<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                           UT
<CIK> 0000040779
<NAME> GPU, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                                     1,000
<CURRENCY>                                  US DOLLARS
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    6,934,259
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  2,107,661
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,137,186
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     5,312,460
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              15,491,566
<COMMON>                                       331,958
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    1,008,574
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          1,912,210    <F1>
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               3,172,886    <F2>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          416,500    <F3>
<PREFERRED>                                     66,478
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         4,041,386
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             487,160
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  350,671
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                        2,500
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      2,694
<LEASES-CURRENT>                               140,810
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               6,810,481
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               15,491,566
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    2,058,196
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           116,609
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,582,940
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,699,549
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        358,647
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              53,585
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 412,232
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       197,766    <F4>
<NET-INCOME>                                   (61,393)   <F5> 
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  (61,393)
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       126,274
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      179,883
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         257,438
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     (.47)   <F5>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     (.47)   <F5>
<FN>
<F1> INCLUDES ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/(LOSS) OF
<F1> ($35,375).
<F2> INCLUDES REACQUIRED COMMON STOCK OF $79,856.
<F3> INCLUDES SUBSIDIARY-OBLIGATED MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE PREFERRED
<F3> SECURITIES OF $330,000.
<F4> INCLUDES DIVIDENDS ON SUBSIDIARY-OBLIGATED MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE
<F4> PREFERRED SECURITIES OF $14,444 AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS OF
<F4> SUBSIDIARIES OF $5,892.
<F5> INCLUDES MINORITY INTEREST NET (INCOME)/LOSS OF ($749) AND 
<F5> AN AFTER-TAX CHARGE FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY ITEM OF $275,110
<F5> ($2.16 PER SHARE).
</FN>
        

</TABLE>