<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, INCORPORATED
<MULTIPLIER>1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    9,041,732
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  2,853,403
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       5,862,758
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     4,846,224
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              22,604,117
<COMMON>                                     2,926,738
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          2,562,702
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               5,489,440
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                    715,001
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         4,050,162
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      712,804
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>               1,170,359
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                3,790,361
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     12,879
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 1,201
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               6,661,910
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               22,604,117
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                   11,247,924
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           872,304
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                  10,274,849
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                  10,274,849
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        973,075
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                           1,823,145
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>               2,796,220
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       368,759
<NET-INCOME>                                 1,555,157
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        292
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                1,554,865
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       320,922
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      252,715<F1>
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                       1,126,389
<EPS-BASIC>                                       5.45
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     5.43
<FN>
<F1>Total annual interest charges on all bonds is as of year-to-date 09/30/99.
</FN>