<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000077227
<NAME> PENNSYLVANIA ELECTRIC COMPANY
<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>                                 1,815,954
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                  75,200
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                      242,705
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                    458,916
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                    0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                            2,592,775
<COMMON>                                                    105,812
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                   285,486
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                         400,040   <F1>
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                              791,338
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                       105,000   <F2>
<PREFERRED>                                                  16,681
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                        676,444
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                           60,800
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                         0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                               16,781
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                30,011
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                         0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                   3,272
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                             19,939
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                              872,509
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                             2,592,775
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                 1,052,936
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                         70,390
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                  824,596
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                  894,986
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                     157,950
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                            1,560
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                              159,510
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                     64,487   <F3>
<NET-INCOME>                                                 95,023
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                     665
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                94,358
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                     60,000   <F4>
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                    49,125
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                      179,343
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                     0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                     0
<FN>
<F1> INCLUDES ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME OF $6,332.
<F2> REPRESENTS COMPANY-OBLIGATED MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE PREFERRED
<F2> SECURITIES.
<F3> INCLUDES DIVIDENDS ON COMPANY-OBLIGATED MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE
<F3> PREFERRED SECURITIES OF $9,188.
<F4> REPRESENTS COMMON STOCK DIVIDENDS PAID TO PARENT CORPORATION.
</FN>