<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  referenced  financial  statements  are  unaudited  but, in the
opinion of Enterprise's management, reflect all adjustments,  consisting only of
normal recurring accruals, necessary for a fair presentation.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000788784
<NAME> PUBLIC SERVICE ENTERPRISE GROUP INCORPORATED
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
<S>                                         <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                               3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                  DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                     JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                       MAR-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                          PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                           11,134,651
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          2,423,302
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                               1,613,476
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                             1,752,669
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                               0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                      16,924,098
<COMMON>                                             3,603,300
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                    0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                  1,578,256
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                       5,181,556
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  663,000
<PREFERRED>                                             94,523
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                 4,463,916
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                           0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                    0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                         542,529
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                          607,489
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                    0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                             52,173
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                             0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                       5,318,912
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                       16,924,098
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                            1,732,552
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                   105,690  <F1>
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                           1,318,793
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                           1,423,368
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                309,184
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                    (50,998)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                         258,186
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               109,549
<NET-INCOME>                                           139,514
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             14,292
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                          139,514
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                               125,257
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                               97,009
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                 573,925
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                              .60
<EPS-DILUTED>                                              .60

<PAGE>

<FN>
<F1>State  Income  Taxes of $1,591 and Federal  Income Taxes for Other Income of
$1,115 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.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>