<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Company's and HL&P's financial statements and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>   0000202131
<NAME>  HOUSTON INDUSTRIES INC
<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>                    497,528
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         315,918
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       931,971
<OTHER-ASSETS>                               1,548,291
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              12,248,798
<COMMON>                                     2,142,134
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          1,303,139
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               3,445,273
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          121,910
<PREFERRED>                                    351,345
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         4,213,921
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 378,600
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   33,641
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       45,700
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     10,989
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 4,050
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               3,643,369
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               12,248,798
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    3,164,741
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           226,486
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   2,249,233
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   2,249,233
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        915,508
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               6,237
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 921,745
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       273,487
<NET-INCOME>                                   413,572<F1>
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     24,981
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  388,591
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       276,682
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      184,964<F2>
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         954,938
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     3.17<F3>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     3.17<F3>

<FN>
<F1> Includes cumulative effect of change in accounting for postemployment
     benefits of $8,200.

<F2> Total annual interest charges on HL&P bonds for year-to-date 9/30/94.

<F3> Reflects the reduction of weighted average common shares outstanding
     resulting from the adoption of Statement of Position 93-6, "Employers'
     Accounting for Employee Stock Ownership Plans" effective January 1, 1994.
</FN>