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>                                          JUN-30-1998
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                         6-MOS
<BOOK-VALUE>                                          PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                       3,625
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                       916
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                            865
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                          337
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                    338
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                  6,081
<COMMON>                                                        1,208
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                           0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                               592
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                  1,800
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                               0
<PREFERRED>                                                        34
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                            2,372
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                180
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                           0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                    150
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                      56
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                           0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                         0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                    0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                  1,489
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                   6,081
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                       1,691
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                               70
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                      1,405
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                      1,475
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                           216
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                  0
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                    216
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                           87
<NET-INCOME>                                                      129
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                         1
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                     128
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                          104
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                           0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                            384
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                    1.32
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                    1.32
        

</TABLE>