<TABLE> <S> <C>
 
<ARTICLE>                                           UT
<MULTIPLIER>                                        1,000,000
<CIK>                                               0000357261
<NAME>                                              FLORIDA PROGRESS CORPORATION
       
<S>                                                                 <C>
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                   DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                                        MAR-31-1998
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                       3-MOS
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                        PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                               3,642
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                               821
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                    811
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                                  345
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                            217
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                          5,836
<COMMON>                                                                1,208
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                                   0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                        566
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                           1,774
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                        0
<PREFERRED>                                                                 34
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                     2,342
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                          75
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                    0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                             228
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                                6
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                    0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                                  0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                             0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                           1,377
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                            5,836
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                                  788
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                        24
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                                 670
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                                 694
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                     94
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                           0
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                              94
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                    43
<NET-INCOME>                                                                51
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                  0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                               51
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                    52
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                                    0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                     154
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                             0.52
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                             0.52
        


</TABLE>