<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from GSU's
financial statements for the quarter ended March 31, 1995 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>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1995
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    4,680,763
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     59,936
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         673,434
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     1,446,258
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               6,860,391
<COMMON>                                       114,055
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    1,152,419
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            260,671
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,527,145
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           92,687
<PREFERRED>                                    136,444
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         2,300,744
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   70,425
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    114,765
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                36,733
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               2,581,448
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                6,860,391
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      399,346
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                              (162)
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     352,137
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     351,975
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         47,371
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               5,300
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  52,671
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        49,036
<NET-INCOME>                                     3,635
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      7,590
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   (3,955)
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         129,888
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0