<ARTICLE> UT <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM (INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1995) AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000017797 <NAME> CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1995 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1995 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> $6,328,508 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> $475,564 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> $641,658 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> $610,666 <OTHER-ASSETS> $170,754 <TOTAL-ASSETS> $8,227,150 <COMMON> $1,190,155 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> ($790) <RETAINED-EARNINGS> $1,385,378 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> $2,574,743 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> $0 <PREFERRED> $143,801 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> $2,610,343 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> $0 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> $0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> $73,743 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> $105,755 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> $0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> $0 <LEASES-CURRENT> $0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> $2,718,765 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> $8,227,150 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> $3,006,553 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> $259,224 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> $2,214,481 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> $2,473,705 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> $532,848 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> $47,931 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> $580,779 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> $208,175 <NET-INCOME> $372,604 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> $9,609 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> $362,995 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> $258,578 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> $187,397 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> $833,424 <EPS-PRIMARY> $2.48 <EPS-DILUTED> $2.48