<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM (CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF JUNE 30,
1997) AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000017797
<NAME> CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                     
<PERIOD-TYPE>                           6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                       DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                            JUN-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                               PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                     $6,344,120
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     $381,148
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          $647,682
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        $540,406
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  $222,331
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                $8,135,687
<COMMON>                                      $1,203,992
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                          ($790)
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                           $1,502,621
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                $2,705,823
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                 $0
<PREFERRED>                                      $59,376
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                          $2,525,808
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                    $0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                             $0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                        $0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    $43,436
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                        $84,425
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                           $0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                      $0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                $2,716,819
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                 $8,135,687
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                     $1,382,107
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             $82,865
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                    $1,089,492
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                    $1,172,357
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         $209,750
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               $15,451
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  $225,201
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         $88,650
<NET-INCOME>                                    $136,551
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       $3,143
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   $133,408
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        $134,445
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        $81,148
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          $449,369
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      $0.93
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      $0.93