<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 $9,191,000 RELATED TO OTHER INCOME AND $(21,208,000)
RELATED TO EXTRAORDINARY ITEM.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000073960
<NAME> OHIO EDISON COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    4,817,316
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  1,185,319
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         787,484
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     2,040,371
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               8,830,490
<COMMON>                                             1
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    2,105,240
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            486,377
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               2,591,618
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          150,000
<PREFERRED>                                    211,870
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         2,605,526
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             265,791
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 119,975
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   61,102
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                        5,000
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 4,152
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               2,815,456
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                8,830,490
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,216,463
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            53,856
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     945,809
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,011,682
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        204,781
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              24,268
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 229,049
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       118,466
<NET-INCOME>                                    80,061
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      6,037
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   74,024
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       209,412
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      193,721
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         423,137
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0