<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM NEW JERSEY
RESOURCES CORPORATION'S DECEMBER 31, 1998 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>                                     1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                 PRO-FORMA
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      662,987
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     21,829
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         216,690
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       107,298
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,008,804
<COMMON>                                        45,992
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      204,113
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             51,124
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 301,229
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                        640
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           302,145
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  93,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    1,957
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     31,396
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 278,437
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,008,804
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      244,590
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             9,266
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     215,353
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     224,619
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         19,971
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 552
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  20,523
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         5,280
<NET-INCOME>                                    15,243
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         91
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   15,152
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         7,304
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       12,753
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                           2,931
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .85
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .84