holders, or their attorneys-in-fact, of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding senior notes. In addition, so long as no event of default under the indenture or event which, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would become an event of default has occurred and is continuing, we may remove the trustee upon written notice to the holder of each senior note outstanding and the trustee, and upon the appointment of a successor trustee.

 

Concerning the Senior Note Trustee

 

The Bank of New York Mellon is the trustee under the indenture. The indenture provides that our obligations to compensate the trustee and reimburse the trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances will constitute indebtedness which will be secured by a lien generally prior to that of the senior notes upon all property and funds held or collected by the trustee as such.

 

The trustee is also a depositary of ours and certain of our affiliates and has in the past made, and may in the future make, periodic loans to us and certain of our affiliates.

 

Governing Law

 

The indenture is, and the debt securities will be, governed by New York state law.

 

Depositary Arrangements

 

We will describe the specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any portion of a series of debt securities to be represented by a book-entry note in the prospectus supplement relating to such series. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements.

 

The certificates representing the debt securities, or Global Certificates, will be issued in fully registered form, without coupons. The debt securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as DTC’s nominee in the form of one or more Global Certificates or will remain in the custody of the trustee pursuant to a FAST Balance Certificate Agreement between DTC and the trustee. Upon the issuance of the Global Certificate, DTC or its nominee will credit, on its internal system, the principal amount of the individual beneficial interests represented by such Global Certificate to the accounts of persons who have accounts with such depositary. Such accounts initially will be designated by or on behalf of the initial purchasers. Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Certificate will be limited to persons who have accounts with DTC, or participants, or persons who hold interests through participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Certificate will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC or its nominee (with respect to interests of participants) and the records of participants (with respect to interests of persons other than participants). Qualified Institutional

Buyers may hold their interests in a Global Certificate directly through DTC if they are participants in such system or indirectly through organizations which are participants in such system.

 

Investors that have purchased debt securities pursuant to Regulation S may hold their interests directly through Clearstream Banking or Euroclear, if they are participants in such systems, or indirectly through organizations that are participants in such systems. Beginning 40 days after the date of original issuance of the debt securities but not earlier, investors may also hold such interests through organizations other than Clearstream Banking or Euroclear that are participants in the DTC system. Clearstream Banking and Euroclear will hold interests in the Global Certificate representing debt securities purchased pursuant to Regulations S on behalf of their participants through DTC.

 

So long as DTC, or its nominee, is the registered owner or holder of a Global Certificate, DTC or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by such Global Certificate for all purposes under the indenture and the debt securities. No beneficial owner of an interest in a Global Certificate will be able to transfer the interest except in accordance with DTC’s applicable procedures, in addition to those provided for under the indenture and, if applicable, those of Euroclear and Clearstream Banking. Payments of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, a Global Certificate will be made to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner thereof. Neither we, the trustee nor any paying agent will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a Global Certificate or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests. DTC or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of principal or interest in respect of a Global Certificate, will credit participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of such Global Certificate as shown on the records of DTC or its nominee. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in such Global Certificate held through such participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers registered in the names of nominees for such customers. Such payments will be the responsibility of such participants and neither we, the trustee nor any paying agent will have any responsibility therefor.

 

Transfers between participants in DTC will be effected in the ordinary way in accordance with DTC rules. If a holder requires physical delivery of a certificated Senior Note for any reason, including to sell debt securities to persons in jurisdictions which require such delivery of such debt securities or to pledge such debt securities, such holder must transfer its interest in a Global Certificate in accordance with the procedures described under “Transfer Restrictions” in this prospectus, as well as DTC’s applicable procedures, or the procedures set forth in the indenture, and if applicable, those of Euroclear and Clearstream Banking.

 

DTC will take any action permitted to be taken by a holder of debt securities (including the presentation of debt securities for exchange as described below) only at the direction of one or more participants to whose account the DTC interests in a Global Certificate is credited and only in respect of such portion of the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities as to which such participant or participants has or have given such direction. However, if there is an Event of Default under the debt securities, DTC will exchange a Global Certificate for certificated debt securities, which it will distribute to its participants and which may be legended as set forth under “Transfer Restrictions.”

 

DTC has advised us that it is a limited purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code and a “Clearing Agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC was created to hold securities for its participants and facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations and may include certain other organizations. Indirect access to the DTC system is available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly (indirect participants). The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.

Although DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream Banking are expected to follow the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of interests in the debt securities represented by a Global Certificate among their respective participants, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures, and such procedures may be discontinued at any time. Neither we nor the trustee will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream Banking or their respective participants or indirect participants of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.

 

If DTC is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as a depositary for a Global Certificate and a successor depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days, we will issue certificated debt securities in exchange for a Global Certificate which will bear the restrictive legend referred to under “Transfer Restrictions,” subject to the provisions of such legend.

 

Settlement for the debt securities will be made by the initial purchasers in immediately available funds. All payments of principal and interest will be made by us in immediately available funds.

 

Secondary trading in long-term bonds and notes of corporate issuers is generally settled in clearing-house or next-day funds. In contrast, beneficial interests in the debt securities that are not certificated debt securities will trade in DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System until maturity. Therefore, the secondary market trading activity in such interests will settle in immediately available funds. No assurance can be given as to the effect, if any, of settlement in immediately available funds on trading activity in the debt securities.

 

The information under this caption “— Depositary Arrangements” concerning DTC and DTC’s book-entry system has been obtained from information provided by DTC. We have provided the foregoing descriptions of the operations and procedures of DTC solely as a matter of convenience. The operations and procedures are solely within the control of DTC and are subject to change by DTC from time to time. You are urged to contact DTC or its participants directly to discuss these matters.

 

We may sell securities to one or more underwriters or dealers for public offering and sale by them, or we may sell the securities to investors directly or through agents. The prospectus supplement relating to the securities being offered will set forth the terms of the offering and the method of distribution and will identify any firms acting as underwriters, dealers or agents in connection with the offering, including:

 

 

Only those underwriters identified in the prospectus supplement are deemed to be underwriters in connection with the securities offered in the prospectus supplement.

 

We may distribute the securities from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at prices determined as the prospectus supplement specifies. We may sell securities through forward contracts or similar arrangements. In connection with the sale of securities, underwriters, dealers or agents may be deemed to have received compensation from us in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and also may receive commissions from securities purchasers for whom they may act as agent. Underwriters may sell the securities to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agent.

We may sell the securities directly or through agents we designate from time to time. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities covered by this prospectus will be named in a prospectus supplement relating to such securities. Commissions payable by us to agents will be set forth in a prospectus supplement relating to the securities being offered. Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, any such agents will be acting on a best-efforts basis for the period of their appointment.

 

Some of the underwriters, dealers or agents and some of their affiliates who participate in the securities distribution may engage in other transactions with, and perform other services for, us and our subsidiaries or affiliates in the ordinary course of business.

 

Any underwriting or other compensation which we pay to underwriters or agents in connection with the securities offering, and any discounts, concessions or commissions which underwriters allow to dealers, will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Underwriters, dealers and agents participating in the securities distribution may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts and commissions they receive and any profit they realize on the resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Underwriters, and their controlling persons, and agents may be entitled, under agreements we enter into with them, to indemnification against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of the securities offered under this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Wendy E. Stark, Esq., Associate General Counsel of our parent corporation, FirstEnergy, and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, New York, New York. As of August 31, 2008, Ms. Stark owned approximately 6,186,857 shares of common stock of FirstEnergy and 3,618.72 shares of unvested restricted stock units. Additional legal matters may be passed on for us, or any underwriters, dealers or agents, by counsel we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

 

The financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by reference to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

With respect to our unaudited financial information for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 and for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, incorporated by reference in this prospectus, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP reported that they have applied limited procedures in accordance with professional standards for a review of such information. However, their separate reports dated May 7, 2008 and August 7, 2008 for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 and for the quarter and six-month periods ended June 30, 2008, respectively, incorporated by reference herein states that they did not audit and they do not express an opinion on that unaudited financial information. Accordingly, the degree of reliance on their reports on such information should be restricted in light of the limited nature of the review procedures applied. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is not subject to the liability provisions of Section 11 of the Securities Act for their reports on the unaudited financial information because those reports are not a “report” or a “part” of the registration statement prepared or certified by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the Securities Act.

 

We are incorporating by reference certain information we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents without restating them in this prospectus. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus. The information in this prospectus is not complete, and should be read together with the information incorporated herein by reference. We incorporate by reference in this prospectus the following documents or information

filed or to be filed with the SEC (other than, in each case, documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules):

 

 

We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request at no cost to the requester, a copy of any or all of the reports or documents that have been incorporated by reference in this prospectus but not delivered with this prospectus. Requests for these reports or documents must be made to:

 

Metropolitan Edison Company

c/o FirstEnergy Corp.

76 South Main Street

Akron, Ohio 44308-1890

Attention: Shareholder Services

(800) 736-3402

 

The incorporated reports and other documents may also be accessed at the websites mentioned under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” below.

 

We file annual, quarterly and special reports and other information with the SEC under the Exchange Act. These reports and other information can be inspected and copied at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. This material is also available from the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov or from the website of our parent, FirstEnergy, at http://www.firstenergycorp.com/ir. Information available on FirstEnergy’s website, other than the reports we file pursuant to the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus, does not constitute a part of this prospectus.

 

 

$300,000,000

 

 

% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2019

 

 

 

Prospectus Supplement

January   , 2009

 

 

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

 

 

Co-Manager

 

PNC Capital Markets LLC