Hartsville, S.C. (April 19, 2004) -- The H.B. Robinson Nuclear Plant near Hartsville, S.C., is operating today with a renewed commitment to meeting the future energy needs of Progress Energy's customers.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved the renewal of the operating license for the Robinson Nuclear Plant through July 2030.

"This is a significant achievement that positions the Robinson Plant to continue to provide safe, reliable, efficient power to Progress Energy customers for many years to come," said John Moyer, vice president of the Robinson Nuclear Plant. "This accomplishment is a testament to the dedication of our plant employees who have established the excellent safety and environmental record that led to license renewal. We are committed to continuing our focus on safety and environmental stewardship each and every day, throughout the operation of the plant."

The Robinson Plant has consistently been ranked among the top nuclear plants in the nation in terms of safety, production and cost. The renewed operating license will allow the Robinson Nuclear Plant to continue to meet the energy needs of customers and provide economic benefits to both Progress Energy and the local community for decades to come.

"I am pleased to hear that the license has been extended, so that the Robinson Plant will continue its powerful partnership with Darlington County through 2030," said Anne Warr, chairwoman of the Darlington County Council. "Progress Energy is the largest taxpayer in Darlington County, annually paying more than $8 million in property taxes in our county, with the majority going towards enhancing the county's education system, safety services and other public uses. The more than 400 employees at the Robinson Plant have an excellent record for keeping the plant running safely and reliably. They also are good citizens in our community, taking active roles in our schools and in our civic and community organizations. I'm pleased that we will continue this valuable partnership for many years to come."

The Robinson Nuclear Plant generates 710 megawatts of electricity for Progress Energy customers.

The Robinson Plant received its operating license from the NRC in 1970. The plant's original license term of 40 years was set to expire July 31, 2010. The NRC's action renews the plant's operating license for an additional 20 years, through July 2030.

For license renewal, Progress Energy spent 2? years performing an extensive safety review of the Robinson Nuclear Plant's systems, structures and components. During that 2?-year period, the company also performed a thorough review of the environmental impacts of license renewal.

Once Progress Energy filed for a renewal of the operating license in June 2002, the NRC began conducting its own review including onsite inspections. In addition, the NRC performed its own review of the environmental impacts of renewing the license for an additional 20 years.

Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN), headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., is a Fortune 250 diversified energy company with more than 24,000 megawatts of generation capacity and $9 billion in annual revenues. The company's holdings include two electric utilities serving more than 2.8 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida. Progress Energy also includes nonregulated operations covering generation, energy marketing, natural gas production, fuel extraction, rail services and broadband capacity. For more information about Progress Energy, visit the company's Web site at www.progress-energy.com.

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Contact: David McNeill, Robinson Communications, 843-857-5291