<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE RELATED
FORM 10-Q FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR OHIO EDISON COMPANY AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. (AMOUNTS IN 1,000'S).
INCOME TAX EXPENSE INCLUDES $5,422,000 RELATED TO OTHER INCOME.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000073960
<NAME> OHIO EDISON COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    5,172,786
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  1,178,060
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         690,795
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     1,823,227
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               8,864,868
<COMMON>                                             1
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    2,104,116
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            513,310
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               2,617,427
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          150,000
<PREFERRED>                                    211,870
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         2,584,091
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             281,420
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 119,965
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  117,985
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                        5,000
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 4,496
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               2,772,614
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                8,864,868
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      597,865
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            42,545
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     449,609
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     486,732
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        111,133
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              12,502
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 123,635
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        59,359
<NET-INCOME>                                    64,276
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      3,019
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   61,257
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       169,528
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      195,781
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         263,950
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0