<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE>             UT
<LEGEND>

This schedule  contains summary financial  information  extracted from Form 10-K
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000081033
<NAME> PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC AND GAS COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
<S>                                    <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                          YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                  DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                       DEC-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                       PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                          11,179,153
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                        534,847
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                             1,447,430
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                           1,637,924
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                     0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                     14,799,354
<COMMON>                                                           2,563,003
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                          594,395
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                1,365,003
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                     4,522,401
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                              568,000
<PREFERRED>                                                        113,392
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                               4,107,331
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                         0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                  0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                     638,051
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                      423,500
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                 0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                        52,371
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                          0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                     4,374,308
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                      14,799,354
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                           5,825,356
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                               267,619<F1>
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                         4,613,596
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                         4,878,875
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                            946,481
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                 (1,942)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                     944,539
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                           398,581
<NET-INCOME>                                                       535,071
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                        23,161
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                      530,087
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                           524,300
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                          343,351
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                             1,203,446
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                             0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                             0
<FN>
<F1>State  Income  Taxes of $(97) and Federal  Income  Taxes for Other Income of
$2,340 were incorporated into this line item for FDS purposes. In the referenced
financial  statements,  State  Income  Taxes are  included  in Taxes  -Other and
Federal   Income  Taxes  for  Other  Income  are  included  in  Other  Income  -
Miscellaneous.
</FN>
        
 
</TABLE>