<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM NEW JERSEY
RESOURCES CORPORATION'S MARCH 31, 1999 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>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                 PRO-FORMA
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      668,682
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     21,874
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         198,965
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        81,114
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 970,635
<COMMON>                                        46,143
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      202,037
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             73,887
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 322,067
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                        640
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           288,045
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  54,100
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    1,957
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     31,319
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 272,507
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  970,635
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      571,905
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            27,555
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     489,337
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     516,892
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         55,013
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 898
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  55,911
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        10,321
<NET-INCOME>                                    45,590
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        101
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   45,489
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        14,811
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       12,965
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          82,118
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.55
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.53