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                                                                Exhibit 10.8
                      AMENDED AND RESTATED PROMISSORY NOTE

$961,550,000.00                                                   Houston, Texas

                  FOR VALUE RECEIVED, RELIANT ENERGY MID-ATLANTIC POWER
HOLDINGS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("Facility Lessee"), whose
address is 1111 Louisiana, Houston, Texas 77002, hereby promises to pay to
RELIANT ENERGY NORTHEAST HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation ("Lender"),
whose address is 1111 Louisiana, Houston, Texas 77002, Nine Hundred Sixty-One
Million Five Hundred Fifty Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($961,550,000.00), on
January 1, 2029 (the "Maturity Date"), together with accrued and unpaid interest
thereon from the date hereof until such maturity, at the rate per annum and on
the dates and in the manner specified in this Amended and Restated Promissory
Note (the "Note").

         1. Definitions.

                  (a) All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise
defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the various
Participation Agreements, each dated as of August 24, 2000 (as the same may be
amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the
"Participation Agreements"), among Facility Lessee, the various Owner Lessors,
Wilmington Trust Company, in the capacities referred to therein, the Owner
Participant, and Bankers Trust Company, in the capacities referred to therein.

                  (b) The following terms have the following meanings:

                  "Rent Obligations" means all obligations of Facility Lessee
now or hereafter existing (i) to pay Periodic Lease Rent or Renewal Lease Rent
owing under any of the Facility Leases or Supplemental Lease Rent owing under
any of the Facility Leases or the other Operative Documents and (ii) as a result
of any amendments, modifications, deferrals, renewals or extensions of any such
obligation, or of any instruments or evidences issued in evidence of or in
exchange for such obligation whether for Rent or interest owed thereon
(including interest payable subsequent to the commencement of any proceeding
against or with respect to Facility Lessee under the Bankruptcy Code, or any
provision of a state bankruptcy law, whether or not such interest is an allowed
claim enforceable against the debtor, and whether or not the holder of such
obligation would be otherwise entitled to receive dividends or payments with
respect to any such interest or any such proceeding), fees, expenses or
otherwise.

                  "Senior Obligations" means collectively, (i) all Rent
Obligations, (ii) all obligations of Facility Lessee now or hereafter existing
under any application, reimbursement agreement, indemnity or other agreement or
undertaking with respect to any letter of credit, surety bond or guarantee
constituting Qualifying Credit Support including, without limitation,
reimbursement and indemnity obligations thereunder, interest owed thereon
(including interest payable subsequent to the commencement of any proceeding
against or with respect to Facility Lessee under any chapter of the Bankruptcy
Code, or any provision of a state bankruptcy law, whether or not such interest
is an allowed claim enforceable against the debtor, and whether or not the
holder of such obligation would be otherwise entitled to receive dividends or
payments with respect to any such interest or any such proceeding), and fees and
expenses related thereto and (iii) all obligations of Facility


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Lessee then or thereafter existing with respect any unsubordinated indebtedness
permitted to be incurred by the terms of the Operative Documents including,
without limitation, the principal thereof, interest owed thereon (including
interest payable subsequent to the commencement of any proceeding against or
with respect to Facility Lessee under any chapter of the Bankruptcy Code, or any
provision of a state bankruptcy law, whether or not such interest is an allowed
claim enforceable against the debtor, and whether or not the holder of such
obligation would be otherwise entitled to receive dividends or payments with
respect to any such interest or any such proceeding), and fees and expenses
related thereto.

                  "Subordinated Indebtedness" means all obligations of Facility
Lessee now or hereafter existing hereunder (whether created directly or acquired
by assignment or otherwise), whether for rent, principal, interest (including
interest accruing after the filing of a petition initiating any bankruptcy
proceeding described in the definition of Rent Obligations, whether or not such
interest accrues after the filing of such petition for purposes of the
Bankruptcy Code or is an allowed claim in such proceeding), fees, expenses or
otherwise.

         2. Subordination.

                  (a) The indebtedness evidenced by this Note and the other
obligations described in the definition of "Subordinated Indebtedness" is
subordinated and subject in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all
Senior Obligations of Facility Lessee. Each holder of this Note, by its
acceptance hereof, agrees to and shall be bound by all the provisions hereof.

                  (b) No payment on account of rent, principal, premium or
interest on the Subordinated Indebtedness shall be made unless (a) full payment
of all amounts then due and payable with respect to Senior Obligations has been
made, (b) such payment would be permitted under the Senior Obligations and by
the Participation Agreements, (c) each of the applicable conditions, if any, set
forth in Section 5.4 of the Participation Agreements has been satisfied and (d)
immediately after giving effect to such payment, there shall not exist any
Significant Lease Default or Lease Event of Default. Any such payment permitted
pursuant to this paragraph is hereinafter referred to as a "Permitted Payment".
For the purposes of these provisions, no Senior Obligation shall be deemed to
have been paid in full until the obligee of such Senior Obligation shall have
indefeasibly received payment in full in cash. Any cash payment on the Senior
Obligations made by a Person which is solvent at the time of and after giving
effect to such payment shall be presumed to have been indefeasibly paid in full
in cash absent actual knowledge by the payor to the contrary.

                  (c) Upon any payment or distribution of assets of Facility
Lessee of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to
creditors upon any dissolution or winding up or total or partial liquidation or
reorganization of Facility Lessee, whether voluntary or involuntary or in
bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings, then and in any such
event all amounts (including interest, indemnities and fees) due or to become
due upon all Senior Obligations shall first be paid in full before the holders
of the Subordinated Indebtedness shall be entitled to retain any assets so paid
or distributed in respect of the Subordinated Indebtedness (for principal,
premium, interest or otherwise) and upon any such dissolution or winding up or
liquidation or reorganization, any payment or distribution of assets of Facility
Lessee of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to
which the holders of the Subordinated Indebtedness


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would be entitled, except as otherwise provided herein, shall be paid by
Facility Lessee or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee,
agent or other person making such payment or distribution, or by the holders of
the Subordinated Indebtedness if received by them, directly to the holders of
the Senior Obligations or their representatives for application to such Senior
Obligations in accordance with their terms. So long as any Senior Obligation is
outstanding, the holder of this Note shall not commence, or join with any
creditor other than any Person to whom Senior Obligations are owed, in
commencing, or directly or indirectly causing Facility Lessee to commence, or
assist Facility Lessee in commencing, any proceeding referred to in the
preceding sentence.

                  (d) The holder of this Note hereby irrevocably authorizes and
empowers (without imposing any obligation on) each Person to whom any Senior
Obligation is owed and such Person's representatives, under the circumstances
set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph, to demand, sue for, collect
and receive every such payment or distribution described therein and give
acquittance therefor, to file claims and proofs of claims in any statutory or
nonstatutory proceeding, to vote such Person's ratable share of the full amount
of the Subordinated Indebtedness evidenced by this Note in its sole discretion
in connection with any resolution, arrangement, plan of reorganization,
compromise, settlement or extension and to take all such other action (including
the right to participate in any composition of creditors and the right to vote
such Person's ratable share of the Subordinated Indebtedness, evidenced by this
Note, at creditors' meetings for the election of trustees, acceptances of plans
and otherwise), in the name of the holder of the Subordinated Indebtedness
evidenced by this Note or otherwise, as such Person's representatives may deem
necessary or desirable for the enforcement of the subordination provisions of
this Note. The holder of this Note shall execute and deliver to each Person to
whom any Senior Obligation is owed and such Person's representatives all such
further instruments confirming the foregoing authorization, and all such powers
of attorney, proofs of claim, assignments of claim and other instruments, and
shall take all such other action as may be reasonably requested by such Person
or such Person's representatives in order to enable such holder to enforce all
claims upon or in respect of such Person's ratable share of the Subordinated
Indebtedness evidenced by this Note; provided, however, that nothing herein
shall obligate the holder of this Note to pay or incur any cost, expense or
liability or to take any action that may result in the imposition of any cost,
expense or liability.

                  (e) The holder of this Note shall not, without the prior
written consent of the various Owner Lessors and, so long as the Lien of the
various Lease Indentures shall not have been discharged or terminated in
accordance with the terms thereof, the Lease Indenture Trustee, have any right
to accelerate payment of, or institute any proceedings to enforce, the
Subordinated Indebtedness (other than a Permitted Payment) so long as any Senior
Obligation is outstanding.

                  (f) If any payment (other than a Permitted Payment) or
distribution of assets of Facility Lessee of any kind or character, whether in
cash, property or securities, shall be received by the holder of the
Subordinated Indebtedness before all Senior Obligations are paid in full, such
payment or distribution will be held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be
immediately paid over to, the holders of the Senior Obligations or their
representatives for application to such Senior Obligations in accordance with
their terms.

                  (g) Nothing contained in this Note is intended to or shall
impair as between Facility Lessee, its creditors (other than the holders of
Senior Obligations) and the holders of the


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Subordinated Indebtedness, the obligations of Facility Lessee, to pay to the
holders of the Subordinated Indebtedness, as and when the same shall become due
and payable in accordance with their terms, or to affect the relative rights of
the holders of the Subordinated Indebtedness and creditors of Facility Lessee
(other than holders of Senior Obligations).

                  (h) The Persons to whom Senior Obligations are due shall not
be prejudiced in their rights to enforce the subordination contained herein in
accordance with the terms hereof by any act or failure to act on the part of
Facility Lessee.

                  (i) The holder of this Note agrees to execute and deliver such
further documents and to do such other acts and things as the Transaction
Parties may reasonably request in order fully to effect the purposes of these
subordination provisions. Each holder of this Note by its acceptance hereof
authorizes and directs the Transaction Parties on its behalf to take such
further action as may be necessary to effectuate the subordination as provided
herein and appoints the various Lease Indenture Trustees, so long as the Lien of
the Lease Indentures shall not have been terminated or discharged in accordance
with the terms thereof and thereafter the various Owner Lessors, as its
attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

                  (j) The subordination effected by these provisions, and the
rights of the Persons to whom Senior Obligations are owed, shall not be affected
by (i) any amendment of, or addition or supplement to any Operative Document, or
any other document evidencing or securing any Senior Obligation, (ii) any
exercise or nonexercise of any right, power or remedy under or in respect of any
Operative Document, or any other document evidencing or securing any Senior
Obligation or (iii) any waiver, consent, release, indulgence, extension,
renewal, modification, delay, or other action, inaction or omission, in respect
of, any Operative Document, or any other document evidencing or securing any
Senior Obligation, whether or not any holder of any Subordinated Indebtedness
shall have had notice or knowledge of any of the foregoing. No failure on the
part of any holder of a Senior Obligation to exercise, and no delay in
exercising, any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any
single or partial exercise of any right hereunder preclude any other or further
exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right. The remedies herein
provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.

                  (k) The holder of this Note and Facility Lessee each hereby
waive promptness, diligence, notice of acceptance and any other notice with
respect to any Senior Obligation and these terms of subordination and any
requirement that any Transaction Party protect, secure, perfect or insure any
Lien or any property subject thereto or exhaust any right to take any action
against Facility Lessee any other Person or any collateral.

                  (l) These terms of subordination shall continue to be
effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any payment of
any Senior Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be returned by the Person
to whom such Senior Obligation is owed upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or
reorganization of Facility Lessee or otherwise, all as though such payment had
not been made.

                  (m) The provisions of these terms of subordination constitute
a continuing agreement and shall (i) remain in full force and effect until each
of the Facility Leases has been terminated and all amounts owed thereunder have
been paid and the Lien of the Lease Indentures has been terminated or discharged
in accordance with their terms, (ii) be binding upon the holder of this Note


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and Facility Lessee and their respective successors, transferees and assignees
and (iii) inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the Transaction
Parties. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing clause (iii), the
Transaction Parties may assign or otherwise transfer all or any portion of their
rights and obligations under all or any of the Operative Documents to any other
Person (to the extent permitted by the Operative Documents), and such other
Person shall thereupon become vested with all the rights in respect thereof
granted to the Transaction Parties herein or otherwise.

         3. Interest. The principal of this Note shall bear interest at a rate
per annum equal to the lesser of (a) 9.4% per annum or (b) the highest rate
permitted under applicable law (the "Maximum Lawful Rate").

         4. Notices. All written notices hereunder shall be sent to the
respective parties at the addresses set forth above, Attention: President.

         5. Maturity and Scheduled Payments. Subject to Section 2 and subject to
the right of the holder of this Note to accelerate the maturity hereof as
hereinafter described (which is subject to Section 2), the principal of this
Note shall be due and payable on the Maturity Date and accrued and unpaid
interest on the principal amount outstanding on this Note shall be due and
payable to Lender at its address set forth above as it accrues quarterly on each
January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 throughout the term of this Note,
beginning on October 1, 2000, until all unpaid principal and accrued and unpaid
interest on this Note shall be paid in full.

         6. Prepayments. Subject to Section 2, at any time, Facility Lessee may
prepay any amounts owing hereunder in whole or in part, without penalty. If any
payment of principal or interest on this Note shall become due on a day that is
not a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business
Day and such extension of time shall in such case be included in computing
interest in connection with such payment. All payments made in accordance with
this Note are to be made in lawful money of the United States of America in same
day funds at the locations specified herein, or such other place as Lender shall
designate in writing to Facility Lessee.

         7. Events of Default. If any of the following events (each, an "Event
of Default") shall occur and be continuing, the obligation of Lender to make any
further advance hereunder shall terminate and the outstanding principal balance
of this Note, together with accrued and unpaid interest and any other sums that
Facility Lessee may owe to Lender under or in connection with this Note or
otherwise (collectively, the "Obligations") shall automatically become
immediately due and payable, without any further notice of any kind to Facility
Lessee, all of which notices are expressly waived below:

                  (a) the Facility Lessee fails to pay any principal or interest
         on this Note when due;

                  (b) the Facility Lessee (i) admits in writing its inability to
         pay its debts generally as they become due; (ii) generally fails to pay
         its debts as they become due; (iii) files a petition or answer seeking
         for itself, or consenting to or acquiescing in any reorganization,
         arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation, dissolution or
         similar relief under, any bankruptcy law or any insolvency law or other
         law for the relief or aid of debtors (including,


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         without limitation, the Bankruptcy Code or any amendment thereto); or
         (iv) makes an assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or

                  (c) there is appointed a receiver, custodian, liquidator,
         fiscal agent or trustee of Facility Lessee or of the whole or any
         substantial part of its properties or assets, or any court enters an
         order, judgment or decree approving a petition filed against Facility
         Lessee seeking reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment,
         liquidation, dissolution or similar relief under any law referred to in
         paragraph (b) above and either such order, judgment or decree so filed
         against it is not dismissed or stayed (unless and until such stay is no
         longer in effect) within 30 days of entry thereof or an order for
         relief is entered pursuant to any such law.

         8. Maximum Lawful Rate. Nothing contained in this Note or any other
document executed in connection herewith is intended to require Facility Lessee
to pay interest (including fees, charges or expenses or any other amounts which,
under applicable law, are deemed interest) for the account of Lender at a rate
exceeding the Maximum Lawful Rate.

                  All agreements between Facility Lessee and Lender, whether now
existing or hereafter arising and whether written or oral, are hereby expressly
limited so that in no contingency or event whatsoever, whether by reason of
demand being made on this Note, prepayment or otherwise, shall the amount paid,
or agreed to be paid, to the Lender for the use, forbearance, or detention of
the money to be loaned under this Note or otherwise or for the payment or
performance of any covenant or obligation contained herein or in any other
document executed in connection herewith exceed the Maximum Lawful Rate. If the
amount of any interest (including fees, charges or expenses or any other amounts
which, under applicable law, are deemed interest) contracted for, taken,
reserved, charged or received by or for the account of Lender, would exceed the
Maximum Lawful Rate, then, ipso facto, the amount of such interest payable for
the account of Lender shall be automatically reduced to such Maximum Lawful
Rate, and if, from any such circumstance, Lender shall ever receive interest or
anything which might be deemed interest under applicable law which would exceed
the Maximum Lawful Rate, such amount which would be excessive interest shall be
applied to the reduction of the principal amount owing on account of this Note
held by Lender and not to the payment of interest, or if such excessive interest
exceeds the unpaid balance of principal of such Note, such excess shall be
refunded to Facility Lessee. All sums paid or agreed to be paid to Lender for
the use, forbearance or detention of the indebtedness of Facility Lessee to
Lender shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be amortized, prorated,
allocated and spread throughout the full term of such indebtedness until payment
in full of the principal (including the period of any renewal or extension
thereof) so that the interest on account of such indebtedness shall not exceed
the Maximum Lawful Rate.


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         9. Expenses. In addition to all principal and accrued interest on this
Note, Facility Lessee agrees, subject to Section 2, to pay (i) all reasonable
costs and expenses incurred by all owners and holders of this Note in collecting
this Note through any probate, reorganization, bankruptcy or any other
proceeding; (ii) reasonable attorneys' fees when and if this Note is placed in
the hands of an attorney for collection after default; and (iii) all attorneys'
fees related to the preparation and execution of this Note and any document,
agreement or instrument executed in connection with or given as security for
this Note.

         10. Waivers. Facility Lessee and any and all endorsers, guarantors and
sureties severally waive grace, presentment for payment, notice of dishonor,
protest and notice of protest and diligence in collecting and bringing of suit
against any party hereto. Facility Lessee and any and all endorsers, guarantors
and sureties further agree: (i) to all renewals, extensions, amendments and
modifications hereof without limit, or partial payments hereon; (ii) to any
release or substitution of security herefor, in whole or in part, or any release
or discharge of any guarantor, surety, or co-maker, with or without notice,
before or after maturity; (iii) that waiver of any default shall not constitute
waiver of any prior or subsequent default; and (iv) that no remedy, right or
power conferred upon Lender or the holder of this Note is intended to be
exclusive of any other remedy, right or power given hereunder or now or
hereafter available at law, in equity or otherwise. This Note may be transferred
by Lender, and the rights and privileges of Lender under this Note shall inure
to the benefit of Lender's representatives, successors and assigns.

         11. Proceeds. The Loans are for business, commercial, or investment
purposes and none of such proceeds shall be used for personal, consumer, family
household or agricultural purposes or for purchasing or carrying margin stock.

         12. Governing Law. This Note shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of New York but without giving effect to
the conflict of laws principles thereof.

         13. Final Agreement. THIS NOTE AND THE OTHER DOCUMENTS, AGREEMENTS AND
INSTRUMENTS EXECUTED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR,
CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO
UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.


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                                     RELIANT ENERGY MID-ATLANTIC POWER
                                     HOLDINGS, LLC.


                                     By:
                                         -----------------------------------
                                         James E. Hammelman
                                         Treasurer


                                     RELIANT ENERGY NORTHEAST HOLDINGS, INC.

                                     By:
                                         -----------------------------------
                                     Name:
                                           ---------------------------------
                                     Title:
                                            --------------------------------




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