<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM (CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF MARCH 31,
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>                                          3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                      DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                           MAR-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                              PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                               $6,359,448
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                               $501,762
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                    $629,855
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                  $571,325
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                            $206,245
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                          $8,268,635
<COMMON>                                                $1,200,860
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                    ($790)
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                     $1,516,096
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                          $2,716,166
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                           $0
<PREFERRED>                                               $143,801
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                    $2,524,942
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                              $0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                       $0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                  $0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                              $43,436
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                       $0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                     $0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                $0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                          $2,840,290
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                           $8,268,635
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                 $716,084
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                       $61,029
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                $532,293
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                $593,322
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                   $122,762
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                          $4,132
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                            $126,894
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   $44,632
<NET-INCOME>                                               $82,262
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                 $2,402
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                              $79,860
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                   $67,422
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                  $40,710
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                    $203,953
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                $0.56
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                $0.56
        

</TABLE>