<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 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>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         257,712
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     1,105,126
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 523,797
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              10,410,989
<COMMON>                                     1,675,927
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          2,256,612
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               3,932,539
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      9,740
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         2,613,693
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 157,182
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   40,130
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      1,442
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   999
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               3,655,264
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               10,410,989
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,899,554
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           106,222
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,472,844
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,579,066
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        320,488
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             (7,985)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 312,503
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       117,110
<NET-INCOME>                                   195,393
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      2,222
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  193,171
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       164,500
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      102,608<F1>
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         440,006
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0    
<FN>
<F1>Total annual interest charges on all bonds for year-to-date 6/30/97.
</FN>