<ARTICLE> UT
          <CIK> 0000040779
          <NAME> GPU, INC.
          <MULTIPLIER> 1,000
          <CURRENCY> US DOLLARS
                 
                                        
          <PERIOD-TYPE>                          6-MOS
          <FISCAL-YEAR-END>                DEC-31-1997
          <PERIOD-START>                   JAN-01-1997
          <PERIOD-END>                     JUN-30-1997
          <EXCHANGE-RATE>                            1
          <BOOK-VALUE>                        PER-BOOK
          <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>          6,350,670
          <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>        1,695,539
          <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>             1,016,711
          <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>           2,139,747
          <OTHER-ASSETS>                             0
          <TOTAL-ASSETS>                    11,202,667
          <COMMON>                             314,458
          <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>            753,423
          <RETAINED-EARNINGS>                2,172,288
          <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>     3,156,374  <F1>
          <PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                421,500  <F2>
          <PREFERRED>                           66,478
          <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>               3,229,688
          <SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                   247,600
          <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                  0
          <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>       195,064
          <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>         98,501
          <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>             12,500
          <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>            4,638
          <LEASES-CURRENT>                     148,282
          <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>     3,538,247
          <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>     11,202,667
          <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>          1,969,328
          <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                 127,234
          <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>         1,518,961
          <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>         1,646,195
          <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>              323,133
          <OTHER-INCOME-NET>                    30,764
          <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>       353,897
          <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>             128,610  <F3>
          <NET-INCOME>                         225,287
          <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                0
          <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>        225,287
          <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>             118,828
          <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>            183,925
          <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>               229,644
          <EPS-PRIMARY>                           1.86
          <EPS-DILUTED>                           1.86
          <FN>
          <F1> INCLUDES REACQUIRED COMMON STOCK OF $83,795.
          <F2> INCLUDES SUBSIDIARY-OBLIGATED MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE PREFERRED
          <F2> SECURITIES OF $330,000.
          <F3> INCLUDES DIVIDENDS ON SUBSIDIARY-OBLIGATED MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE
          <F3> PREFERRED SECURITIES OF $14,444 AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS OF
          <F3> SUBSIDIARIES OF $6,601.
          </FN>