<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM NEW JERSEY
RESOURCES CORPORATION'S MARCH 31, 2000 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>

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      695,390
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     22,702
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         175,915
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       106,459
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,000,466
<COMMON>                                        46,225
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      194,281
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             90,620
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 331,126
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                        520
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           254,145
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  25,300
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   20,479
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     30,835
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 338,061
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,000,466
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      632,426
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            28,828
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      24,841
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     546,116
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         86,310
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 564
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  86,874
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        10,019
<NET-INCOME>                                    48,027
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         15
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   48,012
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        15,114
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       11,509
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          90,008
<EPS-BASIC>                                       2.75
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.74