AKRON, Ohio, March 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The E Group, a division of FirstEnergy Solutions, has been selected as one of the 2012 ENERGY STAR® award winners for Partner of the Year – Service Product Provider for its commitment and dedication to helping clients further the energy performance of their buildings and promoting the benefits of the ENERGY STAR program. The E Group's accomplishments will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 15, 2012, which marks the 20th anniversary of ENERGY STAR.

The ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Awards are given to a variety of organizations in recognition of their efforts to improve energy efficiency and reduce pollution, resulting in significant cost savings. Award winners are selected from about 20,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.

"It's truly an honor to be recognized as a 2012 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year, which is our second year in a row," said Julie Hextell, senior vice president of Retail Sales & Marketing for FirstEnergy Solutions. "The E Group remains committed to providing our clients with strategic energy management programs and services that produce both significant energy and financial savings."

"As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the ENERGY STAR program, EPA is proud to recognize The E Group with the 2012 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year – Service and Product Provider Award," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "The E Group and all our ENERGY STAR award winners are leading the way in promoting cost-effective energy efficiency services that are good for our climate, the health of our families, and our future."

The E Group provides energy management services to governmental, multi-site commercial and industrial clients across the United States– managing more than 100,000 client accounts and a total energy portfolio in excess of $1 billion. The company's key achievements include:

Increasing the number of client buildings using automated benchmarking by 7,900 – an increase of 82 percent in 2011 and the third year of significant growth
Helping 37 client buildings earn the ENERGY STAR rating and nearly 100 buildings improve their energy performance rating by at least 10 points in 2011
Enabling clients to qualify for more than $3.9 million in energy rebates in Ohio, representing approximately 33 megawatt-hours in energy efficiency projects
Increasing the benchmarking of one Fortune 500 client to 100% of their facilities and helping another Fortune 500 client reach the milestone of 100 cumulative buildings to earn ENERGY STAR certification

ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency. Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, ENERGY STAR offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money and help protect the environment for future generations. About 20,000 organizations are ENERGY STAR partners committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes, buildings and businesses. For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit [ www.energystar.gov ] or call toll-free 1-888-782-7937.

The E Group is a trusted business consultant to many of the nation's largest commercial and industrial companies. For additional information, visit [ www.e-grp.com ], or call The E Group at 888-809-8436.

FirstEnergy Solutions, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: [ FE ]) provides competitive electric generation supply and other energy-related products and services, and is a licensed supplier in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Michigan and Illinois.

FirstEnergy is a diversified energy company dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies comprise the nation's largest investor-owned electric system. Its diverse generating fleet features non-emitting nuclear, scrubbed baseload coal, natural gas, and pumped-storage hydro and other renewables, and has a total generating capacity of nearly 23,000 megawatts.

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

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The E Group Named ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year -- Service Product Provider for Second Consecutive Year

The E Group Named ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year -- Service Product Provider for Second Consecutive Year

Award from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Highlights Company's Leadership in Energy Efficiency