<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>                                      1000
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1995
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    8,989,667
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         371,206
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     1,357,861
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              10,718,734
<COMMON>                                     1,675,927
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          2,164,391
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               3,840,318
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           51,055
<PREFERRED>                                    351,345
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         3,007,949
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  150,144
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       25,700
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      6,909
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 3,616
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               3,281,698
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               10,718,734
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,724,391
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            96,310
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,306,096
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,402,406
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        321,985
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             (5,865)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 316,120
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       123,903
<NET-INCOME>                                   192,217
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     16,435
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  175,782
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       164,500
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      122,878<F1>
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         374,648
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0

<FN>
<F1> Total annual interest charges on all bonds for year-to-date 6/30/95.
</FN>