<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 $15,115,000 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>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    4,756,565
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  1,184,985
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         933,015
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     2,001,641
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               8,876,206
<COMMON>                                             1
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    2,098,114
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            533,398
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               2,631,513
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          145,000
<PREFERRED>                                    211,870
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         2,405,875
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             186,205
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 119,980
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  267,323
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                        5,000
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 4,014
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               2,899,426
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                8,876,206
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,912,689
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           115,068
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,446,063
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,567,224
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        345,465
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              36,857
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 382,322
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       177,029
<NET-INCOME>                                   174,771
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      9,057
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  165,714
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       254,007
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      193,116
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         595,209
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0