<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 COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1995
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    8,934,675
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         405,110
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     1,367,013
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              10,706,798
<COMMON>                                     1,675,927
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          2,104,768
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               3,780,695
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          121,910
<PREFERRED>                                    351,345
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         3,066,649
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  110,143
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       45,700
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      8,004
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 3,614
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               3,218,738
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               10,706,798
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      746,166
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            19,018
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     622,582
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     641,600
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        104,566
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,176
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 105,742
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        62,848
<NET-INCOME>                                    42,894
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      8,985
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   33,909
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        82,250
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       61,497<F1>
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          48,552
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<FN>
<F1>Total annual interest charges on all bonds for year-to-date 3/31/95.
</FN>