<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>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,432,619
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  1,493,959
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,746,825
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     2,345,896
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               7,019,299
<COMMON>                                             1
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    2,463,831
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            167,807
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               2,631,639
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      1,066
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,292,479
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             350,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  34,200
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  201,671
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               2,508,244
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                7,019,299
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    7,705,879
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            70,569
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   7,483,025
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   7,483,025
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        222,854
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               8,604
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 231,458
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        90,492
<NET-INCOME>                                    70,397
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   70,397
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       90,231
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         390,206
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.00