Exhibit 1



                             PROGRESS ENERGY, INC.

                          6.55% Senior Notes due 2004
                          6.75% Senior Notes due 2006
                          7.10% Senior Notes due 2011
                          7.75% Senior Notes due 2031

                            UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
                            ----------------------

                                               February 14, 2001


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

Dear Sirs:

     The undersigned Progress Energy, Inc., (the "Company") hereby confirms its
agreement with each of the several Underwriters hereinafter named as follows:

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

     2.   Description of Securities.  The Company proposes to issue and sell its
          -------------------------
debt securities of the designation, with the terms and in the amount specified
in Schedule I hereto (the "Securities") in one or more new series under a
governing indenture (the "Indenture") between the Company and Bank One Trust
Company, N.A., as trustee (the "Trustee"), in substantially the form heretofore
delivered to the Representative.


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

          (a)  The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
     (the "Commission") a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-49920)
     (the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
     (the "Securities Act"), for the registration of up to an aggregate of
     $4,000,000,000 of the Company's securities (the "Registered Securities") as
     described in the Registration Statement. As of the date hereof, the Company
     has sold none of the Registered Securities. The Registration Statement has
     been declared effective by the Commission, and the Indenture has been
     qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 Act, as amended (the "1939
     Act"). 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 prospectus included in the
     Registration Statement, as supplemented by a preliminary prospectus
     supplement, dated February 2, 2001, relating to the Securities, 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 "Preliminary Prospectus." The prospectus included in the
     Registration Statement, as it is to be supplemented by a prospectus
     supplement, dated on or about the date 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)  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.

          (c)  The Registration Statement, at the time and date it was declared
     effective by the Commission, complied, and the Registration Statement, the
     Prospectus and the Indenture, 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

                                      -2-


     the Securities Act and 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
     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 (c) 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 under any Indenture. 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.

          (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; the pro forma
     combined financial statements incorporated by reference in the Registration
     Statement comply as to form, in all material respects, with the applicable
     accounting requirements of Rule 11-02 of Regulation S-X, and the pro forma
     adjustments have been properly applied to the historical amounts in the
     compilation of those statements; and Deloitte & Touche LLP and KPMG LLP,
     each of which has audited certain of the financial statements, are each
     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.

          (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 been no material adverse change in
     the condition, financial or otherwise, earnings, property,

                                      -3-


     business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries,
     considered as a whole; (ii) there has been no material transaction entered
     into by the Company or any of its subsidiaries other than transactions
     contemplated by the Registration Statement and Prospectus or transactions
     arising in the ordinary course of business; and (iii) neither the Company
     nor any of its subsidiaries has any material contingent obligation that is
     not disclosed in the Registration Statement and Prospectus.

          (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 (the "Articles"), by-laws and applicable law.

          (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 articles of
     incorporation or the by-laws of the Company or any significant subsidiary
     (as such term is defined in Rule 1-01(w) of Regulation S-X) of the Company
     (each a "Significant Subsidiary" and each of which is listed on Schedule
     III hereto), applicable law or any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or
     other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any Significant
     Subsidiary 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 Significant Subsidiaries or any of their
     assets, properties or operations.

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

          (i)  The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as
     a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of North
     Carolina; each Significant Subsidiary has been duly incorporated and is
     validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the
     jurisdiction of its organization; each of the Company and each Significant
     Subsidiary 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 each of the Company
     and each Significant Subsidiary 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 condition,
     financial or otherwise, earnings, property, business affairs or business
     prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as a whole.


                                      -4-


          (j)  The outstanding capital stock of the Company has been duly
     authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and non-assessable and is
     not subject to preemptive or other similar rights.

          (k)  The issued and outstanding capital stock of each Significant
     Subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued and is fully paid
     and non-assessable; and the common capital stock of each Significant
     Subsidiary is owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, free
     and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance,
     claim or equitable right.

          (l)  The Indenture (A) has been duly authorized, executed and
     delivered by the Company, and, assuming due authorization, execution and
     delivery 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 creditor's 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
     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.


          (m)  The Securities have been duly authorized by the Company and, when
     issued and authenticated in the manner provided for in the Indenture and
     delivered against payment of the required consideration therefor, will
     constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, entitled
     to the benefits of the Indenture and enforceable against the Company in
     accordance with their terms, subject to (i) applicable bankruptcy,
     insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transferor 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 the effect on enforceability of
     federal or state law limiting, delaying or prohibiting the making of
     payments outside the United States).  Such Securities rank and will rank on
     a parity with all unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company.

          (n)  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is an "investment
     company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
     amended (the "1940 Act").

          (o)  Except as described in or contemplated by the Prospectus, there
     are no pending actions, suits or proceedings against or affecting the
     Company or any of its subsidiaries or properties which are likely in the
     aggregate, to result in any material adverse change in the condition,
     financial or otherwise, earnings, property, business affairs, or business
     prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as a whole or
     which are likely in the aggregate to materially and adversely affect the
     consummation of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein or
     therein.

                                      -5-


          (p)  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 been
     already 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 Bank One Trust Company, N.A., One North State Street,
     Chicago, Illinois  60670-0126,, 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 of the Securities to The Depository Trust Company or to Bank One
     Trust Company, N.A., as custodian for The Depository Trust Company, in
     fully registered global form registered in the name of Cede & Co., 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 Bank One Trust Company, N.A.  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., on the last full business day prior to the Closing
     Date at said office of Bank One Trust Company, N.A.

          (b)  If one or more of the Underwriters shall, for any reason
     permitted hereunder, cancel its obligation to purchase hereunder and to
     take up and pay for the principal amount of the Securities to be purchased
     by such one or more Underwriters, the Company shall immediately notify the
     Representative, and the remaining Underwriters shall have the right, within
     24 hours of receipt of such notice, either to

                                      -6-


     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 principal amount of the Securities
     which such one or more Underwriters did not purchase. 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 remaining 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 the
     Securities of such series which 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 remaining Underwriter, 10% of the principal amount
     of the Securities of such series set forth opposite the name of such
     remaining Underwriter in said Schedule II, and such remaining 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 which 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, then this Agreement shall terminate without any liability on
     the part of the Company or any Underwriter (other than an Underwriter which
     shall have failed or refused, in accordance with the terms hereof, to
     purchase and pay for the principal amount of the Securities which 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:

                                      -7-


          (a)  As soon as 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.  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 any 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 which 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.

          (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

                                      -8-


     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)  The Company will advise the Representative 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.

          (f)  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.

     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 subparagraph (f) of paragraph 7
hereof, including filing fees and the fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Underwriters in connection therewith, such fees and disbursements (excluding
filing fees) 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 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 and execution, and any
filing and recording by the Company of the Indenture (such filing and
recordation to be promptly made, after execution and delivery of such Indenture
to the Trustee); and the Company will pay all taxes, if any (but not including
any transfer taxes), on the issue of the Securities and any filing and
recordation of the Indenture.

     The fees and disbursements of  Underwriters' counsel shall be paid by the
Underwriters (subject, however, to the provisions of the preceding paragraph
requiring payment by the Company of fees and disbursements (excluding filing
fees) 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

                                      -9-


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 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 Closing Date, the Representative shall receive favorable
     opinions from (1) Hunton & Williams, of counsel to the Company, which
     opinion shall be satisfactory in form and substance to counsel for the
     Underwriters, and (2) Pillsbury Winthrop LLP, counsel for the Underwriters
     (which counsel may rely as to all matters of North Carolina law upon the
     opinion of William D. Johnson, Esq., Executive Vice President, Corporate
     Secretary and General Counsel for the Company) to the effect that:

               (i)    the Indenture has been duly and validly authorized by all
          necessary corporate action, has been duly and validly executed and
          delivered, and is a valid and legally binding obligation of the
          Company enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as limited by
          bankruptcy, insolvency or other laws affecting the rights of
          mortgagees and other creditors, and by general equitable principles
          and any implied covenant of good faith and fair dealings;

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

               (iii)  assuming authentication by the Trustee in accordance with
          the Indenture and delivery 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 the rights of mortgagees and

                                      -10-


          other creditors, and by general equitable principles and any implied
          covenant of good faith and fair dealings, and are entitled to the
          benefits of the Indenture;

               (iv)  the statements made in the Prospectus under the caption
          "Description of Debt Securities" and in the Prospectus Supplement
          under the caption "Description of the Senior Notes," insofar as they
          purport to constitute summaries of the documents referred to therein,
          constitute accurate summaries of the terms of such documents in all
          material respects;

               (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 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; and

               (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

                                      -11-


          statements therein, in the 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).

          (c)  At the Closing Date, the Representative shall receive from
     William D. Johnson, Esq., Executive Vice President, Corporate Secretary and
     General Counsel for 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 (b) of this paragraph 9 as the opinions
     required by said subparagraph (b), and to the further effect that:

               (i)   the Company is a validly organized and existing corporation
          and is in good standing under the laws of the State of North Carolina;
          each Significant Subsidiary is a validly organized and existing
          corporation and is in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction
          of its organization; and the Company and each of its subsidiaries is
          qualified as a foreign corporation in each state where the failure to
          be so qualified would have a material adverse effect on the Company
          and its subsidiaries considered as a whole;

               (ii)  each of the Company and each Significant Subsidiary is duly
          authorized by its articles of incorporation to conduct the business
          which it is now conducting as set forth in the Prospectus;

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

               (iv)  except as described in or contemplated by the Prospectus,
          there are no pending actions, suits or proceedings against or
          affecting the Company or any Significant Subsidiary which are likely
          in the aggregate, to result in any material adverse change in the
          business, property, condition, financial or otherwise, earnings,
          business affairs, or business prospects of the Company and its
          subsidiaries considered as a whole or which are likely in the
          aggregate, to materially and adversely affect the consummation of this
          Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein or therein;

               (v)   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

                                      -12-


          provisions of, or constitute a default under, the articles of
          incorporation or by-laws of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary,
          applicable law or any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other
          agreement or instrument to which the Company or any Significant
          Subsidiary 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 subsidiaries or any of
          their assets, properties or operations;

               (vi)  an appropriate order of the Commission with respect to the
          sale of the Securities under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of
          1935, as amended (the "Holding Company Act"), has been issued, and
          such order remains in effect at this date and constitutes valid and
          sufficient authorization under the Holding Company Act for the sale of
          the Securities as contemplated by this Agreement; and

               (vii) 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 been already 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.

          (d)  The Representative shall have received on the date hereof and
     shall receive on the Closing date from Deloitte & Touche LLP, with respect
     to the Company, and from KPMG LLP, with respect to Florida Progress
     Corporation, 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 financial statements
     and certain financial information contained in or incorporated by reference
     into the Prospectus, including the pro-forma combined financial
     information.

          (e)  At the Closing Date, the Representative shall receive a
     certificate of the Chairman, President 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.

          (f)  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.

          (g)  At the Closing Date an order or orders of the Commission pursuant
     to the Holding Company Act permitting the issuance and sale of the
     Securities shall be in full force and effect and all provisions of such
     order or orders heretofore entered are

                                      -13-


     deemed acceptable to the Representative and the Company, and all provisions
     of such order or orders hereafter entered shall be deemed acceptable to the
     Representative and the Company unless within 24 hours after receiving a
     copy of any such order either shall give notice to the other to the effect
     that such order contains an unacceptable provision.

          (h)  The Company shall have complied with all notice-filing and other
     requirements, if any, of the North Carolina Utilities Commission, the
     Public Service Commission of South Carolina and the Florida Public Service
     Commission with respect to the issuance and sale 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.

     10.  Conditions of the Company's Obligations.  The obligations of the
          ---------------------------------------
Company to deliver the Securities shall be subject to the conditions set forth
in the first sentence of subparagraph (a) of paragraph 9 hereof and in
subparagraph (g) of paragraph 9 hereof.  In case these conditions shall not have
been fulfilled at the Closing Date, this Agreement may be terminated by the
Company by mailing or 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 under the
     Securities Act or under any other statute or common law 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, any 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

                                      -14-


     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 (i) 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, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, or
     any amendment or supplement to either thereof, or (ii) arose out of, or was
     based upon, statements in or omissions from that part of the Registration
     Statement which shall constitute the Statement of Eligibility under the
     1939 Act (Form T-1) of the Trustee under the Indenture; and further
     provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable to any Underwriter
     under the indemnity agreement in this subsection (a) with respect to any
     preliminary prospectus to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or
     liability of such Underwriter results from the fact that such Underwriter
     sold Securities to a person as to whom it is established that there was not
     sent or given, at or prior to the written confirmation of such sale, a copy
     of the Prospectus or of the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented in
     any case where such delivery is required by the Securities Act if the
     Company has previously furnished copies thereof sufficient in quantity to
     such Underwriter and the loss, liability, claim, or damage of such
     Underwriter results from any untrue statement or omission of a material
     fact contained in the preliminary prospectus which was identified in
     writing at such time to such Underwriter and corrected in the Prospectus or
     in the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented and such correction would
     have cured the defect giving rise to such loss, claim, damage or
     liability.. 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 or any 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 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 under the
     Securities Act or under any other statute or common law, 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, any
     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

                                      -15-


     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, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or any
     amendment or supplement to either 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
     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 and 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 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 which 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 which 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 representing the
     indemnified parties who are parties to such action). Each of the Company
     and the several Underwriters agrees

                                      -16-


     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 one hand, and of the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection
     with the statements or omissions which 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 of any series 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 of such series pursuant to
     this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the
     total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters with respect to
     such series, in each case as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus, bear
     to the aggregate initial public offering price of such 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 which does not take account
     of the equitable considerations referred to above in this subparagraph (d).
     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

                                      -17-


     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
     principal amount of Securities of each series 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 herein or otherwise
     for inclusion in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus was as
     follows: (i) on the cover of the Prospectus Supplement, the entire last
     paragraph; and (ii) under the caption "Underwriting" in the Prospectus
     Supplement, the second, third and fourth sentences of the second paragraph,
     the third sentence of the third paragraph, and the entire fifth paragraph.
     In addition, Tokyo-Mitsubishi International plc hereby furnishes for
     inclusion in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, the information
     included in footnote (a) to the table in the first paragraph under the
     caption "Underwriting" in the Prospectus Supplement.

     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 trading or any restrictions on the distribution of securities, or
trading in any securities of the Company shall have been suspended or limited by
any exchange or on the over-the-counter market, or (b) there shall have occurred
any new outbreak of hostilities, including, but not limited to, an escalation of
hostilities which 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, the effect of which outbreak, escalation, calamity, 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 or any Significant Subsidiary shall have
sustained a substantial loss by fire, flood, accident or other calamity which
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 New
York or federal authorities, a

                                      -18-


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 hereof.

     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 411 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh, North Carolina 27601-1748,
attention of 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.

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

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

                                      -19-


     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,

                          PROGRESS ENERGY, INC.


                          By: /s/ Thomas R. Sullivan
                                 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.


MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
           INCORPORATED


By: /s/ Mary Ryan


SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC.


By: /s/ Peter H. Kind

                                      -20-


                                  SCHEDULE I



Registration Statement No. 333-49920

Representative and Addresses:

 Merrill, Lynch & Co.
 World Financial Center
 North Tower
 250 Vesey Street
 New York, New York 10281
 Attention:

 Salomon Smith Barney Inc.
 388 Greenwich Street
 34th Floor
 New York, New York 10013
 Attention:

Designation:

 6.55% Senior Notes due 2004

     Principal Amount:        $500,000,000.
     Purchase Price:          99.636% of principal amount.
     Public Offering Price:   99.986% of principal amount, plus accrued interest
                              from date of issuance to date of payment and
                              delivery.
     Interest Rate:           6.55% per year.
     Maturity Date:           March 1, 2004.

 6.75% Senior Notes due 2006

     Principal Amount:        $800,000,000.
     Purchase Price:          99.309% of principal amount.
     Public Offering Price:   99.909% of principal amount, plus accrued interest
                              from date of issuance to date of payment and
                              delivery.
     Interest Rate:           6.75% per year.
     Maturity Date:           March 1, 2006.



7.10% Senior Notes due 2011

     Principal Amount:        $1,250,000,000.
     Purchase Price:          99.212% of principal amount.
     Public Offering Price:   99.862% of principal amount, plus accrued interest
                              from date of issuance to date of payment and
                              delivery.
     Interest Rate:           7.10% per year.
     Maturity Date:           March 1, 2011.

7.75% Senior Notes due 2031

     Principal Amount:        $650,000,000.
     Purchase Price:          99.005% of principal amount.
     Public Offering Price:   99.880% of principal amount, plus accrued interest
                              from date of issuance to date of payment and
                              delivery.
     Interest Rate:           7.75% per year.
     Maturity Date:           March 1, 2031.

Indenture Dated as of:        February 15, 2001.

Interest Payment Dates:       Interest on each series of the Senior Notes will
                              be payable semi-annually in arrears on March 1 and
                              September 1, commencing September 1, 2001.

Redemption Terms:             The Company may redeem some or all of the Senior
                              Notes of each series at any time at the redemption
                              prices described under "Description of the Senior
                              Notes--Optional Redemption" in the prospectus
                              supplement, plus accrued interest to the date of
                              redemption.

Closing Date and Location:    February 22, 2001; Hunton & Williams, 421
                              Fayetteville Street Mall, Raleigh, North Carolina
                              27601.

                                      I-2


                                  SCHEDULE II



                                                                      Principal Amount of:
                                          --------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Underwriter                    2004 Senior Notes  2006 Senior Notes  2011 Senior Notes  2031 Senior Notes
           -----------                    -----------------  -----------------  -----------------  -----------------
                                                                                       
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated............................       $244,000,000       $381,250,000     $  198,250,000
Salomon Smith Barney Inc................       $152,500,000       $244,000,000     $  381,250,000       $198,250,000
Chase Securities Inc....................       $ 65,000,000       $104,000,000     $  162,500,000       $ 84,500,000
Banc of America Securities LLC..........       $ 33,000,000       $ 52,800,000     $   82,500,000       $ 42,900,000
Banc One Capital Markets, Inc...........       $ 33,000,000       $ 52,800,000     $   82,500,000       $ 42,900,000
First Union Securities, Inc.............       $ 33,000,000       $ 52,800,000     $   82,500,000       $ 42,900,000
Tokyo-Mitsubishi International plc (a)..       $ 15,500,000       $ 24,800,000     $   38,750,000       $ 20,150,000
Wachovia Securities, Inc................       $ 15,500,000       $ 24,800,000     $   38,750,000       $ 20,150,000
                                               ------------       ------------     --------------       ------------

        Total...........................       $500,000,000       $800,000,000     $1,250,000,000       $650,000,000
                                               ============       ============     ==============       ============


- ----------
(a)  Any sales to United States investors by Tokyo-Mitsubishi International plc
     will be made through its affiliate, Tokyo-Mitsubishi Securities (USA), Inc.


                                 SCHEDULE III

                           Significant Subsidiaries
                           ------------------------


                     Carolina Power & Light Company
                     Florida Progress Corporation
                     Florida Power Corporation