<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATON EXTRACTED FROM NEW JERSEY
RESOURCES CORPORATION'S DECEMBER 31, 1999 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> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      690,859
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     22,634
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         192,914
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       104,333
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,010,740
<COMMON>                                        46,223
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      197,817
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             66,386
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 310,426
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                        520
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           281,945
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  97,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                      318
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     31,078
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 289,453
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,010,740
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      263,438
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             9,915
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     232,613
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     232,613
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         30,825
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 445
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  31,270
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         5,176
<NET-INCOME>                                    16,179
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          8
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   16,171
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         7,465
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       11,826
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                        (16,190)
<EPS-BASIC>                                        .91
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .90