<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM (UNAUDITED
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2000) AND IS QUALIFIED IN
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>      0001094093
<NAME>     CP&L Energy, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    6,909,216
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    708,482
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,308,900
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       297,714
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 895,069
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              10,119,381
<COMMON>                                     1,616,768
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          2,060,113
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               3,676,881
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     59,334
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         3,489,512
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<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>               2,893,654
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               10,119,381
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    2,853,643
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           255,124
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   2,157,759
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   2,412,883
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        440,760
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             203,382
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 644,142
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       154,340
<NET-INCOME>                                   489,802
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  489,802
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       237,521
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      113,172
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         898,372
<EPS-BASIC>                                       3.20
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     3.19