WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

<TABLE> <S> <C>




<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000077227
<NAME> PENNSYLVANIA ELECTRIC COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> US DOLLARS
       
<S>                                                 <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                              9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                    DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                       JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                         SEP-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                            PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                              1,804,831
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                               71,133
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   244,365
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                 457,945
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                         2,578,274
<COMMON>                                                 105,812
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                285,486
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                      400,669
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                           791,967
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    105,000   <F1>
<PREFERRED>                                               16,681
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                     676,444
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                        33,300
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                            50,229
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                             30,011
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                      0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                3,443
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                          21,096
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                           850,103
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                          2,578,274
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                795,184
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                      57,371
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                               609,258
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                               666,629
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                  128,555
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                           853
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                           129,408
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  48,304   <F2>
<NET-INCOME>                                              81,104
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                  491
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                             80,613
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                  45,000   <F3>
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                 49,050
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                   123,069
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                  0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                  0
<FN>
<F1> REPRESENTS COMPANY-OBLIGATED MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE PREFERRED
<F1> SECURITIES OF $105,000.
<F2> INCLUDES DIVIDENDS ON COMPANY-OBLIGATED MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE
<F2> PREFERRED SECURITIES OF $6,891.
<F3> REPRESENTS COMMON STOCK DIVIDENDS PAID TO PARENT CORPORATION.
</FN>
        



</TABLE>