<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000934666 <NAME> NORTH JERSEY ENERGY ASSOCIATES <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997 <CASH> 45,211 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 47,301 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 3,468 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 99,587 <PP&E> 503,696 <DEPRECIATION> 142,009 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 551,364 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 50,712 <BONDS> 479,505 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> (204,449) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 551,364 <SALES> 154,428 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 154,428 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 102,741<F1> <OTHER-EXPENSES> 5,108 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 24,093 <INCOME-PRETAX> 15,666 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 15,666 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 15,666 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0 <FN> <F1>INCLUDES DEPRECIATION OF $12,503 </FN>