<TABLE>
                                                                            Exhibit 12(a)


                                 SOUTH JERSEY GAS COMPANY
                    Calculation of Ratio of Earnings To Fixed Charges
                                      (In Thousands)


<CAPTION>
                                             Fiscal Year Ended December 31,
                                -------------------------------------------------------
                                   1999       1998       1997       1996       1995
                                -------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
Net Income*                        $23,466    $17,910    $22,000    $19,389    $15,991

Income Taxes, Net                   15,455     12,256     11,559     10,627      9,278

Fixed Charges**                     20,949     19,235     18,103     19,574     19,545

Capitalized Interest                  (390)      (167)      (107)      (114)       (98)
                                -------------------------------------------------------

Total Available for Coverage       $59,480    $49,234    $51,555    $49,476    $44,716
                                =======================================================


Total Available                       2.8x       2.6x       2.9x       2.5x       2.3x
---------------------
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,
                                     -------------------------------------------------------
                                        1999       1998       1997       1996       1995
                                     -------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                  <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
Net Income                              $20,382    $14,822    $19,898    $19,215    $15,813

Income Taxes, Net                        15,455     12,256     11,559     10,627      9,278

Fixed Charges*                           20,949     19,235     18,103     19,574     19,545
Preferred Securities - Dividends          3,084      3,088      2,102        174        178
                                     -------------------------------------------------------
        Sub-Total                        24,033     22,323     20,205     19,748     19,723
                                     -------------------------------------------------------
Capitalized Interest                       (390)      (167)      (107)      (114)       (98)
                                     -------------------------------------------------------
Total Available for Coverage            $59,480    $49,234    $51,555    $49,476    $44,716
                                     =======================================================


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



<FN>

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

</FN>
</TABLE>