<ARTICLE> UT
          <CIK> 0000040779
          <NAME> GPU, INC.
          <MULTIPLIER> 1,000
          <CURRENCY> US DOLLARS
                 
                                        
          <PERIOD-TYPE>                          3-MOS
          <FISCAL-YEAR-END>                DEC-31-1997
          <PERIOD-START>                   JAN-01-1997
          <PERIOD-END>                     MAR-31-1997
          <EXCHANGE-RATE>                            1
          <BOOK-VALUE>                        PER-BOOK
          <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>          6,348,532
          <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>        1,595,137
          <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>               969,195
          <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>           2,121,976
          <OTHER-ASSETS>                             0
          <TOTAL-ASSETS>                    11,034,840
          <COMMON>                             314,458
          <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>            751,583
          <RETAINED-EARNINGS>                2,224,576
          <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>     3,205,097  <F1>
          <PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                434,000  <F2>
          <PREFERRED>                           66,478
          <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>               3,139,631
          <SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                   203,590
          <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                  0
          <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>        67,724
          <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>        144,506
          <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>             20,000
          <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>            5,577
          <LEASES-CURRENT>                     132,339
          <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>     3,615,898
          <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>     11,034,840
          <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>          1,042,064
          <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                  88,340
          <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>           759,565
          <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>           847,905
          <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>              194,159
          <OTHER-INCOME-NET>                    23,825
          <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>       217,984
          <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>              62,946  <F3>
          <NET-INCOME>                         155,038
          <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                0
          <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>        155,038
          <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>              58,493
          <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>            184,200
          <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>               222,797
          <EPS-PRIMARY>                           1.28
          <EPS-DILUTED>                           1.28
          <FN>
          <F1> INCLUDES REACQUIRED COMMON STOCK OF $85,520.
          <F2> INCLUDES SUBSIDIARY-OBLIGATED MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE PREFERRED
          <F2> SECURITIES OF $330,000.
          <F3> INCLUDES DIVIDENDS ON SUBSIDIARY-OBLIGATED MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE
          <F3> PREFERRED SECURITIES OF $7,222 AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS OF
          <F3> SUBSIDIARIES OF $3,427.
          </FN>