<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000040779
<NAME> GPU, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> US DOLLARS
       
                                                          
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                       DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                          JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                            DEC-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                   1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                               PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                 7,509,571
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                               2,118,703
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                    1,129,180
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                  2,167,254
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                    0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                           12,924,708
<COMMON>                                                    314,458
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                   755,040
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                       2,111,416   <F1>
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                            3,099,930   <F2>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                       421,500   <F3>
<PREFERRED>                                                  66,478
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                      4,325,972
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                          298,500
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                         0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                               54,714
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                               619,434
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                    12,500
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                   3,308
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                            138,919
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                            3,883,453
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                            12,924,708
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                 4,143,379
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                        223,617
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                3,272,644
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                3,496,261
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                     647,118
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                            8,641
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                              655,759
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                    319,321   <F4>
<NET-INCOME>                                                335,101   <F5>
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                       0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                               335,101
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                    239,597
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                   246,935
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                      844,263
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                  2.78
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                  2.77
<FN>
<F1> INCLUDES ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/(LOSS) OF
<F1> ($29,296).
<F2> INCLUDES REACQUIRED COMMON STOCK OF $80,984.
<F3> INCLUDES SUBSIDIARY-OBLIGATED MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE PREFERRED
<F3> SECURITIES OF $330,000.
<F4> INCLUDES DIVIDENDS ON SUBSIDIARY-OBLIGATED MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE
<F4> PREFERRED SECURITIES OF $28,888, PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS OF
<F4> SUBSIDIARIES OF $12,524, AND GAIN ON REACQUIRED PREFERRED STOCK
<F4> OF $9,288.
<F5> INCLUDES MINORITY INTEREST NET (INCOME)/LOSS OF ($1,337).
</FN>