<TABLE> <S> <C>


<PAGE>
<ARTICLE>             UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary  information  extracted from SEC Form 10-K and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000788784
<NAME> PUBLIC SERVICE ENTERPRISE GROUP INCORPORATED
<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>                                       2,351,984
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                            1,744,427
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                          1,639,767
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                            0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                   16,915,331
<COMMON>                                                          3,626,792
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                                 0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                               1,586,256
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                    5,213,048
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                               568,000
<PREFERRED>                                                         113,392
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                              4,580,231
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                        0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                 0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                      638,051
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                       547,981
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                 0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                          52,371
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                          0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                    5,202,257
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                    16,915,331
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                         6,041,249
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                             97,277   <F1>
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                        4,689,353
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                        4,984,290
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                           1,056,959
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                   (1,920)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                    1,055,039
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                            453,111
<NET-INCOME>                                                        611,596
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                          50,902
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                       611,596
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                            522,565
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                           386,289
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                            1,434,460
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                         $2.52
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                         $2.52
<FN>
<F1>State  Income  Taxes of $4,684 and Federal  Income Taxes for Other Income of
$2,340 were  incorporated  into this line 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>