<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000048732
<NAME> HOUSTON INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    9,629,828
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  3,530,255
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,265,044
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     3,980,527
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              18,405,654
<COMMON>                                     2,890,879
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          1,815,435
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               4,706,314
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      9,740
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         6,112,983
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      452,800
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>               1,343,987
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  381,526
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     15,023
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 1,147
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               5,382,134
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               18,405,654
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    5,375,443
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            48,462
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   4,634,381
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   4,634,381
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        741,062
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                           (409,644)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 331,418
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       269,891
<NET-INCOME>                                    13,065
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        195
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   12,870
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       210,490
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      172,521<F1>
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         814,078
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    $0.05
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    $0.05
<FN>
<F1>TOTAL ANNUAL INTEREST CHARGES ON ALL BONDS IS AS OF YEAR-TO-DATE 6/30/98.
</FN>