<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM (UNAUDITED
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2000) AND IS QUALIFIED IN
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0001094093
<NAME> CP&L Energy, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 6,909,216
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 708,482
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,308,900
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 297,714
<OTHER-ASSETS> 895,069
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 10,119,381
<COMMON> 1,616,768
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS> 2,060,113
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 3,676,881
0
59,334
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 3,489,512
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 0
0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0
<LEASES-CURRENT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 2,893,654
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 10,119,381
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 2,853,643
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 255,124
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 2,157,759
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 2,412,883
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 440,760
<OTHER-INCOME-NET> 203,382
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 644,142
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 154,340
<NET-INCOME> 489,802
0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 489,802
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 237,521
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 113,172
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 898,372
<EPS-BASIC> 3.20
<EPS-DILUTED> 3.19
</TABLE>
