<ARTICLE> OPUR1
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM RESOURCES' 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0001042773
<NAME> RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,346,267
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  1,496,149
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,493,481
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     2,341,407
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               6,667,304
<COMMON>                                             1
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    2,449,925
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            185,644
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               2,635,570
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,506,121
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      300,000
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  201,965
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               2,033,648
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                6,677,304
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,828,064
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            52,474
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,677,887
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,677,887
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        150,177
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               3,031
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 153,208
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        29,761
<NET-INCOME>                                    70,973
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   70,973
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       29,662
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          80,939
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0