As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 19, 2002

                                             Registration No. 333-______________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   ----------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      Under
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                   ----------

                             RELIANT RESOURCES, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                   ----------

                DELAWARE                                  76-0655566
     (State or other jurisdiction of                   (I.R.S. Employer
     incorporation or organization)                   Identification No.)

             1111 LOUISIANA                                  77002
             HOUSTON, TEXAS                               (Zip Code)
     (Address of principal executive
                offices)

                             RELIANT RESOURCES, INC.
                          2002 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)

                                 Hugh Rice Kelly
         Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
                                 1111 Louisiana
                              Houston, Texas 77002
                     (Name and address of agent for service)

   Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service: (713) 207-3000

                                   ----------

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE




==============================================================================================================
                                                              PROPOSED           PROPOSED
                                                              MAXIMUM            MAXIMUM
                                                              OFFERING          AGGREGATE           AMOUNT OF
      TITLE OF SECURITIES            AMOUNT TO BE              PRICE             OFFERING         REGISTRATION
       TO BE REGISTERED               REGISTERED             PER SHARE(1)        PRICE(1)              FEE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      
Common Stock, $.001 par value
per share                           17,500,000 shares       $ 15.01          $ 262,675,000        $  24,166.10

Preferred Stock Purchase
Rights(2)                           17,500,000 rights          (3)                 (3)                  (3)
==============================================================================================================


(1)   Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in
      accordance with Rule 457(c) based upon the average of the high and low
      prices of the Common Stock of Reliant Resources, Inc. reported on the
      New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape on April 16, 2002.

(2)   Each share of Common Stock to be registered includes one associated
      Preferred Stock Purchase Right.

(3)   No separate consideration is payable for the Preferred Stock Purchase
      Rights. Therefore, the registration fee for such securities is included in
      the registration fee for the Common Stock.




                             INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT

         Reliant Resources, Inc. (the "Registrant" or the "Company") is filing
this Registration Statement on Form S-8 relating to its Common Stock, par value
$.001 per share, and associated rights to purchase its Series A Preferred Stock,
par value $.001 per share (such common stock and associated rights are
collectively referred to in this Registration Statement as the "Common Stock"),
issuable pursuant to the terms of the Reliant Resources, Inc. 2002 Long-Term
Incentive Plan.

                                     PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

         Note: The document(s) containing the plan information required by Item
1 of Form S-8 and the statement of availability of registrant information and
any other information required by Item 2 of Form S-8 will be sent or given to
participants as specified by Rule 428 under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act"). In accordance with Rule 428 and the requirements
of Part I of Form S-8, such documents are not being filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") either as part of this Registration
Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424
under the Securities Act. The Registrant shall maintain a file of such documents
in accordance with the provisions of Rule 428. Upon request, the Registrant
shall furnish to the Commission or its staff a copy or copies of all of the
documents included in such file.



                                       1


                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT


ITEM 3.    INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

                  The following documents filed with the Commission by the
Company (File No. 001-16455) pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act"), or as otherwise indicated, are hereby incorporated
in this Registration Statement by reference:

                  (1) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
         year ended December 31, 2001;

                  (2) the Company's Amended Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated
         September 26, 2001, as filed with the Commission on March 28, 2002;

                  (3) the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated December
         18, 2001, as filed with the Commission on January 11, 2002;

                  (4) the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 5,
         2002 (other than the information included in Item 9 therein), as filed
         with the Commission on February 5, 2002;

                  (5) the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated February
         19, 2002, as filed with the Commission on March 6, 2002;

                  (6) the Company's Amended Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated
         February 19, 2002, as filed with the Commission on April 9, 2002;

                  (7) the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 15,
         2002 (other than the information included in Item 9 therein), as filed
         with the Commission on March 15, 2002;

                  (8) the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 5,
         2002, as filed with the Commission on April 8, 2002; and

                  (9) the description of the Common Stock contained in the
         Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, as filed with the
         Commission on April 27, 2001 pursuant to the Exchange Act, as amended
         by Amendment No. 1 thereto on Form 8-A/A, as filed with the
         Commission on May 2, 2001.

                  All documents filed with the Commission by the Company
pursuant to sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to
the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a
post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement which indicates that all
securities offered hereby have been sold, or which deregisters all securities
then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents.

                  Any statement contained herein or incorporated by reference
herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this
Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any
subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so
modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded,
to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

ITEM 4.    DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

                  Not applicable.


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ITEM 5.    INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

                  Not applicable.

ITEM 6.    INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

                  The Company is incorporated under the laws of the State of
Delaware. Section 145 ("Section 145") of Title 8 of the Delaware Code gives a
corporation power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened
to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than
an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the
person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or
is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer,
employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines
and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in
connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good
faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to
the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action
or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person's conduct was
unlawful.

                  Section 145 also gives a corporation power to indemnify any
person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the
corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the
person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or
is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer,
employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and
reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement
of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the
person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any
claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be
liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court
of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall
determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in
view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably
entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Delaware Court of Chancery or
such other court shall deem proper. Section 145 further provides that, to the
extent that a present or former director or officer of a corporation has been
successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any such action, suit or
proceeding, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person
shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and
reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.

                  Section 145 also authorizes a corporation to purchase and
maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer,
employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the
corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any liability
asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, arising out of
his status as such, whether or not the corporation would otherwise have the
power to indemnify him under Section 145.

                  The Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation and
Amended and Restated Bylaws provide for the indemnification of officers and
directors to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law.

                  All of the Company's directors and officers will be covered by
insurance policies maintained by the Company against certain liabilities for
actions taken in their capacities as such, including liabilities under the
Securities Act.

ITEM 7.    EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

                  Not Applicable.


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ITEM 8.    EXHIBITS.

                  The following documents are filed as a part of this
Registration Statement or incorporated by reference herein:




                                                                       Report or                   SEC File or
Exhibit                                                              Registration                 Registration        Exhibit
Number                 Document Description                            Statement                     Number          Reference
------                 --------------------                          ------------                 ------------       ---------
                                                                                                         
 4.1* -        Restated Certificate of Incorporation             Registration Statement             333-48038            3.1
                                                                 on Form S-1

 4.2* -        Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company        Registration Statement             333-48038            3.2
                                                                 on Form S-1

 4.3* -        Specimen Stock Certificate                        Registration Statement             333-48038            4.1
                                                                 on Form S-1

 4.4* -        Form of Rights Agreement effective as of          Registration Statement             333-48038            4.2
               January 15, 2001 between the Company and The      on Form S-1
               Chase Manhattan Bank, as Rights Agent,
               including a Form of Rights Certificate

 4.5  -        Form of Reliant Resources, Inc. 2002 Long-Term
               Incentive Plan

 5.1  -        Opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P.

23.1  -        Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP

23.2  -        Consent of Baker Botts L.L.P. (included in
               Exhibit 5.1)

24.1  -        Power of Attorney (included on the signature
               page to this Registration Statement)


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*    Incorporated herein by reference as indicated.

ITEM 9.    UNDERTAKINGS.

                  (a)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

                           (1) To file, during any period in which offers or
                  sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this
                  registration statement:

                               (i) To include any prospectus required by section
                    10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

                               (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or
                    events arising after the effective date of the registration
                    statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment
                    thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent
                    a fundamental change in the information set forth in the
                    registration statement;


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                           (iii) To include any material information with
                  respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed
                  in the registration statement or any material change to such
                  information in the registration statement;

                  Provided, however, that the undertakings set forth in
         paragraphs (i) and (ii) above do not apply if the information required
         to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is
         contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to
         Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated
         by reference in the registration statement.

                       (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability
         under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be
         deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
         offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall
         be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

                       (3) To remove from registration by means of a
         post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which
         remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

                  (b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for
purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of
the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's
annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is
incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

                  (c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under
the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the registrant pursuant to the provisions described under Item 6
above, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


                                       5



                                   SIGNATURES


                  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Houston, the State of Texas, on April 19,
2002.

                             RELIANT RESOURCES, INC.
                             (Registrant)



                             By: /s/ R. Steve Letbetter
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                         R. Steve Letbetter,
                                Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

                  KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose
signature appears below constitutes and appoints R. Steve Letbetter, Stephen W.
Naeve and Hugh Rice Kelly, and each of them severally, his or her true and
lawful attorney or attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power to act with or
without the others and with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to
execute in his or her name place and stead, in any and all capacities, any or
all amendments (including pre-effective and post-effective amendments) to this
Registration Statement and any registration statement for the same offering
filed pursuant to Rule 462 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents and each of them full power and authority, to do
and perform in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, in any and all
capacities, each and every act and thing necessary or desirable to be done in
and about the premises, to all intents and purposes and as fully as they might
or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents or their substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.

                  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.



                                       6






              Signature                          Title                               Date
              ---------                          -----                               ----
                                                                          
     /s/ R. Steve Letbetter             Chairman, President, Chief              April 19, 2002
----------------------------------      Executive Officer and
        (R. Steve Letbetter)            Director (Principal
                                        Executive Officer and
                                        Director)


     /s/ Stephen W. Naeve               Executive Vice President                April 19, 2002
----------------------------------      and Chief Financial Officer
        (Stephen W. Naeve)              (Principal Financial
                                        Officer)



   /s/ Mary P. Ricciardello             Senior Vice President and               April 19, 2002
----------------------------------      Chief Accounting Officer
      (Mary P. Ricciardello)            (Principal Accounting
                                        Officer)

    /s/ James A. Baker, III             Director                                April 19, 2002
----------------------------------
       (James A. Baker, III)



      /s/ Milton Carroll                Director                                April 19, 2002
----------------------------------
         (Milton Carroll)



      /s/ L. Lowry Mays                 Director                                April 19, 2002
----------------------------------
         (L. Lowry Mays)



      /s/ Philip Miller                 Director                                April 19, 2002
----------------------------------
         (Philip Miller)



                                       7



                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS





                                                                       Report or                   SEC File or
Exhibit                                                              Registration                 Registration        Exhibit
Number                 Document Description                            Statement                     Number          Reference
------                 --------------------                          ------------                 ------------       ---------
                                                                                                         
 4.1* -        Restated Certificate of Incorporation             Registration Statement             333-48038            3.1
                                                                 on Form S-1

 4.2* -        Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company        Registration Statement             333-48038            3.2
                                                                 on Form S-1

 4.3* -        Specimen Stock Certificate                        Registration Statement             333-48038            4.1
                                                                 on Form S-1

 4.4* -        Form of Rights Agreement effective as of          Registration Statement             333-48038            4.2
               January 15, 2001 between the Company and The      on Form S-1
               Chase Manhattan Bank, as Rights Agent,
               including a Form of Rights Certificate

 4.5  -        Form of Reliant Resources, Inc. 2002 Long-Term
               Incentive Plan

 5.1  -        Opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P.

23.1  -        Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP

23.2  -        Consent of Baker Botts L.L.P. (included in
               Exhibit 5.1)

24.1  -        Power of Attorney (included on the signature
               page to this Registration Statement)


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*    Incorporated herein by reference as indicated.


                                       8