<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM (INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1996) 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-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                           DEC-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                              PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                               $6,399,919
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                               $489,334
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                    $672,039
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                  $603,552
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                            $204,357
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                          $8,369,201
<COMMON>                                                $1,187,586
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                    ($790)
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                     $1,503,658
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                          $2,690,454
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                           $0
<PREFERRED>                                               $143,801
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                    $2,525,607
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                              $0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                       $0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                  $0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                             $103,345
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                       $0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                     $0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                $0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                          $2,905,994
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                           $8,369,201
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                               $2,995,715
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                      $269,763
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                              $2,211,865
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                              $2,481,628
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                   $514,087
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                         $62,560
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                            $576,647
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  $185,370
<NET-INCOME>                                              $391,277
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                 $9,609
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                             $381,668
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                  $263,388
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                 $172,622
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                    $962,831
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                $2.66
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                $2.66