<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.

<CIK>  0000048732
<NAME>  RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    9,311,473
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  7,401,324
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       7,192,828
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     6,350,856
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              30,256,481
<COMMON>                                     2,918,425
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          2,534,249
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               5,452,674
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          705,166
<PREFERRED>                                      9,740
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         5,155,241
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                    1,385,184
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>               4,725,745
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                4,554,116
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     11,881
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 1,288
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               8,255,446
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               30,256,481
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                   10,004,555
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           163,343
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   9,158,042
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   9,158,042
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        846,513
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              24,405
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 870,918
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       350,491
<NET-INCOME>                                   357,084
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        195
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  356,889
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       212,182
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      313,658
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         543,608
<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.26
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.25

<F1>TOTAL ANNUAL INTEREST CHARGES ON ALL BONDS IS AS OF YEAR-TO-DATE 06/30/00.