<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, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    8,524,354
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  1,783,409
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         297,371
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     1,691,103
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              12,296,237
<COMMON>                                     1,850,582
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          2,003,194
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               3,853,776
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      9,740
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         3,119,228
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                       13,211
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>               1,288,598
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   40,130
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      1,442
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   999
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               3,969,113
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               12,296,237
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,942,549
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            71,040
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,539,161
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,539,161
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        403,388
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              18,972
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 422,360
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       168,015
<NET-INCOME>                                   183,305
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      2,222
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  181,083
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       175,379
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      102,608<F1>
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         416,448
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .77
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .77
<FN>
<F1>Total annual interest charges on all bonds for year-to-date 6/30/97.
</FN>