EXHIBIT 12 (A)
                     PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC AND GAS COMPANY

               COMPUTATION OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                 --------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    1996          1997           1998          1999           2000
                                                 -----------   ------------   -----------   ------------    ---------
<S>                                                    <C>            <C>           <C>            <C>          <C>
Earnings as Defined in Regulation S-K (A):

Net Income (B)                                         $535           $528          $602           $653         $587
Income Taxes (C)                                        268            256           404            510          407
Fixed Charges                                           438            450           446            450          463
                                                 -----------   ------------   -----------   ------------    ---------
Earnings                                              $1,241         $1,234        $1,452         $1,613       $1,457
                                                 ===========   ============   ===========   ============    =========

Fixed Charges as Defined in Regulation
S-K(D):

Total Interest Expense                                 $399           $395          $390           $394         $407
Interest Factor in Rentals                               11             11            11             10           10
Subsidiaries' Preferred Securities Dividend
    Requirements                                         28             44            45             46           46
                                                 -----------   ------------   -----------   ------------    ---------
Total Fixed Charges                                    $438           $450          $446           $450         $463
                                                 ===========   ============   ===========   ============    =========

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges                     2.83           2.74          3.27           3.58         3.15
                                                 ===========   ============   ===========   ============    =========
</TABLE>

Notes:

(A) The term "earnings" shall be defined as pre-tax income from continuing
    operations. Add to pre-tax income the amount of fixed charges adjusted to
    exclude (a) the amount of any interest capitalized during the period and (b)
    the actual amount of any preferred stock dividend requirements of
    majority-owned subsidiaries which were included in such fixed charges amount
    but not deducted in the determination of pre-tax income.

(B) Excludes extraordinary item recorded in 1999.

(C) Includes State income taxes and Federal income taxes for other income and
    excludes taxes applicable to extraordinary item recorded in 1999.

(D) Fixed Charges represent (a) interest, whether expensed or capitalized, (b)
    amortization of debt discount, premium and expense, (c) an estimate of
    interest implicit in rentals, and (d) Preferred Securities Dividend
    Requirements of subsidiaries.



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