<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the related
Form 10-K 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 $20,305,000 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>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    4,740,029
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  1,291,261
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         729,723
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     1,972,138
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               8,733,151
<COMMON>                                             1
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    2,098,728
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            583,144
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               2,681,873
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          145,000
<PREFERRED>                                    211,870
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         2,215,042
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             218,208
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 119,975
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  519,782
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                        5,000
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 4,010
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               2,612,391
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                8,733,151
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    2,519,662
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           170,053
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,861,786
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   2,032,742
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        486,920
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              47,621
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 534,541
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       233,221
<NET-INCOME>                                   270,798
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     11,970
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  258,828
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       297,376
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      197,590
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         609,407
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0