<ARTICLE>     UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM NEW JERSEY
RESOURCES CORPORATION'S JUNE 30, 1996 FORM 10-Q, INCLUDING THE CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF INCOME, CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS AND CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEETS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-START>                  APR-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                    JUN-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                    PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      604,456
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     37,037
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         148,384
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        57,829
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 847,706
<COMMON>                                        45,281
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      209,709
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             31,361
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 286,351
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           20,000
<PREFERRED>                                        880
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           303,513
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                        6,200
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                   7,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    1,364
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     31,850
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 190,548
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  847,706
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      488,112
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            20,553
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     409,279
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     429,832
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         58,280
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 311
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  58,591
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        15,799
<NET-INCOME>                                    42,792
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,200
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   41,592
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        20,602
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       12,063
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          55,993
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.31
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.31