<ARTICLE> UT <CIK> 0000040779 <NAME> GPU, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> US DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1998 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 6,804,895 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 2,299,943 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,062,409 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 6,120,862 <OTHER-ASSETS> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 16,288,109 <COMMON> 331,958 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 1,011,310 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 2,199,121 <F1> <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 3,464,648 <F2> <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 416,500 <F3> <PREFERRED> 66,478 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 3,825,584 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 368,607 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 561,183 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 2,500 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 2,593 <LEASES-CURRENT> 126,480 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 7,453,536 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 16,288,109 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 4,248,792 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 238,241 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 3,352,713 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 3,590,954 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 657,838 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 119,446 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 777,284 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 389,232 <F4> <NET-INCOME> 360,126 <F5> <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 360,126 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 258,058 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 177,483 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 797,176 <EPS-PRIMARY> 2.83 <F5> <EPS-DILUTED> 2.83 <F5> <FN> <F1> INCLUDES ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/(LOSS) OF <F1> ($31,304). <F2> INCLUDES REACQUIRED COMMON STOCK OF $77,741. <F3> INCLUDES AMOUNT FOR SUBSIDIARY-OBLIGATED MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE <F3> PREFERRED SECURITIES OF $330,000. <F4> INCLUDES AMOUNT FOR SUBSIDIARY-OBLIGATED MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE <F4> PREFERRED SECURITIES OF $28,888 AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS OF <F4> SUBSIDIARIES OF $11,243. <F5> INCLUDES MINORITY INTEREST NET (INCOME)/LOSS OF ($2,171) AND <F5> AN AFTER-TAX CHARGE FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY ITEM OF $25,755 <F5> ($.20 PER SHARE). </FN>