<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM NEW JERSEY
RESOURCES COPRORATION'S SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 FORM 10-K, INCLUDING THE CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF INCOME, CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS AND CONSOLDIATED
BALANCE SHEETS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFEENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.

<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      706,637
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     23,947
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         202,862
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       153,596
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,087,042
<COMMON>                                        46,249
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      204,956
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             76,923
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 328,128
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                        400
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           260,945
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  43,300
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                      495
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     30,853
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 423,191
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,087,042
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,164,549
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            29,147
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      34,842
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,070,637
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         93,912
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,948
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  95,860
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        18,750
<NET-INCOME>                                    47,963
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         27
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   47,936
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        30,269
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       11,714
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         126,441
<EPS-BASIC>                                       2.71
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.69