<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>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1995
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    8,788,271
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  1,143,273
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         446,364
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     1,593,320
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              11,971,228
<COMMON>                                     2,167,047
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          2,044,245
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               4,211,292
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           51,055
<PREFERRED>                                    351,345
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         3,551,797
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  150,130
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       25,700
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      6,065
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 3,619
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               3,620,225
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               11,971,228
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    2,896,180
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           193,976
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   2,044,311
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   2,044,311
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        851,869
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                            (19,707)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 832,162
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       222,009
<NET-INCOME>                                 1,124,872
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     23,207
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                1,101,665
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       278,641
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      184,899
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         645,670
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    $8.90
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    $8.90