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

<TABLE> <S> <C>




<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 00000065350
<NAME> METROPOLITAN EDISON 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>                           1,574,380
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                           168,398
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                198,266
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                              572,936
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                              0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                      2,513,980
<COMMON>                                               66,273
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                             370,200
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                   302,500
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                        738,973
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                 100,000   <F1>
<PREFERRED>                                            12,056
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                  576,923
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                     23,900
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                   0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                         41,156
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                              22
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                   0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                60
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                       40,609
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                        980,281
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                       2,513,980
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                             711,975
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                   56,103
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                            531,742
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                            587,845
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                               124,130
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                      1,760
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                        125,890
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               44,777   <F2>
<NET-INCOME>                                           81,113
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                               362
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                          80,751
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                               45,000   <F3>
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                              44,529
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                138,461
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                               0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                               0
<FN>
<F1> REPRESENTS COMPANY-OBLIGATED MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE PREFERRED
<F1> SECURITIES.
<F2> INCLUDES DIVIDENDS ON COMPANY-OBLIGATED MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE
<F2> PREFERRED SECURITIES OF $6,750.
<F3> REPRESENTS COMMON STOCK DIVIDENDS PAID TO PARENT CORPORATION.
</FN>
        


</TABLE>