<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM (CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF SEPTEMBER 30,
1997) AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000017797
<NAME> CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                                                         <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                     9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                           DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                   PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                    $6,333,693
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                    $393,320
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                         $702,026
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                       $510,038
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                 $215,030
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                               $8,154,107
<COMMON>                                                     $1,205,715
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                         ($790)
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                          $1,600,590
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                               $2,805,515
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                $0
<PREFERRED>                                                     $59,376
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                         $2,389,251
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                   $0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                            $0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                       $0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                  $188,529
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                            $0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                          $0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                     $0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                               $2,711,436
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                $8,154,107
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                    $2,288,948
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                           $198,078
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                   $1,669,839
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                   $1,867,917
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                        $421,031
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                              $17,881
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                 $438,912
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                       $134,532
<NET-INCOME>                                                   $304,380
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                      $5,310
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                  $299,070
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                       $202,138
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                      $121,778
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                         $810,642
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                      2.08
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                      2.08
        

</TABLE>