<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.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000788784
<NAME> PUBLIC SERVICE ENTERPRISE GROUP INCORPORATED
<MULTIPLIER>1,000,000
       
<S>                                                 <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                       9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                            DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                               JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                 SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                    PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                        11,046
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                       2,979
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                            1,591
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                          1,690
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                        0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                   17,306
<COMMON>                                                          3,603
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                             0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                               1,596
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                    5,199
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                               588
<PREFERRED>                                                          95
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                              4,623
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                    0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                             0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                    1,060
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                       471
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                             0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                          52
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                      0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                    5,218
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                    17,306
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                         4,623
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                226    <F1>
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                        3,543
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                        3,794
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                             829
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                  (47)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                      782
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                            375
<NET-INCOME>                                                        407
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                          42
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                       407
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                            376
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                           290
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                              778
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                      1.75
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                      1.75

<PAGE>
<FN>
<F1>State  Income Taxes of $6 and Federal Income Taxes for Other Income of $(25)
were  incorporated  into  this  line item for FDS  purposes.  In the  referenced
financial statements, State Income Taxes are included in Taxes - Other and Total
Other  Income and  Deductions  are net of the above  applicable  federal  income
taxes.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>