<ARTICLE> OPUR1
<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 INC
<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>                    9,639,082
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  3,806,571
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,558,610
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     3,882,262
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              18,886,525
<COMMON>                                     2,931,138
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          1,029,892
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               3,961,030
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      9,740
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         7,677,463
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      302,300
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>               1,435,703
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  375,497
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     13,502
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               5,111,290
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               18,886,525
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    2,642,904
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                          (56,543)
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   2,452,789
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   2,452,789
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        190,115
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                           (320,296)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>               (130,181)
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       136,054
<NET-INCOME>                                 (209,692)
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         97
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                (209,789)
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       106,905
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       85,437<F1>
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         202,226
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (0.74)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.74)
<FN>
<F1>Total annual interest charges on all bonds is as of year-to-date 03/31/99.
</FN>