<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from HL&P's
financial statements and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>   0000048732
<NAME>  HOUSTON LIGHTING & POWER
<MULTIPLIER>                                     1,000
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1994
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1994
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    8,955,090
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         499,442
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       879,419
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 502,401
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              10,836,352
<COMMON>                                     1,675,927
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          2,217,434
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               3,893,361
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          121,910
<PREFERRED>                                    351,345
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         3,176,456
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    1,849
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       45,700
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     10,989
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 4,004
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               3,230,738
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               10,836,352
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    2,977,433
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           248,359
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   2,068,494
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   2,316,853
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        660,580
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             (4,674)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 655,906
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       187,469
<NET-INCOME>                                   460,237<F1>
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     24,981
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  435,256
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       246,746
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      184,964<F2>
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                       1,003,291
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0

<FN>
<F1> Includes cumulative effect of change in accounting for postemployment
     benefits of $8,200.
<F2> Total annual interest charges on all bonds for year-to-date 9/30/94.
</FN>