<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
<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>                    149,157
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         311,245
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     1,399,973
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 731,018
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              11,526,068
<COMMON>                                     2,155,171
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          1,242,925
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               3,398,096
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          121,910
<PREFERRED>                                    351,345
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         3,615,424
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 634,155
<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>               3,237,677
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               11,526,068
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      746,166
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            10,427
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     622,865
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     622,865
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        123,301
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             (7,630)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 115,671
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        72,410
<NET-INCOME>                                   123,441
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      8,985
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  114,456
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        92,752
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       61,497<F1>
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          41,297
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.93
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.93
<FN>
<F1>Total annual interest charges on all bonds for year-to-date 3/31/95.
</FN>