<ARTICLE> UT <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1994 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000017797 <NAME> CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY <PERIOD-TYPE> QTR-3 <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1994 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1994 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> $6,332,398 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> $313,766 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> $624,711 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> $653,979 <OTHER-ASSETS> $190,651 <TOTAL-ASSETS> $8,115,505 <COMMON> $1,327,375 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> ($790) <RETAINED-EARNINGS> $1,300,753 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> $2,627,338 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> $0 <PREFERRED> $143,801 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> $2,502,893 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> $0 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> $0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> $15,000 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> $252,050 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> $0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> $0 <LEASES-CURRENT> $0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> $2,574,423 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> $8,115,505 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> $2,237,323 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> $163,743 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> $1,708,327 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> $1,872,070 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> $365,253 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> $51,911 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> $417,164 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> $149,872 <NET-INCOME> $267,292 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> $7,206 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> $260,086 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> $192,765 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> $0 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> $623,510 <EPS-PRIMARY> $1.73 <EPS-DILUTED> $1.73