<ARTICLE> UT            
<LEGEND>                
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED          
FROM (CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF MARCH 31,         
1998) 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>                           3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                       DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                            MAR-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                            PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>               $6,290,837 
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>             $249,401 
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                  $718,150 
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                $453,428 
<OTHER-ASSETS>                          $538,617 
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                          $8,250,433 
<COMMON>                                $1,206,926 
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>               ($790)
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                     $1,629,853 
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>          $2,835,989 
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                   $0 
<PREFERRED>                             $59,376 
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                    $2,449,127 
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                      $0 
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>               $0 
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>          $0 
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>           $208,075 
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>               $0 
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>             $0 
<LEASES-CURRENT>                        $0 
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>          $2,697,866 
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>           $8,250,433 
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>               $752,296 
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                    $69,601 
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>              $544,608 
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>              $614,209 
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                 $138,087 
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                      ($7,495)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>          $130,592 
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                $44,021 
<NET-INCOME>                            $86,571 
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>             ($742)
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>           $85,829 
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                $69,857 
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>               $33,280 
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                  $220,780 
<EPS-PRIMARY>                           0.60 
<EPS-DILUTED>                           0.60