<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                           UT
<CIK> 0000040779
<NAME> GPU, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                                     1,000
<CURRENCY>                                  US DOLLARS
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    6,815,527
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  2,139,204
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,282,017
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     6,060,649
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              16,297,397
<COMMON>                                       331,958
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    1,010,373
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          2,235,027    <F1>
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               3,499,009    <F2>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          416,500    <F3>
<PREFERRED>                                     66,478
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         4,214,057
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             298,393
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  262,110
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                        2,500
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      2,035
<LEASES-CURRENT>                               129,440
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               7,406,875
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               16,297,397
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    3,226,975
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           164,929
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   2,525,769
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   2,690,698
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        536,277
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              61,241
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 597,518
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       293,653    <F4>
<NET-INCOME>                                   276,653    <F5>
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  276,653
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       192,149
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      178,400
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         572,800
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.18    <F5>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.18    <F5>
<FN>
<F1> INCLUDES ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/(LOSS) OF
<F1> ($43,743).
<F2> INCLUDES REACQUIRED COMMON STOCK OF $78,349.
<F3> INCLUDES AMOUNT FOR SUBSIDIARY-OBLIGATED MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE
<F3> PREFERRED SECURITIES OF $330,000.
<F4> INCLUDES AMOUNT FOR SUBSIDIARY-OBLIGATED MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE
<F4> PREFERRED SECURITIES OF $21,666 AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS OF
<F4> SUBSIDIARIES OF $8,516.
<F5> INCLUDES MINORITY INTEREST NET (INCOME)/LOSS OF ($1,457) AND
<F5> AN AFTER-TAX CHARGE FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY ITEM OF $25,755
<F5> ($.20 PER SHARE).
</FN>
        

</TABLE>