<ARTICLE> OPUR1
<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>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                 PRO-FORMA
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    8,675,759
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         299,841
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     1,105,798
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 514,834
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              10,596,232
<COMMON>                                     1,675,927
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          2,227,941
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               3,903,868
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                    135,179
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         2,675,767
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              19,600
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 234,665
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  225,130
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       25,700
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                        785
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 3,633
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               3,371,905
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               10,596,232
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    4,025,027
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           264,819
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   3,027,880
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   3,292,699
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        732,328
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                            (70,879)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 661,449
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       232,031
<NET-INCOME>                                   429,418
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     22,563
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  406,855
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       329,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      221,814
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         916,646
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0