Exhibit 24

                            SOUTH JERSEY GAS COMPANY
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     Each of the undersigned, in his capacity as an officer or director, or
both, as the case may be, of South Jersey Gas Company, a New Jersey corporation,
does hereby appoint Charles Biscieglia, David A. Kindlick and George L. Baulig,
and each of them, severally, as his or her true and lawful attorneys or attorney
to execute in his or her name, place and stead, in his or her capacity as a
director or officer, or both, as the case may be, of said corporation, its
Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001 on Form 10-K, pursuant
to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and any and all amendments
thereto and instruments necessary or incidental in connection therewith, and to
file the same with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and does hereby
provide that each of said attorneys shall have power to act hereunder with or
without the other said attorneys, and shall have full power of substitution and
resubstitution and that each of said attorneys shall have full power and
authority to do and perform in the name and on behalf of the undersigned in any
and all capacities every act whatsoever required to be done in the premises, as
fully and to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person,
hereby ratifying and approving the acts of said attorneys and each of them.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this instrument, this
25th day of March 2002.



               /s/ Charles Biscieglia
               -------------------------------------------------------------
               Charles Biscieglia, President and CEO


               /s/ Shirli M. Billings
               -------------------------------------------------------------
               Shirli M. Billings, Director


               /s/ Sheila Hartnett-Devlin
               -------------------------------------------------------------
               Sheila Hartnett-Devlin, Director


               /s/ Clarence D. McCormick
               -------------------------------------------------------------
               Clarence D. McCormick, Director


               /s/ Frederick R. Raring
               -------------------------------------------------------------
               Frederick R. Raring, Director


               /s/ William J. Hughes
               -------------------------------------------------------------
               William J. Hughes, Director


               /s/ George L. Baulig
               -------------------------------------------------------------
               George L. Baulig, Senior Vice President & Corporate Secretary


               /s/ David A. Kindlick
               -------------------------------------------------------------
               David A. Kindlick, Executive Vice President & Chief
               Financial Officer