2.2.0.25falsefalse00208 - Disclosure - Income Taxestruefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2011 - 3/31/2011 USD ($) USD ($) / shares $Jan-01-2011_Mar-31-2011http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001031296duration2011-01-01T00:00:002011-03-31T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDEPSDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0MWHStandardhttp://firstenergycorp.com/2011-03-31MWHfe0USDUSD$2true0fe_IncomeTaxesAbstractfefalsenadurationIncome Taxes Abstract.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringIncome Taxes Abstract.falsefalseIncome Taxes [Abstract]3false0us-gaap_IncomeTaxDisclosureTextBlockus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00  <div style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; margin-left: 0in; "> <div align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt"><b>8. INCOME TAXES</b> </div> <div align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt">FirstEnergy accounts for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in its financial statements. Accounting guidance prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken on a company’s tax return. As a result of the merger with Allegheny in the first quarter of 2011, FirstEnergy’s unrecognized tax benefits increased by $97 million. There were no other material changes to FirstEnergy’s unrecognized tax benefits during the first three months of 2011. After reaching a tentative agreement with the IRS on a tax item at appeals related to the capitalization of certain costs in the first quarter of 2010, FirstEnergy reduced the amount of unrecognized tax benefits by $57 million, with a corresponding adjustment to accumulated deferred income taxes for this temporary tax item. There was no impact on FirstEnergy’s effective tax rate for this tax item in the first three months of 2010. </div> <div align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt">As of March 31, 2011, it is reasonably possible that approximately $48 million of unrecognized benefits may be resolved within the next twelve months, of which approximately $6 million, if recognized, would affect FirstEnergy’s effective tax rate. The potential decrease in the amount of unrecognized tax benefits is primarily associated with issues related to the capitalization of certain costs and various state tax items. </div> <div align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt">FirstEnergy recognizes interest expense or income related to uncertain tax positions. That amount is computed by applying the applicable statutory interest rate to the difference between the tax position recognized and the amount previously taken or expected to be taken on the tax return. FirstEnergy includes net interest and penalties in the provision for income taxes. During the first three months of 2011, there were no material changes to the amount of accrued interest, except for a $6 million increase in accrued interest from Allegheny. The reversal of accrued interest associated with the $57 million in recognized tax benefits in 2010 favorably affected FirstEnergy’s effective tax rate by $5 million in the first quarter of 2010. The net amount of interest accrued as of March 31, 2011 was $10 million, compared with $3 million as of December 31, 2010. </div> <div align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt">As a result of the non-deductible portion of merger transaction costs, FirstEnergy’s effective tax rate was unfavorably impacted by $30 million in the first quarter of 2011. </div> <div align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt">As a result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act signed into law in March 2010, beginning in 2013 the tax deduction available to FirstEnergy will be reduced to the extent that drug costs are reimbursed under the Medicare Part D retiree subsidy program. As retiree healthcare liabilities and related tax impacts under prior law were already reflected in FirstEnergy’s consolidated financial statements, the change resulted in a charge to FirstEnergy’s earnings in the first quarter of 2010 of approximately $13 million and a reduction in accumulated deferred tax assets associated with these subsidies. That charge reflected the anticipated increase in income taxes that will occur as a result of the change in tax law. </div> <div align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt">Allegheny recorded as deferred income tax assets the effect of net operating losses and tax credits that will more likely than not be realized through future operations and through the reversal of existing temporary differences. The tax effected net operating loss carryforwards consisted of $152 million of state net operating loss carryforwards that expire from 2019 through 2029 and $53 million of federal net operating loss carryforwards that expire from 2023 to 2029. Federal Alternative Minimum Tax credits of $25 million have an indefinite carryforward period. </div> <div align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt">Allegheny is currently under audit by the IRS for tax years 2007 and 2008. The 2009 federal return was filed and is subject to review. State tax returns for tax years 2006 through 2009 remain subject to review in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland and Virginia for certain subsidiaries of AE. FirstEnergy has tax returns that are under review at the audit or appeals level by the IRS (2008-2010) and state tax authorities. Tax returns for all state jurisdictions are open from 2006-2009. The IRS began auditing the year 2008 in February 2008 and the audit was completed in July 2010 with one item under appeal. The 2009 tax year audit began in February 2009 and the 2010 tax year audit began in February 2010. Management believes that adequate reserves have been recognized and final settlement of these audits is not expected to have a material adverse effect on FirstEnergy’s financial condition or results of operations.<br /> </div>   </div>  <div style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; margin-left: 0in; "> </div>  <!-- Begin Block Tagged NotefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:textBlockItemTypestringDescription containing the entire income tax disclosure. 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This element may be used as a single block of text to encapsulate the entire disclosure including data and tables.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 08 -Paragraph h -Article 4 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 109 -Paragraph 136, 172 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 109 -Paragraph 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 falsefalseINCOME TAXES12Income TaxesUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue