<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM NEW JERSEY
RESOURCES CORPORATION'S DECEMBER 31, 1997 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>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                 PRO-FORMA
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      641,337
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     20,900
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         184,801
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        92,663
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 939,701
<COMMON>                                        45,387
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      204,469
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             36,471
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 286,327
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           20,000
<PREFERRED>                                        760
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           252,845
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                        6,840
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  70,500
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                      138
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     31,562
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 270,729
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  939,701
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      220,395
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             5,928
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     195,705
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     201,633
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         18,762
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,318
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  20,080
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         5,467
<NET-INCOME>                                    14,613
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        397
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   14,216
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         7,161
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       14,897
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          16,277
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .80
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .79