EXHIBIT 99-1

                  CERTIFICATION OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                             PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
                        OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

         The undersigned, Laurence M. Downes hereby certifies as follows:

         (a)      I am the Chief Executive Officer of New Jersey Resources
                  Corporation (the "Company");

         (b)      To the best of my knowledge, the Company's Quarterly Report on
                  Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2003 (the "Report")
                  complies in all material respects with the requirements of
                  Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
                  amended; and

         (c)      To the best of my knowledge, based upon a review of the
                  Report, the information contained in the Report fairly
                  presents, in all material respects, the financial condition
                  and results of operations of the Company.

                                        NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION

Date: May 12, 2003                      By: /s/Laurence M. Downes
                                            ---------------------
                                            Laurence M. Downes
                                            Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

         This certificate accompanies this Report pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and shall not be deemed filed by the Company for
purposes of Section 18 or any other provision of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended.

         A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has
been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished
to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.