<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> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1995
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    8,769,626
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  1,159,036
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         337,445
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       930,349
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 623,150
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              11,819,606
<COMMON>                                     2,173,385
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          1,953,672
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               4,123,563
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           51,055
<PREFERRED>                                    351,345
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         3,333,483
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                   6,300
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  350,130
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       25,700
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      4,939
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 3,621
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               3,565,976
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               11,819,606
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    3,730,173
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           199,555
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   2,825,240
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   2,825,240
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        904,933
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              18,362
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 923,295
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       296,385
<NET-INCOME>                                 1,135,479
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     29,955
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                1,105,524
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       371,760
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      244,310
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         839,438
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     4.46<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     4.46<F1>
<FN>
<F1>
Reflects a two-for-one stock split effective December 9, 1995.
</FN>