<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000048732
<NAME> HOUSTON LIGHTING & POWER COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    8,601,262
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         281,543
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     1,092,007
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 515,003
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              10,489,815
<COMMON>                                     1,675,927
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          2,206,730
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               3,882,657
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      9,740
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         2,675,961
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 327,722
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   35,130
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       25,700
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      1,475
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 2,224
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               3,529,206
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               10,489,815
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      856,534
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            33,322
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     697,017
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     730,339
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        126,195
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             (4,867)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 121,328
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        58,164
<NET-INCOME>                                    63,164
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      2,125
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   61,039
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        82,250
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       52,533<F1>
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          39,826
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<FN>
<F1>Total annual interest charges on all bonds for year-to-date 3/31/97.
</FN>