<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>

<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule  contains summary  financial  information  extracted from SEC form
10-Q and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
The  financial   statements  are  unaudited  but,  in  the  opinion  of  PSE&G's
management,  reflect  all  adjustments,  consisting  only  of  normal  recurring
accruals, necessary for a fair presentation.

</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000081033
<NAME> PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC AND GAS COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
<S>                                         <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                               9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                  DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                                     JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                       SEP-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                          PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                           11,167,943
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                            519,612
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                               1,362,034
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                             1,669,020
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                               0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                      14,718,609
<COMMON>                                             2,563,003
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                              594,395
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                  1,387,609
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                       4,545,007
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  568,000
<PREFERRED>                                            113,392
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                 4,293,202
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                           0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                    0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                         643,691
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                          250,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                    0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                             52,564
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                             0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                       4,252,753
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                       14,718,609
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                            4,310,333
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                   206,007  <F1>
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                           3,383,404
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                           3,588,171
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                722,162
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                         553
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                         722,715
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               320,438  <F2>
<NET-INCOME>                                           414,156
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             19,074
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                          413,575
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                               384,600
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                              259,505
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                 828,777
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                0
<PAGE>
<FN>
<F1>State  Income  Taxes of $1,227 and Federal  Income Taxes for Other Income of
$1,240 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.
<F2>Total interest expense includes Preferred Securities Dividend Requirements.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>