EXHIBIT 24

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

      The undersigned  hereby constitutes and appoints Robert E. Busch and James
T. Foran, and each of them (with full power to act without the other),  the true
and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent for and on behalf of the undersigned,  and
in the undersigned's  name, place and stead, in the undersigned's  capacity as a
Director or Officer or both, as the case may be, of Public Service  Electric and
Gas Company (the "Registrant") to sign the Registration Statement on Form S-3 to
be filed by the Registrant  with the Securities and Exchange  Commission for the
registration  under  the  Securities  Act of  1933 of  $2,500,000,000  aggregate
principal amount of Registrant's Cumulative Preferred Stock, First and Refunding
Mortgage Bonds,  Secured Medium-Term Notes,  Senior Debt Securities,  Guarantees
with Respect to Trust Preferred Securities and Deferrable Interest  Subordinated
Debentures and any and all amendments of such Registration Statement.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  each of the undersigned has executed this instrument,
this 20th day of April, 2004.

       /s/ Robert E. Busch                             /s/ Albert R. Gamper, Jr.
      ----------------------                          --------------------------
      Robert E. Busch                                 Albert R. Gamper, Jr.

       /s/ Caroline Dorsa                              /s/ Conrad K. Harper
      ----------------------                          ----------------------
      Caroline Dorsa                                  Conrad K. Harper

       /s/ E. James Ferland                            /s/ Patricia A. Rado
      ---------------------                           ----------------------
      E. James Ferland                                Patricia A. Rado