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

<TABLE> <S> <C>

                                                      EX-27.(b)
                                                      FLORIDA POWER CORPORATION
                                                      SCHEDULE UT

<ARTICLE>                                             UT
<MULTIPLIER>                                          1,000,000
<CIK>                                                 0000037637
<NAME>                                                FLORIDA POWER 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>                                             331
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                  539
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                                  0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                          518
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                        5,013
<COMMON>                                                              1,004
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                                 0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                     779
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                        1,783
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                     0
<PREFERRED>                                                              34
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                  1,746
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                        0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                 0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                          159
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                             2
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                 0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                               0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                          0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                        1,289
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                         5,013
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                             1,229
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                     65
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                              986
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                            1,051
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                 178
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                        4
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                          182
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                 67
<NET-INCOME>                                                            115
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                               1
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                           114
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                 98
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                                 0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                  324
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                          0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                          0.00
        


</TABLE>