<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, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>1,000
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    9,464,483
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  6,385,431
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       6,255,860
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     6,533,301
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              28,639,075
<COMMON>                                     2,950,136
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          2,806,723
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               5,756,859
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          705,244
<PREFERRED>                                      9,740
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         5,449,463
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                    1,225,281
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>               3,950,811
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                1,566,973
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     11,610
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   930
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               9,962,164
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               28,639,075
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                   19,521,316
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           388,978
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                  17,903,790
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                  17,903,790
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                      1,617,526
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              54,379
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>               1,671,905
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       536,780
<NET-INCOME>                                   746,147
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        292
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  745,855
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       319,467
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       96,613
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         951,689
<EPS-BASIC>                                       2.62
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.60