<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM (INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1995) AND
IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000017797
<NAME> CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY
        
                                                     
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                          9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                      DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                                           SEP-30-1995
<BOOK-VALUE>                                              PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                               $6,313,568
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                               $439,992
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                    $634,705
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                  $619,948
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                            $170,061
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                          $8,178,274
<COMMON>                                                $1,248,288
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                    ($790)
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                     $1,386,253
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                          $2,633,751
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                           $0
<PREFERRED>                                               $143,801
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                    $2,684,408
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                              $0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                       $0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                             $17,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                              $53,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                       $0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                     $0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                $0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                          $2,646,314
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                           $8,178,274
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                               $2,285,703
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                      $193,782
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                              $1,667,796
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                              $1,861,578
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                   $424,125
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                         $40,799
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                            $464,924
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  $159,024
<NET-INCOME>                                              $305,900
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                 $7,206
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                             $298,694
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                  $193,400
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                 $140,834
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                    $648,295
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                $2.03
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                $2.03