<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from SEC form  10-Q
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.  The
financial statements are unaudited but, in the opinion of PSE&G's management,
reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring accruals.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000081033
<NAME> PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC AND GAS COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                   11,147,082
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    447,335
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,750,480
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     1,712,652
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              15,057,549
<COMMON>                                     2,563,003
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      594,395
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          1,418,653
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               4,576,051
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          360,000
<PREFERRED>                                    324,994
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         4,523,614
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 736,281
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    2,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     52,934
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               4,481,675
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               15,057,549
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,755,249
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            95,707<F1>
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,375,014
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,470,147
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        285,102
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,273
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 286,375
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       102,301
<NET-INCOME>                                   183,650
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      7,526
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  176,124
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       130,200
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       91,512
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         683,801
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<FN>

<F1>State Income Taxes of $504 and Federal Income Taxes for Other Income  of $574
were incorporated into this line item for FDS purposes.  In the referenced
financial statements, State Income Taxes are included in Taxes - Other and Federal
Income Taxes for Other Income are included in Other Income - Miscellaneous.
</FN>