<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from GSU's
financial statements for the year ended December 31, 1994 and is qualified in
its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000044570
<NAME> GULF STATES UTILITIES COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1994
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1994
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    4,718,844
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     50,624
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         631,138
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     1,442,855
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               6,843,461
<COMMON>                                       114,055
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    1,152,336
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            264,626
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,531,017
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           94,934
<PREFERRED>                                    136,444
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         2,318,417
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   50,425
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    125,691
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                37,265
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               2,399,268
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                6,843,461
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,797,365
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           (6,448)
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,590,162
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,583,714
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        213,651
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                            (93,347)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 120,304
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       203,059
<NET-INCOME>                                  (82,755)
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     29,919
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                (112,674)
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       289,100
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         326,359
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0