<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 INCORPORATED
       
                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1994
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    8,976,029
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    111,303
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         290,090
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     1,406,673
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 669,132
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              11,453,227
<COMMON>                                     2,148,027
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          1,221,221
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               3,369,248
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          121,910
<PREFERRED>                                    351,345
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         3,725,341
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 423,291
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                      164
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       45,700
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      8,792
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 3,611
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               3,403,825
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               11,453,227
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    3,746,085
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           230,424
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   2,749,267
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   2,749,267
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        996,818
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                            (23,810)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 973,008
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       285,016
<NET-INCOME>                                   432,844<F1>
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     33,583
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  399,261
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       369,270
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      246,227
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                       1,197,104
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     3.25<F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     3.25<F2>
<FN>

<F1>Includes reductions to income for the loss from discontinued cable
television operations of $16,524 and the cumulative effect of change in
accounting for postemployment benefits of $8,200.

<F2>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>