As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 12, 1997


                        SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                               Washington, DC  20549

                               ---------------------

                                     FORM 8-K

                                  CURRENT REPORT


                        Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of

                        The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
                                  May 12, 1997




                        Exact name of Registrant as
        Commission      specified in its charter, address              State of      I.R.S. Employer
        File No.        of principal executive offices, telephone     Incorporation   Identification No.
                                                                               
        1-8349          FLORIDA PROGRESS CORPORATION                    Florida         59-2147112
                         One Progress Plaza
                         St. Petersburg, Florida 33701
                         Telephone (813) 824-6400

        1-3274          FLORIDA POWER CORPORATION                       Florida          59-0247770
                         3201 34th Street South
                         St. Petersburg, Florida 33711
                         Telephone (813) 866-5151



The address of neither registrant has changed since the last report.

This combined Form 8-K represents separate filings by Florida Progress
Corporation and Florida Power Corporation. Information contained herein relating
to an individual registrant is filed by that registrant on its own behalf.
Florida Power makes no representations as to the information relating to Florida
Progress' diversified operations.





Item 5.   Other Events

     In light of ongoing securities offerings by Florida Progress Corporation
("Florida Progress") and its subsidiaries, including Florida Power Corporation
("Florida Power") and Progress Capital Holdings, Inc., the following information
is being presented pending distribution of the combined Florida Progress and
Florida Power Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31,
1997:

      Nuclear update.  Florida Power issued a News Release and Florida Progress
issued an Investor News report each dated May 12, 1997, regarding Florida
Power's Crystal River Nuclear Plant, which are being filed herewith as Exhibits
99.(a) and 99.(b), respectively.

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

     (c)  Exhibits:

Exhibit Number (by
reference to Item 601
of Regulation S-K)     Description of Exhibit

99.(a)                 Florida Power Corporation News Release dated
                       May 12, 1997 regarding Florida Power's Crystal River  
                       Nuclear unit.

99.(b)                 Florida Progress Corporation Investor News report dated
                       May 12, 1997 regarding Florida Power's Crystal River
                       Nuclear unit.






                                SIGNATURES


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.  The signature of the undersigned on
behalf of each listed company shall be deemed to relate only to matters having
reference to such company.


                                          FLORIDA PROGRESS CORPORATION

                                          FLORIDA POWER CORPORATION


                                              /s/Jeffrey R. Heinicka
                                          By:____________________________
                                              Jeffrey R. Heinicka
                                              Senior Vice President and
                                                Chief Financial Officer
                                                of each Registrant



Date:  May 12, 1997







                               EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit No.       Description of Exhibit

99.(a)            Florida Power Corporation News Release dated
                  May 12, 1997 regarding Florida Power's Crystal River  
                  Nuclear unit.

99.(b)            Florida Progress Corporation Investor News report dated
                  May 12, 1997 regarding Florida Power's Crystal River
                  Nuclear unit.