<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
COMPANY'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>  0000048732
<NAME> RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    9,201,354
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  5,253,399
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       7,769,218
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     5,836,598
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              28,060,569
<COMMON>                                     2,901,235
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          2,439,369
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               5,340,604
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          705,373
<PREFERRED>                                      9,740
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         5,502,253
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                           1,798,351
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>               1,611,252
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                5,787,588
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     12,495
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   640
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               7,292,273
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               28,060,569
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    4,234,103
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            55,936
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   3,888,008
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   3,888,008
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        346,095
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               5,979
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 352,074
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       162,985
<NET-INCOME>                                   133,153
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         97
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  133,056
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       105,479
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      138,796<F1>
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         449,952
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.47
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.47
<FN>
<F1>Total annual interest charges on all bonds is as of year-to-date 03/31/00.
</FN>