<TABLE> <S> <C>
<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.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000048732
<NAME> RELIANT ENERGY, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>1,000
<S> <C>
<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
705,244
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
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
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
</TABLE>
