Exhibit 1

                          (GPU News Release Letterhead)






 Nov. 13, 1996

 John T. Fidler - (201) 263-6479

 Immediately

 96-28




       Parsippany, N.J., Nov. 13, 1996 -- Pennsylvania Electric Company
 (Penelec), a unit 

 of GPU, Inc., announced that it is commencing an offer to purchase any and all
 of its:

       (i)         56,810 outstanding shares of Cumulative Preferred Stock,
                   4.40% Series B (stated value $100 per share) at a purchase
                   price of $73.44 per share, net to the seller in cash;

       (ii)        97,054 outstanding shares of Cumulative Preferred Stock,
                   3.70% Series C (stated value $100 per share) at a purchase
                   price of $59.64 per share, net to the seller in cash;

       (iii)       63,696 outstanding shares of Cumulative Preferred Stock,
                   4.05% Series D (stated value $100 per share) at a purchase
                   price of $67.61 per share, net to the seller in cash;

       (iv)        28,739 outstanding shares of Cumulative Preferred Stock,
                   4.70% Series E (stated value $100 per share) at a purchase
                   price of $78.45 per share, net to the seller in cash;

       (v)         42,969 outstanding shares of Cumulative Preferred Stock,
                   4.50% Series F (stated value $100 per share) at a purchase
                   price of $75.11 per share, net to the seller in cash; and

       (vi)        75,732 outstanding shares of Cumulative Preferred Stock,
                   4.60% Series G (stated value $100 per share) at a purchase
                   price of $76.79 per share, net to the seller in cash.


       The December 1996 dividend for each series of preferred stock has been

 declared and is to be paid on Dec. 1, 1996 to holders of record as of the

 close of business on Nov. 12, 1996.  A holder of record of shares on Nov. 12,

 1996, who tenders shares will be entitled to the December 1996 dividend,




 regardless of when such tender is made.  Holders of shares purchased pursuant

 to the offer will not be entitled to any dividends in respect of any later

 dividend periods.

       The offer for one series of preferred stock is independent of the offer

 for any other series of preferred stock.  The offers are not conditioned upon

 any minimum number of shares of the applicable series of preferred stock being

 tendered.  Each of the offers is being made only by means of, and is subject

 to certain other terms and conditions as set forth in the Offer to Purchase,

 dated Nov. 13, 1996.  Each of the offers and withdrawal rights will expire at

 midnight, EST, on Dec. 13, 1996, unless any such offer with respect to any

 series of preferred stock is extended.

       This announcement is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of

 any offer to sell the preferred stock.  The offers are made solely by the

 Offer to Purchase, dated Nov. 13, 1996, and the related Letters of Transmittal

 and are not being made to (nor will purchases be accepted from or on behalf

 of) holders of preferred stock residing in any jurisdiction in which the

 making of the offers or the acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with

 the laws of such jurisdiction.  In any jurisdiction, the securities laws of

 which require the offers to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the offers

 shall be deemed made on behalf of Penelec by one or more brokers or dealers

 licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction.



       The dealer manager for the offer is Merrill Lynch & Co. and the

 depositary for the tendered shares will be ChaseMellon Shareholder Services,

 L.L.C.  Questions or requests for assistance may be directed to Georgeson &

 Company Inc., the Information Agent, at Wall Street Plaza, New York, New York

 10005 (telephone 800-223-2064) or Merrill Lynch & Co. at 1-888-ML4-TNDR (1-

 888-654-8637), toll-free.

       Penelec is a subsidiary of GPU, Inc., an electric utility holding
 company. 



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