SEC FORM 3

SEC Form 3

FORM 3

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

SMITH GEORGE C

(Last)

(First)

(Middle)

NEW JERSEY RESOURCES

1415 WYCKOFF ROAD

(Street)

WALL

07719

(City)

(State)

(Zip)

2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
02/10/2004

3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORP [ NJR ]

4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

	Director	10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)	Other (specify below)
	V.P., Internal Auditing

5. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 4)	2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned (Instr. 4)	3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Common Stock	1,745.985⁽¹⁾	D
Common Stock	17.484⁽²⁾	I	Cust. for Rel.

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4)	2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 4)		4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Option (Right-to-buy)	12/10/1997⁽³⁾	12/10/2006	Common Stock	312	$19.6667	D
Option (Right-to-buy)	12/16/1998⁽³⁾	12/16/2007	Common Stock	360	$23.625	D
Option (Right-to-buy)	12/17/1999⁽³⁾	12/17/2008	Common Stock	1,140	$25.3333	D
Option (Right-to-buy)	12/09/2000⁽³⁾	12/09/2009	Common Stock	1,091	$26.6667	D
Option (Right-to-buy)	12/14/2001⁽³⁾	12/14/2010	Common Stock	1,248	$27.1667	D
Option (Right-to-buy)	12/13/2002⁽³⁾	12/13/2011	Common Stock	1,134	$30.0733	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Total includes the following: 1) shares purchased with reinvested dividends in DRP; 2) shares held in company ESOP and 401-K Plan that are accounted for on a unitized basis and reflects calculated value.

2. Total includes reinvested dividends through DRP.

3. Options are exercisable 25% each year beginning on the first anniversary date, which is listed here.

	Oleta J. Harden - Attorney-In-Fact (POA attached)	02/11/2004
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
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