<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 COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    8,635,587
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         335,566
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     1,515,794
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              10,486,947
<COMMON>                                     1,675,927
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          2,277,465
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               3,953,392
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                    351,345
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         2,710,569
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  190,130
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       25,700
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      2,035
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 3,630
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               3,250,146
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               10,486,947
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    3,142,234
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           248,767
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   2,258,532
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   2,507,299
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        634,935
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                            (67,454)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 567,481
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       176,034
<NET-INCOME>                                   391,447
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     17,318
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  374,129
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       246,750
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      167,122<F1>
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         776,565
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<FN>
<F1>Total annual interest charges on all bonds for year-to-date 9/30/96.
</FN>