<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
<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>                     86,005
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         340,169
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     1,408,845
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 701,330
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              11,526,016
<COMMON>                                     2,160,356
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          1,283,326
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               3,443,682
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           51,055
<PREFERRED>                                    351,345
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         3,556,770
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 698,165
<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>               3,238,630
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               11,526,016
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,724,391
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            76,136
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,306,704
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,306,704
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        417,687
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                            (23,010)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 394,677
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       144,997
<NET-INCOME>                                   264,151
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     16,435
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  247,716
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       185,611
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      122,878<F1>
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         344,066
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    $2.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    $2.00

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