<TABLE>

                                                                   Exhibit 12(a)


                             SOUTH JERSEY GAS COMPANY
                Calculation of Ratio of Earnings To Fixed Charges
                                  (IN THOUSANDS)


<CAPTION>
                                       Fiscal Year Ended December 31,
                              --------------------------------------------------
                                 1998      1997      1996      1995      1994
                              --------------------------------------------------
<S>                             <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>
Net Income*                     $17,911   $22,000   $19,389   $15,991   $11,200

Income Taxes, Net                12,256    11,559    10,627     9,278     5,881

Fixed Charges**                  19,234    18,103    19,574    19,545    14,648

Capitalized Interest               (167)     (107)     (114)      (98)     (120)
                              --------------------------------------------------

Total Available for Coverage    $49,234   $51,555   $49,476   $44,716   $31,609
                              ==================================================


Total Available
------------------------------     2.6x      2.9x      2.5x      2.3x      2.2x
Fixed Charges



<FN>

 *  Net Income before Dividends on Preferred Securities and a
    Cumulative Effect of a Change in Accounting Principle.

**  Fixed charges consist of interest charges (rentals are
    not material).

</FN>
</TABLE>

<TABLE>

                                                                     Exhibit 12(b)


                               SOUTH JERSEY GAS COMPANY
                   Calculation of Ratio of Earnings To Fixed Charges
                     Plus Preferred Security Dividend Requirements
                                    (IN THOUSANDS)


<CAPTION>
                                              Fiscal Year Ended December 31,
                                   --------------------------------------------------
                                      1998      1997      1996      1995      1994
                                   --------------------------------------------------
<S>                                  <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>
Net Income                           $14,822   $19,898   $19,215   $15,813   $11,017

Income Taxes, Net                     12,256    11,559    10,627     9,278     5,881

Fixed Charges*                        19,234    18,103    19,574    19,545    14,648
Preferred Securities - Dividends       3,089     2,102       174       178       183
                                   --------------------------------------------------
        Sub-Total                     22,323    20,205    19,748    19,723    14,831
                                   --------------------------------------------------
Capitalized Interest                    (167)     (107)     (114)      (98)     (120)
                                   --------------------------------------------------
Total Available for Coverage         $49,234   $51,555   $49,476   $44,716   $31,609
                                   ==================================================

Total Available
-----------------------------------     2.2x      2.6x      2.5x      2.3x      2.1x
Fixed Charges



<FN>

*  Fixed charges consist of interest charges (rentals are not material).

</FN>
</TABLE>