<ARTICLE> UT
          <CIK> 0000040779
          <NAME> GPU, INC.
          <MULTIPLIER> 1,000
          <CURRENCY> US DOLLARS
                 
                                        
          <PERIOD-TYPE>                         12-MOS
          <FISCAL-YEAR-END>                DEC-31-1996
          <PERIOD-START>                   JAN-01-1996
          <PERIOD-END>                     DEC-31-1996
          <EXCHANGE-RATE>                            1
          <BOOK-VALUE>                        PER-BOOK
          <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>          6,387,823
          <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>        1,541,191
          <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>               897,174
          <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>           2,115,031
          <OTHER-ASSETS>                             0
          <TOTAL-ASSETS>                    10,941,219
          <COMMON>                             314,458
          <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>            750,569
          <RETAINED-EARNINGS>                2,068,976
          <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>     3,047,587  <F1>
          <PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                444,000  <F2>
          <PREFERRED>                           66,478
          <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>               3,177,016
          <SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                   256,567
          <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                  0
          <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>         8,980
          <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>        168,583
          <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>             10,000
          <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>            6,623
          <LEASES-CURRENT>                     143,818
          <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>     3,611,567
          <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>     10,941,219
          <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>          3,918,089
          <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                 166,572
          <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>         3,243,238
          <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>         3,409,810
          <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>              508,279
          <OTHER-INCOME-NET>                    30,253
          <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>       538,532
          <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>             240,180  <F3>
          <NET-INCOME>                         298,352
          <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                0
          <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>        298,352
          <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>             231,956
          <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>            184,675
          <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>               642,669
          <EPS-PRIMARY>                           2.47
          <EPS-DILUTED>                           2.47
          <FN>
          <F1> INCLUDES REACQUIRED COMMON STOCK OF $86,416.
          <F2> INCLUDES SUBSIDIARY-OBLIGATED MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE PREFERRED
          <F2> SECURITIES OF $330,000.
          <F3> INCLUDES DIVIDENDS ON SUBSIDIARY-OBLIGATED MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE
          <F3> PREFERRED SECURITIES OF $28,888, PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS OF
          <F3> SUBSIDIARIES OF $15,519, AND GAIN ON REACQUIRED PREFERRED STOCK
          <F3> OF $9,288. 
          </FN>