<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> 1000
       
<S>                                         <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                               6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                  DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                     JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                       JUN-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                          PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                           11,100,113
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          2,844,882
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                               1,601,224
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                             1,701,261
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                               0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                      17,247,480
<COMMON>                                             3,603,300
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                    0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                  1,544,421
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                       5,147,721
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  588,000
<PREFERRED>                                             94,523
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                 4,713,494
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                           0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                    0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                         990,991
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                          532,359
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                    0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                             51,969
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                             0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                       5,128,423
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                       17,247,480
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                            3,055,456
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                   129,863  <F1>
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                           2,370,874
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                           2,526,922
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                528,534
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                    (49,096)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                         479,438
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               226,377
<NET-INCOME>                                           231,013
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             28,722
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                          231,013
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                               250,514
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                              192,672
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                 298,999
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                              .99
<EPS-DILUTED>                                              .99

<PAGE>
<FN>
<F1>State  Income  Taxes of $3,469 and Federal  Income Taxes for Other Income of
$(26,185)  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>