<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM (INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF JUNE 30, 1996) AND
IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000017797
<NAME> CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY
        
                                                     
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                          6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                      DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                                           JUN-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                              PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                               $6,313,528
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                               $499,424
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                    $628,934
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                  $602,039
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                            $176,284
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                          $8,220,209
<COMMON>                                                $1,206,198
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                    ($790)
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                     $1,430,767
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                          $2,636,175
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                           $0
<PREFERRED>                                               $143,801
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                    $2,565,268
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                              $0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                       $0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                  $0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                             $138,258
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                       $0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                     $0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                $0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                          $2,736,707
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                           $8,220,209
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                               $1,469,553
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                      $144,267
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                              $1,075,892
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                              $1,220,159
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                   $249,394
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                         $29,584
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                            $278,978
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   $97,976
<NET-INCOME>                                              $181,002
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                 $4,804
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                             $176,198
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                  $130,809
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                  $88,029
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                    $428,836
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                $1.23
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                $1.23