FLORIDA POWER CORPORATION
                       d/b/a PROGRESS ENERGY FLORIDA, INC.

                              First Mortgage Bonds
                              4.80% Series due 2013
                              5.90% Series due 2033

                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

                                                      February 18, 2003

To the Representative named in Schedule I hereto
of the Underwriters named in Schedule II hereto

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

         The undersigned Florida Power Corporation d/b/a Progress Energy
Florida, Inc. (the "Company") hereby confirms its agreement with each of the
several Underwriters hereinafter named as follows:

         1.       Underwriters and Representative. The term "Underwriters" as
used herein shall be deemed to mean the firm or the several firms named in
Schedule II of this Underwriting Agreement (the "Agreement") and any underwriter
substituted as provided in paragraph 6, and the term "Underwriter" shall be
deemed to mean any one of such Underwriters. If the firm or firms listed in
Schedule I hereto (individually and collectively, the "Representative") are the
same as the firm or firms listed in Schedule II hereto, then the terms
"Underwriters" and "Representative," as used herein, shall each be deemed to
refer to such firm or firms. Each Representative represents jointly and
severally that they have been authorized by the Underwriters to execute this
Agreement on their behalf and to act for them in the manner herein provided. All
obligations of the Underwriters hereunder are several and not joint. If more
than one firm is named in Schedule I hereto, any action under or in respect of
this Agreement may be taken by such firms jointly as the Representative or by
one of the firms acting on behalf of the Representative, and such action will be
binding upon all the Underwriters.

         2.       Description of Securities. The Company proposes to issue and
sell its First Mortgage Bonds of the designation, with the terms and in the
amount specified in Schedule I hereto (the "Securities"), under its Indenture,
dated as of January 1, 1944, with First Chicago Trust Company of New York, as
successor Trustee, as supplemented by the Seventh, Eighth, Sixteenth,
Twenty-Ninth, Thirty-Eighth and Fortieth supplemental indentures, and as it will
be further supplemented by the Forty-First Supplemental Indenture relating to
the Securities (the "Supplemental Indenture"), in substantially the form
heretofore delivered to the Representative, said Indenture as supplemented by
the Seventh, Eighth, Sixteenth, Twenty-Ninth, Thirty-Eighth and Fortieth
supplemental indentures, and to be supplemented by the Supplemental Indenture
being hereinafter referred to as the "Mortgage."

         3.       Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company
represents and warrants to each of the Underwriters that:

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                  (a)      The Company has filed with the Securities and
         Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a Registration Statement on Form
         S-3 (No. 333-63204) (the "New Registration Statement") under the
         Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), for the
         registration of up to an aggregate of $380,000,000 principal amount of
         First Mortgage Bonds and Debt Securities in unallocated amounts. The
         New Registration Statement also constituted Post-Effective Amendment
         No. 1 to three other Registration Statements on Form S-3, each as set
         forth on Schedule I (collectively, the "Post-Effective Amendments" and
         together with the New Registration Statement, the "Registration
         Statement") under the Securities Act relating to an aggregate of
         $620,000,000 principal amount of the Company's securities, which had
         been previously registered under the Securities Act but remained unsold
         at the time the Post-Effective Amendments became effective. The
         Registration Statement contained a combined prospectus for the sale of
         $1,000,000,000 of the Company's First Mortgage Bonds and Debt
         Securities (the "Registered Securities") in unallocated amounts, as
         each is defined in the Registration Statement. The Registration
         Statement was declared effective by the Commission on June 26, 2001. As
         of the date hereof, the Company has sold Registered Securities in an
         aggregate principal amount of $300,000,000. The term "Registration
         Statement" shall be deemed to include all amendments to the date hereof
         and all documents incorporated by reference therein (the "Incorporated
         Documents"). The combined prospectus included in the Registration
         Statement, as supplemented by a preliminary prospectus supplement,
         dated February 18, 2003, relating to the Securities, and all prior
         amendments or supplements thereto (other than amendments or supplements
         relating to Registered Securities other than the Securities), including
         the Incorporated Documents, is hereinafter referred to as the
         "Preliminary Prospectus." The combined prospectus included in the
         Registration Statement, as it is to be supplemented by a prospectus
         supplement, dated on the date hereof, substantially in the form
         delivered to the Representative prior to the execution hereof, relating
         to the Securities (the "Prospectus Supplement") and all prior
         amendments or supplements thereto (other than amendments or supplements
         relating to securities of the Company other than the Securities),
         including the Incorporated Documents, is hereinafter referred to as the
         "Prospectus." Any reference herein to the terms "amend," "amendment" or
         "supplement" with respect to the Registration Statement or the
         Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any
         document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
         "Exchange Act"), deemed to be incorporated therein after the date
         hereof and prior to the termination of the offering of the Securities
         by the Underwriters; and any references herein to the terms
         "Registration Statement" or "Prospectus" at a date after the filing of
         the Prospectus Supplement shall be deemed to refer to the Registration
         Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, as each may be amended
         or supplemented prior to such date.

                  (b)      The Registration Statement, at the time and date it
         was declared effective by the Commission, complied, and the
         Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Mortgage, at the date
         the Prospectus is filed with, or transmitted for filing to, the
         Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act ("Rule 424")
         and at the Closing Date, will comply, in all material respects, with
         the applicable provisions of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture
         Act of 1939, as amended (the "1939 Act"), and the applicable rules and
         regulations of the Commission thereunder; the Registration Statement,
         at the time and date it was declared effective by the Commission, did
         not

                                        2



         contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
         material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
         statements therein not misleading; and the Prospectus, at the date it
         is filed with, or transmitted for filing to, the Commission pursuant to
         Rule 424 and at the Closing Date, will not contain an untrue statement
         of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order
         to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
         which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the
         foregoing representations and warranties in this subparagraph (b) shall
         not apply to statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in
         conformity with information furnished herein or in writing to the
         Company by the Representative or by or on behalf of any Underwriter
         through the Representative expressly for use in the Prospectus or to
         any statements in or omissions from the Statement of Eligibility (Form
         T-1) of the Trustee. The Incorporated Documents, when they were filed
         with the Commission, complied in all material respects with the
         applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and
         regulations of the Commission thereunder, and any documents so filed
         and incorporated by reference subsequent to the date hereof and prior
         to the termination of the offering of the Securities by the
         Underwriters will, when they are filed with the Commission, comply in
         all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the
         rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder; and, when read
         together with the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, none of
         such documents included or includes or will include any untrue
         statement of a material fact or omitted or omits or will omit to state
         any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
         the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
         they were made, not misleading.

                  (c)      The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly
         existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State
         of Florida; has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate
         its properties and to conduct its business as contemplated under this
         Agreement and the other agreements to which it is a party; and is duly
         qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good
         standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required,
         whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the
         conduct of business, except where the failure to so qualify would not
         have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, results of
         operations or financial condition of the Company.

                  (d)      The historical financial statements incorporated by
         reference in the Registration Statement present fairly the financial
         condition and operations of the Company at the respective dates or for
         the respective periods to which they apply; such financial statements
         have been prepared in each case in accordance with generally accepted
         accounting principles consistently applied throughout the periods
         involved, except that the quarterly financial statements incorporated
         by reference from any Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q contain condensed
         footnotes prepared in accordance with applicable Exchange Act rules and
         regulations; and any accounting firms that have audited any of the
         financial statements are independent public or independent certified
         public accountants as required by the Securities Act or the Exchange
         Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

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                  (e)      Except as reflected in, or contemplated by, the
         Registration Statement and the Prospectus, since the respective dates
         as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and
         Prospectus, and prior to the Closing Date, (i) there has not been any
         material adverse change in the business, properties, results of
         operations or financial condition of the Company, (ii) there has not
         been any material transaction entered into by the Company other than
         transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement and Prospectus
         or transactions arising in the ordinary course of business and (iii)
         the Company has no material contingent obligation that is not disclosed
         in the Registration Statement and Prospectus that could likely result
         in a material adverse change in the business, properties, results of
         operations or financial condition of the Company.

                  (f)      The Company has full power and authority to execute,
         deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement. The execution
         and delivery of this Agreement, the consummation of the transactions
         herein contemplated and the fulfillment of the terms hereof on the part
         of the Company to be fulfilled have been duly authorized by all
         necessary corporate action of the Company in accordance with the
         provisions of its articles of incorporation, as amended (the
         "Charter"), by-laws and applicable law; and the Securities, when issued
         and delivered as provided herein, will constitute legal, valid and
         binding obligations of the Company in accordance with their terms
         subject to (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
         moratorium, fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting mortgagees'
         and other creditors' rights generally and (ii) general principles of
         equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a
         proceeding at law or in equity and except for the effect on
         enforceability of federal or state law limiting, delaying or
         prohibiting the making of payments outside the United States; provided,
         however, that certain remedies, waivers and other provisions of the
         Securities may not be enforceable, but such unenforceability will not
         render the Securities invalid as a whole or affect the judicial
         enforcement of (i) the obligation of the Company to repay the
         principal, together with the interest thereon as provided in the
         Securities or (ii) the right of the Trustee to exercise its right to
         foreclose under the Mortgage.

                  (g)      The consummation of the transactions herein
         contemplated and the fulfillment of the terms hereof will not result in
         a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default
         under, the Charter, the Company's by-laws, applicable law or any
         indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement or instrument to
         which the Company is now a party or any judgment, order, writ or decree
         of any government or governmental authority or agency or court having
         jurisdiction over the Company or any of its assets, properties or
         operations that, in the case of any such breach or default, would have
         a material adverse effect on the business, properties, results of
         operations or financial condition of the Company.

                  (h)      The Securities conform in all material respects to
         the description contained in the Prospectus.

                  (i)      The Company does not have any significant
         subsidiaries as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated
         under the Securities Act.

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                  (j)      The Mortgage (A) has been duly authorized, executed
         and delivered by the Company, and, assuming due authorization,
         execution and delivery of the Supplemental Indenture by the Trustee,
         constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Company,
         enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject
         to (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium,
         fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting creditors' rights
         generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether
         such enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity
         and except for the effect on enforceability of federal or state law
         limiting, delaying or prohibiting the making of payments outside the
         United States); and (B) conforms in all material respects to the
         description thereof in the Prospectus. The Mortgage has been qualified
         under the 1939 Act.

                  (k)      The Company is not an "investment company" within the
         meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940
         Act").

                  (l)      Except as described in or contemplated by the
         Prospectus, there are no pending actions, suits or proceedings
         (regulatory or otherwise) against or affecting the Company or its
         properties that are likely in the aggregate to result in any material
         adverse change in the business, properties, results of operations or
         financial condition of the Company, or that are likely in the aggregate
         to materially and adversely affect the Mortgage, the Securities or the
         consummation of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein
         or therein.

                  (m)      No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent,
         license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any court or
         governmental authority or agency is necessary or required for the
         performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder in connection
         with the offering, issuance or sale of the Securities hereunder or the
         consummation of the transactions herein contemplated or for the due
         execution, delivery or performance of the Indenture by the Company,
         except such as have already been made or obtained or as may be required
         under the Securities Act or state securities laws and except for the
         qualification of the Indenture under the 1939 Act.

         4.       Purchase and Sale. On the basis of the representations,
warranties and covenants herein contained, but subject to the terms and
conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to each of the
Underwriters, severally and not jointly, and each such Underwriter agrees,
severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, the respective
principal amount of Securities of each series set forth opposite the name of
such Underwriter in Schedule II hereto at the purchase price set forth in
Schedule I hereto.

         5.       Reoffering by Underwriters. The Underwriters agree to make
promptly a bona fide public offering of the Securities to the public for sale as
set forth in the Prospectus, subject, however, to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement.

         6.       Time and Place of Closing; Default of Underwriters.

                  (a)      Payment for the Securities shall be made at the
         place, time and date specified in Schedule I hereto against delivery of
         the Securities at the office of First

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         Chicago Trust Company of New York, 151 West 51st Street, 5th Floor, New
         York, New York 10019, or such other place, time and date as the
         Representative and the Company may agree. The hour and date of such
         delivery and payment are herein called the "Closing Date." Payment for
         the Securities shall be by wire transfer of immediately available funds
         against delivery to The Depository Trust Company or to First Chicago
         Trust Company of New York, as custodian for The Depository Trust
         Company, in fully registered global form registered in the name of CEDE
         & Co., as nominee for the Depository Trust Company, for the respective
         accounts specified by the Representative not later than the close of
         business on the business day prior to the Closing Date or such other
         date and time not later than the Closing Date as agreed by The
         Depository Trust Company or First Chicago Trust Company of New York.
         For the purpose of expediting the checking of the certificates by the
         Representative, the Company agrees to make the Securities available to
         the Representative not later than 10:00 A.M. New York time, on the last
         full business day prior to the Closing Date at said office of First
         Chicago Trust Company of New York.

                  (b)      If one or more Underwriters shall, for any reason
         other than a reason permitted hereunder, fail to take up and pay for
         the principal amount of the Securities of any series to be purchased by
         such one or more Underwriters, the Company shall immediately notify the
         Representative, and the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated
         to take up and pay for (in addition to the respective principal amount
         of the Securities of such series set forth opposite their respective
         names in Schedule II hereto) the principal amount of such series that
         the Securities that such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters failed
         to take up and pay for, up to a principal amount thereof equal to, in
         the case of each such non-defaulting Underwriter, 10% of the principal
         amount of the Securities of such series set forth opposite the name of
         such non-defaulting Underwriter in said Schedule II, and such
         non-defaulting Underwriters shall have the right, within 24 hours of
         receipt of such notice, either to take up and pay for (in such
         proportion as may be agreed upon among them), or to substitute another
         Underwriter or Underwriters, satisfactory to the Company, to take up
         and pay for the remaining principal amount of the Securities that the
         defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase.
         If any unpurchased Securities still remain, then the Company or the
         Representative shall be entitled to an additional period of 24 hours
         within which to procure another party or parties, members of the
         National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (or if not members of
         such Association, who are not eligible for membership in said
         Association and who agree (i) to make no sales within the United
         States, its territories or its possessions or to persons who are
         citizens thereof or residents therein and (ii) in making sales to
         comply with said Association's Conduct Rules) and satisfactory to the
         Company, to purchase or agree to purchase such unpurchased Securities
         on the terms herein set forth. In any such case, either the
         Representative or the Company shall have the right to postpone the
         Closing Date for a period not to exceed three full business days from
         the date agreed upon in accordance with this paragraph 6, in order that
         the necessary changes in the Registration Statement and Prospectus and
         any other documents and arrangements may be effected. If (i) neither
         the non-defaulting Underwriters nor the Company has arranged for the
         purchase of such unpurchased Securities by another party or parties as
         above provided and (ii) the Company and the non-defaulting Underwriters
         have not mutually agreed to offer and sell the Securities other than
         the unpurchased Securities,

                                        6



         then this Agreement shall terminate without any liability on the part
         of the Company or any Underwriter (other than an Underwriter that shall
         have failed or refused, in accordance with the terms hereof, to
         purchase and pay for the principal amount of the Securities that such
         Underwriter has agreed to purchase as provided in paragraph 4 hereof),
         except as otherwise provided in paragraph 7 and paragraph 8 hereof.

         7.       Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants with each
Underwriter that:

                  (a)      As soon as reasonably possible after the execution
         and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will file the Prospectus
         with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424, setting forth, among other
         things, the necessary information with respect to the terms of offering
         of the Securities. Upon request, the Company will promptly deliver to
         the Representative and to counsel for the Underwriters, to the extent
         not previously delivered, one fully executed copy or one conformed
         copy, certified by an officer of the Company, of the Registration
         Statement, as originally filed, and of all amendments thereto,
         heretofore or hereafter made (other than those relating solely to
         Registered Securities other than the Securities), including any
         post-effective amendment (in each case including all exhibits filed
         therewith and all documents incorporated therein not previously
         furnished to the Representative), including signed copies of each
         consent and certificate included therein or filed as an exhibit
         thereto, and will deliver to the Representative for distribution to the
         Underwriters as many conformed copies of the foregoing (excluding the
         exhibits, but including all documents incorporated therein) as the
         Representative may reasonably request. The Company will also send to
         the Underwriters as soon as practicable after the date of this
         Agreement and thereafter from time to time as many copies of the
         Prospectus and the Preliminary Prospectus as the Representative may
         reasonably request for the purposes required by the Securities Act.

                  (b)      During such period (not exceeding nine months) after
         the commencement of the offering of the Securities as the Underwriters
         may be required by law to deliver a Prospectus, if any event relating
         to or affecting the Company, or of which the Company shall be advised
         in writing by the Representative shall occur, which in the opinion of
         the Company or the Representative should be set forth in a supplement
         to or an amendment of the Prospectus in order to make the Prospectus
         not misleading in the light of the circumstances when it is delivered
         to a purchaser, or if it is necessary to amend the Prospectus to comply
         with the Securities Act, the Company will forthwith at its expense
         prepare and furnish to the Underwriters and dealers named by the
         Representative a reasonable number of copies of a supplement or
         supplements or an amendment or amendments to the Prospectus that will
         supplement or amend the Prospectus so that as supplemented or amended
         it will comply with the Securities Act and will not contain any untrue
         statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
         necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
         circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not
         misleading. In case any Underwriter is required to deliver a Prospectus
         after the expiration of nine months after the commencement of the
         offering of the Securities, the Company, upon the request of the
         Representative, will furnish to the Representative, at the expense of
         such Underwriter, a reasonable quantity of a supplemented or amended
         prospectus, or supplements or amendments to the Prospectus, complying
         with Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.

                                        7



                  (c)      The Company will make generally available to its
         security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, but in any event
         not later than 16 months after the end of the fiscal quarter in which
         the filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424 occurs, an earning
         statement (in form complying with the provisions of Section 11(a) of
         the Securities Act, which need not be certified by independent public
         accountants) covering a period of twelve months beginning not later
         than the first day of the Company's fiscal quarter next following the
         filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424.

                  (d)      The Company will use its best efforts promptly to do
         and perform all things to be done and performed by it hereunder prior
         to the Closing Date and to satisfy all conditions precedent to the
         delivery by it of the Securities.

                  (e)      As soon as reasonably possible after the Closing
         Date, the Company will cause the Supplemental Indenture to be recorded
         in all recording offices in the State of Florida in which the property
         intended to be subject to the lien of the Mortgage is located.

                  (f)      The Company will advise the Representative, or the
         Representative's counsel, promptly of the filing of the Prospectus
         pursuant to Rule 424 and of any amendment or supplement to the
         Prospectus or Registration Statement or of official notice of
         institution of proceedings for, or the entry of, a stop order
         suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and, if such
         a stop order should be entered, use its best efforts to obtain the
         prompt removal thereof.

                  (g)      The Company will use its best efforts to qualify the
         Securities, as may be required, for offer and sale under the Blue Sky
         or legal investment laws of such jurisdictions as the Representative
         may designate and will file and make in each year such statements or
         reports as are or may be reasonably required by the laws of such
         jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be
         required to qualify as a foreign corporation or dealer in securities,
         or to file any general consents to service of process, under the laws
         of any jurisdiction.

                  (h)      Prior to the termination of the offering of the
         Securities, the Company will not file any amendment to the Registration
         Statement or supplement to the Prospectus which shall not have
         previously been furnished to the Representative or of which the
         Representative shall not previously have been advised or to which the
         Representative shall reasonably object in writing and which has not
         been approved by the Underwriter(s) or their counsel acting on behalf
         of the Underwriters.

         8.       Payment of Expenses. The Company will pay all expenses
incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including
(i) the printing and filing of the Registration Statement and the printing of
this Agreement, (ii) the delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters, (iii)
the fees and disbursements of the Company's counsel and accountants, (iv) the
expenses in connection with the qualification of the Securities under securities
laws in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 7(g), including filing fees
and the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection
therewith, such fees and disbursements not to exceed $7,500, (v) the printing
and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of the Registration Statement and all
amendments thereto, of the preliminary prospectuses, and

                                        8



of the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, (vi) the printing
and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of the Blue Sky Survey and (vii) the
preparation, execution, filing and recording by the Company of the Supplemental
Indenture (such filing and recordation to be promptly made after execution and
delivery of the Supplemental Indenture to the Trustee under the Mortgage in the
counties in which the mortgaged property of the Company is located); and the
Company will pay all taxes, if any (but not including any transfer taxes), on
the issue of the Securities and the filing and recordation of the Supplemental
Indenture. The fees and disbursements of Underwriters' counsel shall be paid by
the Underwriters (subject, however, to the provisions of this paragraph 8
requiring payment by the Company of fees and disbursements not to exceed
$7,500); provided, however, that if this Agreement is terminated in accordance
with the provisions of paragraph 9, 10 or 12 hereof, the Company shall reimburse
the Representative for the account of the Underwriters for the fees and
disbursements of Underwriters' counsel. The Company shall not be required to pay
any amount for any expenses of the Representative or of any other of the
Underwriters except as provided in paragraph 7 hereof and in this paragraph 8.
The Company shall not in any event be liable to any of the Underwriters for
damages on account of the loss of anticipated profit.

         9.       Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations. The several
obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Securities shall be
subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the
Company as of the date hereof and the Closing Date, to the performance by the
Company of its obligations to be performed hereunder prior to the Closing Date,
and to the following further conditions:

                  (a)      No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
         Registration Statement shall be in effect on the Closing Date and no
         proceedings for that purpose shall be pending before, or, to the
         Company's knowledge, threatened by, the Commission on the Closing Date.
         The Representative shall have received, prior to payment for the
         Securities, a certificate dated the Closing Date and signed by the
         Chairman, President, Treasurer or a Vice President of the Company to
         the effect that no such stop order is in effect and that no proceedings
         for such purpose are pending before or, to the knowledge of the
         Company, threatened by the Commission.

                  (b)      At the time of execution of this Agreement, or such
         later date as shall have been consented to by the Representative, there
         shall have been issued, and on the Closing Date there shall be in full
         force and effect, an order of the Florida Public Service Commission
         authorizing the issuance and sale of the Securities, which shall not
         contain any provision unacceptable to the Representative by reason of
         its being materially adverse to the Company (it being understood that
         no such order in effect on the date of this Agreement and heretofore
         furnished to the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters
         contains any such unacceptable provision).

                  (c)      At the Closing Date, the Representative shall receive
         favorable opinions from: (1) Hunton & Williams, counsel to the Company,
         which opinion shall be satisfactory in form and substance to counsel
         for the Underwriters, and (2) Dewey Ballantine LLP, counsel for the
         Underwriters, in each of which opinions (except as to subdivision (vi)
         (as to documents incorporated by reference, at the time they were filed
         with the Commission) as to which Dewey Ballantine LLP need express no
         opinion) said

                                        9



         counsel may rely as to all matters of Florida law upon the opinion of
         R. Alexander Glenn, Associate General Counsel of Progress Energy
         Service Company LLC, acting as Counsel to the Company, to the effect
         that:

                           (i)       The Mortgage has been duly and validly
                  authorized by all necessary corporate action (with this
                  opinion required in the Hunton & Williams and Dewey Ballantine
                  LLP opinions only as to the original Indenture dated as of
                  January 1, 1944 and the Supplemental Indentures subsequent to,
                  but not including, the Thirty-Eighth Supplemental Indenture),
                  has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the
                  Company (with this opinion required in the Hunton & Williams
                  and Dewey Ballantine LLP opinions only as to the original
                  Indenture dated as of January 1, 1944 and the Supplemental
                  Indentures subsequent to, but not including, the Thirty-Eighth
                  Supplemental Indenture), and is a valid and binding mortgage
                  of the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms,
                  except as limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or other laws
                  affecting mortgagees' and other creditors' rights and general
                  equitable principles and any implied covenant of good faith
                  and fair dealing (with this opinion required in the Hunton &
                  Williams and Dewey Ballantine LLP opinions only as to the
                  original Indenture dated as of January 1, 1944 and the
                  Supplemental Indentures subsequent to, but not including, the
                  Thirty-Eighth Supplemental Indenture); provided, however, that
                  certain remedies, waivers and other provisions of the Mortgage
                  may not be enforceable, but such unenforceability will not
                  render the Mortgage invalid as a whole or affect the judicial
                  enforcement of (i) the obligation of the Company to repay the
                  principal, together with the interest thereon as provided in
                  the Securities or (ii) the right of the Trustee to exercise
                  its right to foreclose under the Mortgage;

                           (ii)      The Mortgage has been duly qualified under
                  the 1939 Act;

                           (iii)     Assuming authentication of the Securities
                  by the Trustee in accordance with the Mortgage and delivery of
                  the Securities to and payment for the Securities by the
                  Underwriters, as provided in this Agreement, the Securities
                  have been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered
                  and are legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company
                  enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as limited
                  by bankruptcy, insolvency or other laws affecting mortgagees'
                  and other creditors' rights and general equitable principles
                  and any implied covenant of good faith and fair dealings, and
                  are entitled to the benefits of the security afforded by the
                  Mortgage, and are secured equally and ratably with all other
                  bonds outstanding under the Mortgage except insofar as any
                  sinking or other fund may afford additional security for the
                  bonds of any particular series;

                           (iv)      The statements made in the Prospectus under
                  the caption "Description of First Mortgage Bonds" and in the
                  Prospectus Supplement under the captions "Certain Terms of the
                  Bonds" and "Description of First Mortgage Bonds," insofar as
                  they purport to constitute summaries of the documents referred
                  to therein, are accurate summaries in all material respects;

                                       10



                           (v)       This Agreement has been duly and validly
                  authorized, executed and delivered by the Company;

                           (vi)      The Registration Statement, at the time and
                  date it was declared effective by the Commission, and the
                  Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, at the time each
                  was filed with, or transmitted for filing to, the Commission
                  pursuant to Rule 424 (except as to the financial statements
                  and other financial and statistical data constituting a part
                  thereof or incorporated by reference therein, upon which such
                  opinions need not pass), complied as to form in all material
                  respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the
                  1939 Act and the applicable instructions, rules and
                  regulations of the Commission thereunder; the documents or
                  portions thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to the
                  Exchange Act and deemed to be incorporated by reference in the
                  Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the
                  Prospectus pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 (except as to
                  financial statements and other financial and statistical data
                  constituting a part thereof or incorporated by reference
                  therein and that part of the Registration Statement that
                  constitutes the Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1, upon
                  which such opinions need not pass), at the time they were
                  filed with the Commission, complied as to form in all material
                  respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the
                  applicable instructions, rules and regulations of the
                  Commission thereunder; the Registration Statement has become
                  effective under the Securities Act and, to the best of the
                  knowledge of said counsel, no stop order suspending the
                  effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued
                  and not withdrawn, and no proceedings for a stop order with
                  respect thereto are threatened or pending under Section 8 of
                  the Securities Act;

                           (vii)     Nothing has come to the attention of said
                  counsel that would lead them to believe that the Registration
                  Statement, at the time and date it was declared effective by
                  the Commission, contained an untrue statement of a material
                  fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated
                  therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
                  misleading; and nothing has come to the attention of said
                  counsel that would lead them to believe that (x) the
                  Preliminary Prospectus, at the time it was filed with, or
                  transmitted for filing to, the Commission pursuant to Rule
                  424, included an untrue statement of a material fact or
                  omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make
                  the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
                  which they were made, not misleading or (y) the Prospectus, at
                  the time it was filed with, or transmitted for filing to, the
                  Commission pursuant to Rule 424 or, as amended or
                  supplemented, at the Closing Date, included or includes an
                  untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to
                  state a material fact necessary in order to make the
                  statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
                  which they were made, not misleading (except as to financial
                  statements and other financial and statistical data
                  constituting a part of the Registration Statement, the
                  Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or incorporated by
                  reference therein and that part of the Registration Statement
                  that constitutes the Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1,
                  upon which such opinions need not pass);

                                       11



                  (d)      At the Closing Date, the Representative shall receive
         from R. Alexander Glenn, Associate General Counsel of Progress Energy
         Service Company, LLC, acting as Counsel to the Company, a favorable
         opinion in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the
         Underwriters, to the same effect with respect to the matters enumerated
         in subdivisions (i) through (v) and subdivision (vii) of subparagraph
         (c) of this paragraph 9 as the opinions required by said subparagraph
         (c), and to the further effect that:

                           (i)      The Company is a validly organized and
                  existing corporation under the laws of the State of Florida;

                           (ii)     The Company is duly authorized by its
                  Charter to conduct the business that it is now conducting as
                  set forth in the Prospectus;

                           (iii)    The Company is an electrical utility engaged
                  in the business of generating, transmitting, distributing and
                  selling electric power to the general public in the State of
                  Florida;

                           (iv)     The Company has valid and subsisting
                  franchises, licenses and permits adequate for the conduct of
                  its business, except where the failure to hold such
                  franchises, licenses and permits would not have a material
                  adverse effect on the business, properties, results of
                  operations or financial condition of the Company;

                           (v)      The Company has good and marketable title,
                  with minor exceptions, restrictions and reservations in
                  conveyances, and defects that are of the nature ordinarily
                  found in properties of similar character and magnitude and
                  that, in his opinion, will not in any substantial way impair
                  the security afforded by the Mortgage, to all the properties
                  described in the granting clauses of the Mortgage and upon
                  which the Mortgage purports to create a lien. The description
                  in the Mortgage of the above-mentioned properties is legally
                  sufficient to constitute the Mortgage a lien upon said
                  properties, including without limitation properties hereafter
                  acquired by the Company (other than those expressly excepted
                  and reserved therefrom). Said properties constitute
                  substantially all the permanent physical properties and
                  franchises (other than those expressly excepted and reserved
                  therefrom) of the Company and are held by the Company free and
                  clear of all liens and encumbrances except the lien of the
                  Mortgage and excepted encumbrances, as defined in the
                  Mortgage. The properties of the Company are subject to liens
                  for current taxes, which it is the practice of the Company to
                  pay regularly as and when due. The Company has easements for
                  rights-of-way adequate for the operations and maintenance of
                  its transmission and distribution lines that are not
                  constructed upon public highways. The Company has followed the
                  practice generally of acquiring (i) certain rights-of-way and
                  easements and certain small parcels of fee property
                  appurtenant thereto and for use in conjunction therewith and
                  (ii) certain other properties of small or inconsequential
                  value, without an examination of title and, as to the title to
                  lands affected by said rights-of-way and easements, of not
                  examining the title of the lessor or grantor whenever the
                  lands affected by such rights-of-way and easements are not of
                  such

                                       12



                  substantial value as in the opinion of the Company to justify
                  the expense attendant upon examination of titles in connection
                  therewith. In the opinion of said counsel, such practice of
                  the Company is consistent with sound economic practice and
                  with the method followed by other companies engaged in the
                  same business and is reasonably adequate to assure the Company
                  of good and marketable title to all such property acquired by
                  it. It is the opinion of said counsel that any such conditions
                  or defects as may be covered by the above recited exceptions
                  are not substantial and would not materially interfere with
                  the Company's use of such properties or with its business
                  operations. The Company has the right of eminent domain in the
                  State of Florida under which it may, if necessary, perfect or
                  obtain title to privately owned land or acquire easements or
                  rights-of-way required for use or used by the Company in its
                  public utility operations;

                           (vi)     The Mortgage has been recorded and filed in
                  such manner and in such places as may be required by law in
                  order fully to preserve and protect, in all material respects,
                  the security of the bondholders and all rights of the Trustee
                  thereunder; and the Supplemental Indenture relating to the
                  Securities is in proper form for filing for record both as a
                  real estate mortgage and as a security interest in all
                  counties in the State of Florida in which any of the property
                  (except as any therein or in the Mortgage are expressly
                  excepted) described therein or in the Mortgage as subject to
                  the lien of the Mortgage is located and, upon such recording,
                  the Supplemental Indenture will constitute adequate record
                  notice to perfect the lien of the Mortgage, and preserve and
                  protect, in all material respects, the security of the
                  bondholders and all rights of the Trustee, as to all mortgaged
                  and pledged property acquired by the Company subsequent to the
                  recording of the Fortieth Supplemental Indenture and prior to
                  the recording of the Supplemental Indenture;

                           (vii)    The Mortgage constitutes a valid, direct and
                  first mortgage lien of record upon all franchises and
                  properties now owned by the Company (other than those
                  expressly excepted therefrom and other than those franchises
                  and properties which are not, individually or in the
                  aggregate, material to the Company or the security afforded by
                  the Mortgage) situated in the State of Florida, as described
                  or referred to in the granting clauses of the Mortgage,
                  subject to the exceptions as to bankruptcy, insolvency and
                  other laws stated in subdivision (i) of subparagraph (c)
                  above;

                           (viii)   The issuance and sale of the Securities have
                  been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the
                  part of the Company;

                           (ix)     An order has been entered by the Florida
                  Public Service Commission authorizing the issuance and sale of
                  the Securities, and to the best of the knowledge of said
                  counsel, said order is still in force and effect; and no
                  further filing with, approval, authorization, consent or other
                  order of any public board or body (except such as have been
                  obtained under the Securities Act and as may be required under
                  the state securities or Blue Sky laws of any jurisdiction) is
                  legally

                                       13



                  required for the consummation of the transactions contemplated
                  in this Agreement;

                           (x)      Except as described in or contemplated by
                  the Prospectus, there are no pending actions, suits or
                  proceedings (regulatory or otherwise) against the Company or
                  any properties that are likely, in the aggregate, to result in
                  any material adverse change in the business, properties,
                  results of operations or financial condition of the Company or
                  that are likely, in the aggregate, to materially and adversely
                  affect the Mortgage, the Securities or the consummation of
                  this Agreement, or the transactions contemplated herein or
                  therein; and

                           (xi)     The consummation of the transactions herein
                  contemplated and the fulfillment of the terms hereof will not
                  (i) result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of,
                  or constitute a default under, the Charter or the Company's
                  by-laws or (ii) result in a material breach of any terms or
                  provisions of, or constitute a default under, any applicable
                  law, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement or
                  instrument to which the Company is now a party or any
                  judgment, order, writ or decree of any government or
                  governmental authority or agency or court having jurisdiction
                  over the Company or any of its assets, properties or
                  operations that, in the case of any such breach or default,
                  would have a material adverse effect on business, properties,
                  results of operations or financial condition of the Company.

                  (e)      The Representative shall have received on the date
         hereof and shall receive on the Closing Date from each of Deloitte &
         Touche LLP and KPMG LLP, a letter addressed to the Representative
         containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included
         in accountants' SAS 72 "comfort letters" to underwriters with respect
         to the audit reports, financial statements and certain financial
         information contained in or incorporated by reference into the
         Prospectus.

                  (f)      At the Closing Date, the Representative shall receive
         a certificate of the Chairman, President, Treasurer or a Vice President
         of the Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the
         representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are
         true and correct as of the Closing Date.

                  (g)      All legal proceedings taken in connection with the
         sale and delivery of the Securities shall have been satisfactory in
         form and substance to counsel for the Underwriters, and the Company, as
         of the Closing Date, shall be in compliance with any governing order of
         the Florida Public Service Commission, except where the failure to
         comply with such order would not be material to the offering or
         validity of the Securities.

         In case any of the conditions specified above in this paragraph 9 shall
not have been fulfilled or waived by 2:00 P.M. on the Closing Date, this
Agreement may be terminated by the Representative by delivering written notice
thereof to the Company. Any such termination shall be without liability of any
party to any other party except as otherwise provided in paragraphs 7 and 8
hereof.

                                       14



         10.      Conditions of the Company's Obligations. The obligations of
the Company to deliver the Securities shall be subject to the following
conditions:

                  (a)      No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
         Registration Statement shall be in effect on the Closing Date, and no
         proceedings for that purpose shall be pending before or threatened by
         the Commission on the Closing Date.

                  (b)      Prior to 12:00 Noon, New York time, on the day
         following the date of this Agreement, or such later date as shall have
         been consented to by the Company, there shall have been issued and on
         the Closing Date there shall be in full force and effect an order of
         the Florida Public Service Commission authorizing the issuance and sale
         by the Company of the Securities, which shall not contain any provision
         unacceptable to the Company by reason of its being materially adverse
         to the Company (it being understood that the order in effect as of the
         date of this Agreement contains any such unacceptable provision).

         In case any of the conditions specified in this paragraph 10 shall not
have been fulfilled at the Closing Date, this Agreement may be terminated by the
Company by delivering written notice thereof to the Representative. Any such
termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as
otherwise provided in paragraphs 7 and 8 hereof.

         11.      Indemnification.

                  (a)      The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
         each Underwriter, each officer and director of each Underwriter and
         each person who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section
         15 of the Securities Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or
         liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become
         subject and to reimburse each such Underwriter, each such officer and
         director, and each such controlling person for any legal or other
         expenses (including to the extent hereinafter provided, reasonable
         counsel fees) incurred by them, when and as incurred, in connection
         with investigating any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities or
         in connection with defending any actions, insofar as such losses,
         claims, damages, liabilities, expenses or actions arise out of or are
         based upon any untrue statement, or alleged untrue statement, of a
         material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary
         Prospectus or the Prospectus, or in the Registration Statement or
         Prospectus as amended or supplemented (if any amendments or supplements
         thereto shall have been furnished), or the omission or alleged omission
         to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
         necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided,
         however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph 11
         shall not apply to any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities,
         expenses or actions arising out of or based upon any such untrue
         statement or alleged untrue statement, or any such omission or alleged
         omission, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon and
         in conformity with information furnished herein or in writing to the
         Company by any Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use
         in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the
         Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement to any thereof, or arising
         out of, or based upon, statements in or omissions from that part of the
         Registration Statement that shall constitute the Statement of
         Eligibility under the 1939

                                       15



         Act (Form T-1) of the Trustee, and provided, further, that the
         indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph 11 shall not inure to
         the benefit of any Underwriter (or of any person controlling such
         Underwriter) on account of any such losses, claims, damages,
         liabilities, expenses or actions arising from the sale of the
         Securities to any person if a copy of the Prospectus (excluding
         documents incorporated by reference therein) shall not have been given
         or sent to such person by or on behalf of such Underwriter with or
         prior to the written confirmation of the sale involved, unless such
         Prospectus failed to correct the omission or misstatement. The
         indemnity agreement of the Company contained in this paragraph 11 and
         the representations and warranties of the Company contained in
         paragraph 3 hereof shall remain operative and in full force and effect
         regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any
         Underwriter, and such officer or director or any such controlling
         person and shall survive the delivery of the Securities. The
         Underwriters agree to notify promptly the Company, and each other
         Underwriter, of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings
         against them or any of them, or any such officer or director or any
         such controlling person, in connection with the sale of the Securities.

                  (b)      Each Underwriter severally, and not jointly, agrees
         to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its officers and directors,
         and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of Section
         15 of the Securities Act, against any and all losses, claims, damages
         or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may
         become subject and to reimburse each of them for any legal or other
         expenses (including, to the extent hereinafter provided, reasonable
         counsel fees) incurred by them, when and as incurred, in connection
         with investigating any such losses, claims, damages, or liabilities, or
         in connection with defending any actions, insofar as such losses,
         claims, damages, liabilities, expenses or actions arise out of or are
         based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
         material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary
         Prospectus or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented (if any
         amendments or supplements thereto shall have been furnished), or the
         omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required
         to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
         misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon and
         in conformity with information furnished herein or in writing to the
         Company by such Underwriter or through the Representative on behalf of
         such Underwriter expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the
         Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
         to any thereof. The indemnity agreement of all the respective
         Underwriters contained in this paragraph 11 shall remain operative and
         in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on
         behalf of the Company or any other Underwriter, or any such officer or
         director or any such controlling person, and shall survive the delivery
         of the Securities. The Company agrees promptly to notify the
         Representative of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings
         against the Company or any of its officers or directors, or any such
         controlling person, in connection with the sale of the Securities.

                  (c)      The Company and each of the Underwriters agree that,
         upon the receipt of notice of the commencement of any action against
         it, its officers or directors, or any person controlling it as
         aforesaid, in respect of which indemnity may be sought on account of
         any indemnity agreement contained herein, it will promptly give written

                                       16



         notice of the commencement thereof to the party or parties against whom
         indemnity shall be sought hereunder. The Company and each of the
         Underwriters agree that the notification required by the preceding
         sentence shall be a material term of this Agreement. The omission so to
         notify such indemnifying party or parties of any such action shall
         relieve such indemnifying party or parties from any liability that it
         or they may have to the indemnified party on account of any indemnity
         agreement contained herein if such indemnifying party was materially
         prejudiced by such omission, but shall not relieve such indemnifying
         party or parties from any liability that it or they may have to the
         indemnified party otherwise than on account of such indemnity
         agreement. In case such notice of any such action shall be so given,
         such indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate at its own
         expense in the defense or, if it so elects, to assume (in conjunction
         with any other indemnifying parties) the defense of such action, in
         which event such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by such
         indemnifying party (or parties) and satisfactory to the indemnified
         party or parties who shall be defendant or defendants in such action,
         and such defendant or defendants shall bear the fees and expenses of
         any additional counsel retained by them; but if the indemnifying party
         shall elect not to assume the defense of such action, such indemnifying
         parties will reimburse such indemnified party or parties for the
         reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them, as such
         expenses are incurred; provided, however, if the defendants (including
         any impleaded parties) in any such action include both the indemnified
         party and the indemnifying party, and counsel for the indemnified party
         shall have concluded, in its reasonable judgment, that there may be a
         conflict of interest involved in the representation by such counsel of
         both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, the indemnified
         party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel,
         satisfactory to the indemnifying party, to participate in the defense
         of such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties (it being
         understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be liable
         for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (in addition to one
         local counsel) representing the indemnified parties who are parties to
         such action). Each of the Company and the several Underwriters agrees
         that without the other party's prior written consent, which consent
         shall not be unreasonably withheld, it will not settle, compromise or
         consent to the entry of any judgment in any claim in respect of which
         indemnification may be sought under the indemnification provisions of
         this Agreement, unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i)
         includes an unconditional release of such other party from all
         liability arising out of such claim and (ii) does not include a
         statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to
         act by or on behalf of such other party.

                  (d)      If the indemnification provided for in subparagraphs
         (a) or (b) above is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to
         hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses,
         liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each
         indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such
         losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such
         indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is
         appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company,
         on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, from the
         offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the
         allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law,
         in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative
         benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of
         the Company, on the

                                       17



         one hand, and of the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection
         with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses,
         liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant
         equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the
         Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in
         connection with the offering of the Securities pursuant to this
         Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as
         the total net proceeds from the offering of the Securities pursuant to
         this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and
         the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters, in each
         case as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate
         initial public offering price of the Securities as set forth on such
         cover. The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the
         Underwriters, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to,
         among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a
         material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact
         relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters
         and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
         opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The
         Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and
         equitable if contribution pursuant to this subparagraph (d) were
         determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were
         treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of
         allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations
         referred to above in this subparagraph (d). The rights of contribution
         contained in this Section 11 shall remain operative and in full force
         and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any
         Underwriter of the Company and shall survive delivery of the
         Securities. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within
         the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled
         to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
         misrepresentation. For purposes of this subparagraph (d), each person,
         if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of
         the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the
         same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each director of
         the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration
         Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the
         meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the
         Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.
         The Underwriters' respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this
         subparagraph (d) are several in proportion to the number of Securities
         set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule II hereto and not
         joint.

                  (e)      For purposes of this paragraph 11, it is understood
         and agreed that the only information provided by the Underwriters
         expressly for use in the Registration Statement and Prospectus were the
         following parts of the section titled "Underwriting": the second, third
         and fourth sentences of the second paragraph, the third sentence of the
         third paragraph, all of the fourth paragraph, and all of the fifth
         paragraph.

         12.      Termination Date of this Agreement. This Agreement may be
terminated by the Representative at any time prior to the Closing Date by
delivering written notice thereof to the Company, if on or after the date of
this Agreement but prior to such time (a) there shall have occurred any general
suspension of trading in securities on the New York Stock Exchange, or there
shall have been established by the New York Stock Exchange or by the Commission
or by any federal or state agency or by the decision of any court, any
limitation on prices for such

                                       18



trading or any restrictions on the distribution of securities or (b) there shall
have occurred any new outbreak of hostilities including, but not limited to,
significant escalation of hostilities that existed prior to the date of this
Agreement or any national or international calamity or crisis, or any material
adverse change in the financial markets of the United States, the effect of
which outbreak, escalation, calamity or crisis, or material adverse change on
the financial markets of the United States shall be such as to make it
impracticable, in the reasonable judgment of the Representative, for the
Underwriters to enforce contracts for the sale of the Securities, or (c) the
Company shall have sustained a substantial loss by fire, flood, accident or
other calamity that renders it impracticable, in the reasonable judgment of the
Representative, to consummate the sale of the Securities and the delivery of the
Securities by the several Underwriters at the initial public offering price, or
(d) there shall have been any downgrading or any notice of any intended or
potential downgrading in the rating accorded the Company's securities by any
"nationally recognized statistical rating organization" as that term is defined
by the Commission for the purposes of Securities Act Rule 436(g)(2), or any such
organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or
review, with possible negative implications, its rating of the Securities, or
any of the Company's other outstanding debt, the effect of which in the
reasonable judgment of the Representative, makes it impracticable or inadvisable
to consummate the sale of the Securities and the delivery of the Securities by
the several Underwriters at the initial public offering price or (e) there shall
have been declared, by either federal or New York authorities, a general banking
moratorium. This Agreement may also be terminated at any time prior to the
Closing Date if in the reasonable judgment of the Representative the subject
matter of any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or
Prospectus (other than an amendment or supplement relating solely to the
activity of any Underwriter or Underwriters) filed after the execution of this
Agreement shall have materially impaired the marketability of the Securities.
Any termination hereof pursuant to this paragraph 12 shall be without liability
of any party to any other party except as otherwise provided in paragraphs 7 and
8.

         13.      Miscellaneous. The validity and interpretation of this
Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York. Unless
otherwise specified, time of day refers to New York City time. This Agreement
shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the Company, the several
Underwriters, and with respect to the provisions of paragraph 11 hereof, the
officers and directors and each controlling person referred to in paragraph 11
hereof, and their respective successors. Nothing in this Agreement is intended
or shall be construed to give to any other person, firm or corporation any legal
or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any
provision herein contained. The term "successors" as used in this Agreement
shall not include any purchaser, as such purchaser, of any of the Securities
from any of the several Underwriters.

         14.      Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing or
by telefax and, if to the Underwriters, shall be mailed, transmitted by any
standard form of telecommunication or delivered to the Representative at the
address set forth in Schedule I hereto and if to the Company, shall be mailed or
delivered to it at 410 South Wilmington Street, Raleigh, North Carolina 27601,
Attention: Thomas R. Sullivan, Treasurer.

         15.      Counterparts. This Agreement may be simultaneously executed in
counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original.
Such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

                                       19



         16.      Defined Terms. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized
terms used in this Underwriting Agreement shall have the meanings assigned to
them in the Registration Statement.

        [The remainder of this page has been intentionally left blank.]

                                       20



         If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, kindly sign and return to the Company the enclosed duplicate hereof
whereupon it will become a binding agreement between the Company and the several
Underwriters in accordance with its terms.

                                       Very truly yours,

                                       FLORIDA POWER CORPORATION
                                       d/b/a PROGRESS ENERGY FLORIDA, INC.

                                       By:  /s/ Peter M. Scott III
                                           -------------------------------
                                            Authorized Representative

Accepted as of the date first
above written, as Underwriter
named in, and as the Representative
of the other Underwriters named in, Schedule II.

BANC ONE CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.

By:     /s/ C. Victor Manny
    -------------------------------------
        Authorized Representative

SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC.

By:     /s/ Howard Hiller
    -------------------------------------
        Authorized Representative

WACHOVIA SECURITIES, INC.

By:     /s/ Keith Mauney
    -------------------------------------
        Authorized Representative

                                       21



                                   SCHEDULE I

Underwriting Agreement dated February 18, 2003

Registration Statement Nos.:        333-63204 and pre-effective amendment no. 1
                                    thereto, with respect to the $380,000,000
                                    aggregate principal amount of the Company's
                                    First Mortgage Bonds and Debt Securities,
                                    which also constitutes Post-Effective
                                    Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement
                                    Nos. 33-55273, 33-62210 and 333-29897, each
                                    discussed in further detail below.

                                    Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to
                                    Registration Statement No. 33-55273, with
                                    respect to the $250,000,000 aggregate
                                    principal amount of the Company's First
                                    Mortgage Bonds and Debt Securities.

                                    Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to
                                    Registration Statement No. 33-62210, with
                                    respect to the $120,000,000 aggregate
                                    principal amount of the Company's First
                                    Mortgage Bonds and Debt Securities,
                                    $50,000,000 of which were subsequently sold
                                    on July 18, 2001.

                                    Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to
                                    Registration Statement No. 333-29897, with
                                    respect to the $250,000,000 aggregate
                                    principal amount of the Company's First
                                    Mortgage Bonds and Debt Securities, all of
                                    which were subsequently sold on July 18,
                                    2001.

Representative and Addresses:

                                    Banc One Capital Markets, Inc.
                                    1 Bank One Plaza
                                    Chicago, IL  60670
                                    Attention:  Structuring and Execution

                                    Salomon Smith Barney Inc.
                                    388 Greenwich Street
                                    New York, NY 10013
                                    Attention: Peter Kind - Global Power
                                    Investment Banking

                                    Wachovia Securities, Inc.
                                    One First Union Center, TW-8
                                    301 South College Street
                                    Charlotte, NC  28288
                                    Attention: Jim Williams - Debt Capital
                                    Markets

Supplemental Indenture:             Forty-First, dated as of February 1, 2003

Designation:                        First Mortgage Bonds, 4.80% Series due 2013

                                    Principal Amount: $425,000,000

                                    Date of Maturity: March 1, 2013

                                       22



                                    Interest Rate: 4.80% per annum, payable
                                    March 1 and September 1 of each year,
                                    commencing September 1, 2003.

                                    Purchase Price: 98.994% of the principal
                                    amount thereof, plus no accrued interest to
                                    the date of payment and delivery.

                                    Public Offering Price: 99.644% of the
                                    principal amount thereof, plus no accrued
                                    interest to the date of payment and
                                    delivery.

Designation:                        First Mortgage Bonds, 5.90% Series due 2033

                                    Principal Amount: $225,000,000

                                    Date of Maturity: March 1, 2033

                                    Interest Rate: 5.90% per annum, payable
                                    March 1 and September 1 of each year,
                                    commencing September 1, 2003.

                                    Purchase Price: 98.871% of the principal
                                    amount thereof, plus no accrued interest to
                                    the date of payment and delivery.

                                    Public Offering Price: 99.746% of the
                                    principal amount thereof, plus no accrued
                                    interest to the date of payment and
                                    delivery.

Redemption Terms of Each
Series:                             Optional -- redeemable prior to maturity, in
                                    whole or in part, at the option of the
                                    Company at a make-whole redemption price (as
                                    defined and described in further detail in
                                    the prospectus supplement).

                                    Special -- redeemable prior to maturity, in
                                    whole but not in part, upon the occurrence
                                    of specific events, at the option of the
                                    Company at a make-whole redemption price (as
                                    defined and described in further detail in
                                    the prospectus supplement).

Closing Date and Location:          February 21, 2003

                                    Hunton & Williams
                                    One Hannover Square, 14th Floor
                                    Raleigh, North Carolina  27601

                                       23



                                   SCHEDULE II



                                                                              PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF
                                                                              -------------------
                      UNDERWRITER                                    2013 BONDS                    2033 BONDS
                      -----------                                    ----------                    ----------
                                                                                            
Banc One Capital Markets, Inc..........................             $110,500,000                  $ 58,500,000
Salomon Smith Barney Inc...............................             $110,500,000                  $ 58,500,000
Wachovia Securities, Inc...............................             $110,500,000                  $ 58,500,000
Mellon Financial Markets LLC...........................             $ 29,750,000                  $ 15,750,000
SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc..........................             $ 29,750,000                  $ 15,750,000
BNY Capital Markets, Inc...............................             $ 25,500,000                  $ 13,500,000
M.R. Beal & Company....................................             $  8,500,000                  $  4,500,000
                                                                    ------------                  ------------
      TOTAL............................................             $425,000,000                  $225,000,000


                                       24