STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]

Summary of the SJI nonvested restricted stock awards pertaining to SJG outstanding at and the assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the awards

The following table summarizes the SJI nonvested restricted stock awards pertaining to SJG outstanding at September 30, 2012, and the assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the awards:

Grant Date	Shares Outstanding	Fair Value Per Share		Expected Volatility		Risk-Free Interest Rate
Jan. 2010 - TSR	9,920	$	39.020	29.0	%	1.65	%
Jan. 2011 - TSR	7,372	$	50.940	27.5	%	1.01	%
Jan. 2012 - TSR	3,868	$	51.230	22.5	%	0.43	%
Jan. 2012 - EPS	3,868	$	56.930	n/a		n/a

Summary of the information regarding restricted stock award activity excluding accrued dividend equivalents

The following table summarizes information regarding restricted stock award activity during the nine months ended September 30, 2012, excluding accrued dividend equivalents:

	Shares		Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Nonvested Shares Outstanding, January 1, 2012	17,568		$	44.139
Granted	7,913		$	54.080
Canceled / Forfeited	(453	)	$	49.430
Nonvested Shares Outstanding, September 30, 2012	25,028		$	47.186