<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM (INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1996) 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-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                              PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                               $6,348,981
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                               $454,796
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                    $620,950
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                  $590,585
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                            $175,099
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                          $8,190,411
<COMMON>                                                $1,191,449
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                    ($790)
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                     $1,492,272
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                          $2,682,931
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                           $0
<PREFERRED>                                               $143,801
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                    $2,459,445
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                              $0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                       $0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                  $0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                             $138,345
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                       $0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                     $0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                $0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                          $2,765,889
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                           $8,190,411
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                               $2,301,143
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                      $226,390
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                              $1,661,234
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                              $1,887,624
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                   $413,519
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                         $39,669
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                            $453,188
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  $143,027
<NET-INCOME>                                              $310,161
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                 $7,206
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                             $302,955
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                  $196,061
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                 $130,437
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                    $832,035
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                $2.11
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                $2.11