<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM (INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF MARCH 31, 1996) AND
IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000017797
<NAME> CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY
        
                                                     
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                          3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                      DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                                           MAR-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                              PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                               $6,322,936
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                               $490,864
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                    $610,348
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                  $610,042
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                            $171,782
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                          $8,205,972
<COMMON>                                                $1,204,901
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                    ($790)
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                     $1,435,916
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                          $2,640,027
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                           $0
<PREFERRED>                                               $143,801
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                    $2,552,415
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                              $0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                       $0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                  $0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                             $268,366
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                       $0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                     $0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                $0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                          $2,601,363
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                           $8,205,972
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                 $783,585
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                       $77,095
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                $552,062
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                $629,157
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                   $154,428
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                         $14,590
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                            $169,018
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   $50,672
<NET-INCOME>                                              $118,346
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                 $2,402
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                             $115,944
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                   $65,405
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                  $44,676
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                    $208,660
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                $0.81
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                $0.81