Exhibit 99.(a)
NEWS RELEASE
Florida Power Corporation 
Corporate Communications
3201 34th Street South
St. Petersburg, FL  33711
(813) 866-4334

For more information contact:
Karen Raihill 
(813) 866-5023





Florida Power Corporation Seeks To Terminate Agreements With SunShine Pipeline
Project


     ST. PETERSBURG, FL. (February 9, 1995) -- Florida Power Corporation is
exercising its option to terminate, effective March 2, two agreements related
to the transportation of natural gas through the proposed SunShine Pipeline.

     March 1 is the deadline established in the agreements for receipt of all
approvals for the project by both federal and state regulators.  Florida Power
contends it is indisputable that the approvals cannot be obtained by the
required date and, thus, the company has filed a lawsuit today to terminate the
agreements.

     The agreements referred to in the court action had been signed in 1993 to
provide firm gas transportation capacity for Florida Power.  The company plans
to increase the use of natural gas, primarily to fuel two combined cycle units
to be constructed at its new energy complex near Fort Meade in Polk County. 
The first unit is scheduled to be in service in 1998, the second in 1999.

     By exercising this option, the company intends to preserve its flexibility
and explore all viable options that are in the best interests of Florida
Power's customers and shareholders.

     Florida Power announced in September 1994 that it was withdrawing as an
equity partner in the 715-mile proposed SunShine pipeline that would run from
Pascagoula, Mississippi to Polk County, Florida.

     Florida Power Corporation is the principal subsidiary of St. Petersburg-
based Florida Progress Corporation (NYSE:FPC) and serves more than 1.2 million
customers in central and northern Florida.
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