<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM (UNAUDITED
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF JUNE 30, 2000) AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000017797
<NAME> CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    6,870,514
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    620,489
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,045,394
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       291,706
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 943,543
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               9,771,646
<COMMON>                                     1,619,140
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                        (816)
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          1,841,760
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               3,460,084
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     59,376
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         3,084,048
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             114,631
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               3,053,507
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                9,771,646
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,769,444
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           106,632
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,370,151
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,476,783
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        292,661
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               4,817
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 297,478
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       103,274
<NET-INCOME>                                   194,204
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                    (1,483)
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  192,721
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       158,306
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       73,499
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         581,603
<EPS-BASIC>                                          0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0