Exhibit 24


                                               Page 1 of 2

                SOUTH JERSEY INDUSTRIES, INC.

                      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
Industries, Inc., a New Jersey corporation, does hereby
appoint William F. Ryan, Gerald S. Levitt, and G.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, 1996 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 1997.



                      /s/ William F. Ryan
                      William F. Ryan, President and Director


                      /s/ Frank L. Bradley, Jr.
                      Frank L. Bradley, Jr., Director


                      /s/ Anthony G. Dickson
                      Anthony G. Dickson, Director


                      /s/ Richard L. Dunham
                      Richard L. Dunham, Director


Re: Power of Attorney -- 10-K                   Page 2 of 2



                      /s/ Thomas L. Glenn, Jr.
                      Thomas L. Glenn, Jr., Director


                      /s/ Vincent E. Hoyer
                      Vincent E. Hoyer, Director


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


                      /s/ Peter M. Mitchell
                      Peter M. Mitchell, Director


                      /s/ Jackson Neall
                      Jackson Neall, Director


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


                      /s/ Shirli M. Vioni
                      Shirli M. Vioni, Director


                      /s/ Gerald S. Levitt
                      Gerald S. Levitt, Vice President


                      /s/ George L. Baulig
                      George L. Baulig, Secretary and
                      Treasurer


                      /s/ William J. Smethurst, Jr.
                      William J. Smethurst, Jr., Assistant
                       Secretary and Assistant Treasurer