WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

<TABLE> <S> <C>



                                    EX-27.(a)
                                                   FLORIDA PROGRESS CORPORATION
                                   SCHEDULE UT

<ARTICLE>                                         UT
<MULTIPLIER>                                      1,000,000
<CIK>                                             0000357261
<NAME>                                            FLORIDA PROGRESS CORPORATION
       
<S>                                                  <C>
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                    DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                         SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                        9-MOS
<BOOK-VALUE>                                         PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                       3,608
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                       902
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                            863
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                          326
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                    326
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                  6,025
<COMMON>                                                        1,208
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                           0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                               657
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                  1,865
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                               0
<PREFERRED>                                                        34
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                            2,348
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                 67
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                           0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                    116
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                      71
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                           0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                         0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                    0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                  1,524
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                   6,025
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                       2,722
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                              137
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                      2,209
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                      2,346
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                           376
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                  0
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                    376
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                          129
<NET-INCOME>                                                      247
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                         1
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                     246
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                          156
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                           0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                            667
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                    2.53
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                    2.53
        


</TABLE>