Reliant Energy HL&P/Entex

Houston Lighting & Power Co. (HL&P)

Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Electricity, Utilities
Founded	1882
Defunct	1999
Fate	Split into Reliant Energy, Texas Genco, and CenterPoint Energy
Successor	Reliant Energy, Texas Genco, CenterPoint Energy
Headquarters	Houston , United States
Area served	Greater Houston region, Texas, United States
Products	Electricity generation and distribution
Owner	Houston Industries (later Reliant Energy)
Parent	Houston Industries (NYSE: HOU), later Reliant Energy (REI)

Houston Lighting & Power Co. (HL&P), which was later rebranded as Reliant Energy HL&P/Entex, served as the leading electricity and utility provider throughout the Greater Houston region in Texas. It functioned as a subsidiary under Houston Industries (NYSE: HOU), a company that subsequently changed its name to Reliant Energy (REI). In 1998, HL&P covered a significant service area and ranked tenth among U.S. energy companies based on kilowatt-hour sales.

History

Established in 1882, HL&P maintained a prominent position within the Texas energy sector for more than one hundred years. The year 1999 marked Houston Industries’ transformation into Reliant Energy, which led to HL&P being renamed Reliant Energy HL&P/Entex.

After the deregulation of the Texas electricity market, HL&P was segmented in 2003 into three separate organizations: Reliant Energy, Texas Genco, and CenterPoint Energy. Power generation assets were assigned to Texas Genco, transmission systems were managed by CenterPoint, and retail electricity sales to both residential and commercial clients were handled by Reliant Energy.

Offices

Prior to its breakup, Houston Lighting & Power shared its main office with Houston Industries at Houston Industries Plaza—currently known as CenterPoint Energy Plaza—situated in Downtown Houston.

The Bob Lanier Public Works Building, originally called the Electric Building and once used by HL&P as office space, was purchased by the City of Houston. In 1999, the city allocated $43 million for renovations to accommodate government departments such as Public Works and Engineering.

Further reading

• "Parent firms of HL&P and Entex to merge." Houston Chronicle.
• "Houston Industries bid looks to the future." Houston Chronicle.
• "NorAm played it safe to be #3 gas firm." Houston Chronicle.