<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>