Document:

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EXHIBIT 10.5

                SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN AGREEMENT

            THIS AGREEMENT is entered into as of the ____ day of
________________ by and between NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION, a corporation
of New Jersey (hereinafter called the "Company"), and ______________
(hereinafter called the "Employee").

                                   WITNESSETH

            WHEREAS, the Employee is employed by the Company and is presently
(title) ;

            WHEREAS, the Company desires to continue to employ the Employee as a
key employee;

            WHEREAS, the Company desires to enter into this Agreement with the
Employee as a part of his/her employment agreement or arrangement as an
incentive for his/her continued loyal service to the Company.

            NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the
covenants and agreements herein set forth, and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto do
covenant and agree as follows:

      1.    It is agreed that the Employee shall retire from active employment
            with the Company upon the last day of the month in which his/her
            65th birthday occurs; provided however, that with the consent of the
            Board of Directors of the Company, the Employee may remain in active
            employment after his/her 65th birthday. In either event, the word
            "retirement" as used in this Agreement shall refer to the actual
            retirement of the Employee from active employment at or after
            his/her 65th birthday, and that no benefits shall be paid to the
            Employee under this Agreement until such actual retirement from
            active employment with the Company, except as otherwise provided
            herein.

      2.    The Company agrees that following the Employee's retirement at or
            after attainment of age 65, it will pay to the Employee the sum of
            ____________ ($________) (hereinafter referred to as the "Deferred
            Compensation Benefit"), payable in sixty (60) monthly installments.
            The installments shall be paid upon the first day of each calendar
            month commencing with the month next following the date of such
            retirement, and shall continue until the aggregate of such payments
            equal the Deferred Compensation Benefit, at which time such monthly
            installments shall terminate. In the event that the Deferred
            Compensation Benefit has not been fully paid to the Employee during
            his/her lifetime following his/her retirement, the balance of such
            monthly installments shall be paid to his/her designated beneficiary
            as provided in Paragraph 11 hereof. In no event shall any
            distribution occur earlier than permitted under Section 409A of the
            Internal Revenue Code.

      3.    In the event that the Employee dies while in active employment with
            the Company but prior to retirement, and such death is due to a
            cause other than suicide, the Company shall pay a Death Benefit in
            the amount of ______________ ($___________) to his/her designated
            beneficiary, in sixty (60) equal monthly installments. The
            installments shall be paid on the first day of each calendar month
            commencing with the month following the date of death,

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            and shall continue until such Death Benefit has been fully paid. If
            the Employee commits suicide, the Company shall not be obligated to
            pay any portion of the Death Benefit or any increases in such
            benefit granted herein or by any amendment to this Agreement made
            within two (2) years next preceding the date of death, but such
            portion of the Death Benefit as was granted or accrued under this or
            any similar prior agreement for deferred compensation with the
            Company more than two (2) years before the death by suicide shall be
            paid in the manner provided above.

      4.    No deferred compensation or other benefits shall be payable
            hereunder to the Employee, or to any other person in the event the
            employment relationship between the Employee and the Company is
            terminated within six (6) years from the date hereof for any reason
            other than by death, or by retirement of the Employee at or after
            attainment of age 65. In the event that the employment relationship
            between the Employee and the Company continues for a period of at
            least six (6) years from the date hereof, and is thereafter
            terminated for any reason other than by death, prior to his/her
            retirement at or after attainment of age 65, the Company will pay to
            the Employee the Cumulative Termination Benefit for the year in
            which such termination occurs, as shown in Schedule A which is
            attached hereto and made a part hereof (hereinafter referred to as
            the "Applicable Cumulative Termination Benefit"), in sixty (60)
            equal monthly installments payable on the first day of each calendar
            month, commencing with the month following the date on which the
            Employee shall attain the age of 65.

      5.    If the Employee dies after termination of employment as provided in
            Paragraph 4 above, and before any or all of the applicable
            Cumulative Termination Benefit has been paid to him, then such
            Cumulative Termination Benefit, or the balance of installments
            thereof as the case may be, shall be paid to his/her designated
            beneficiary in sixty (60) equal monthly installments (less the
            number of installments previously paid, if any), payable on the
            first day of each calendar month commencing with the month following
            the date of death, until the applicable Cumulative Termination
            Benefit shall have been paid in full.

      6.    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the original
            Agreement or in any amendment thereto, it is hereby agreed that upon
            the occurrence of a Change In Control (as defined herein), the
            Employee shall immediately become fully vested in the Deferred
            Compensation Benefit set forth in Paragraph 2 of this Agreement, or
            in the then most recent amendment thereto (whichever amount is
            greater), and that in the event the Employee's employment is
            thereafter terminated for any reason or if the Employee resigns for
            any reason, said Deferred Compensation Benefit shall be paid to the
            Employee in sixty (60) equal monthly installments payable on the
            first day of each calendar month commencing with the month following
            the date of termination, until the applicable Cumulative Termination
            Benefit shall have been paid in full. In the event that the Employee
            dies after termination of employment pursuant to this Paragraph 6,
            and before any or all of the Deferred Compensation Benefit has been
            paid to him, then such Deferred Compensation Benefit, or the balance
            of installments thereof, as the case may be, shall be paid to
            his/her designated beneficiary in sixty (60) equal monthly
            installments (less the number of installments previously paid, if
            any), payable on the first day of each calendar month commencing
            with the month following the date of death, until the applicable
            Cumulative Termination Benefit shall have been paid in full.

      7.    For the purposes of this Agreement, a "Change In Control" shall be
            deemed to have occurred if:

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            (i)   Any Person (as defined below) has acquired, "beneficial
                  ownership" (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3, as promulgated
                  under Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
                  amended (the "Exchange Act")) of securities of the Company
                  representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined
                  Voting Power (as defined below) of the Company's securities;
                  or

            (ii)  Within any 24-month period, the persons who were directors of
                  the Company immediately before the beginning of such period
                  (the "Incumbent Directors") shall cease (for any reason other
                  than death) to constitute at least a majority of the Board or
                  the board of directors of any successor to the Company,
                  provided that any director who was not a director at the
                  beginning of such period shall be deemed to be an Incumbent
                  Director if such director (A) was elected to the Board by, or
                  on the recommendation of or with the approval of, at least
                  two-thirds of the directors who then qualified as Incumbent
                  Directors either actually or by prior operation of this
                  Section 2(a)(ii) and (B) was not designated by a person who
                  has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a
                  Corporate Event, as described in Section 2(a)(iii); or

            (iii) The stockholders of the Company approve a merger,
                  consolidation, share exchange, division, sale or other
                  disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the
                  Company (a "Corporate Event"), as a result of which the
                  shareholders of the Company immediately prior to such
                  Corporate Event shall not hold, directly or indirectly,
                  immediately following such Corporate Event a majority of the
                  Voting Power of (x) in the case of a merger or consolidation,
                  the surviving or resulting corporation, (y) in the case of a
                  share exchange, the acquiring corporation or (z) in the case
                  of a division or a sale or other disposition of assets, each
                  surviving, resulting or acquiring corporation which,
                  immediately following the relevant Corporate Event, holds more
                  than 10% of the consolidated assets of the Company immediately
                  prior to such Event.

      8.    Notwithstanding anything else herein to the contrary, payments of
            benefits hereunder caused by the termination of employment
            (including death) of the Employee may be delayed for a period of no
            more than six (6) months following such termination of employment,
            if the Employee is determined to meet the definition of a "Specified
            Employee," but only if such delay in payment is required in order to
            comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue
            Code. "Specified Employee" means a key employee, as defined in
            Section 416 (i) of the Internal Revenue Code, of the Company and its
            affiliates.

      9.    Any dispute or controversy arising out of or in connection with the
            interpretation or application of the provisions of paragraphs 6 or 7
            of this Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration in
            accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association
            then in effect and the applicable law of the State of New Jersey
            pertaining to the arbitration of disputes, and judgment may be
            entered on the arbitrator's award in any court having jurisdiction.
            All costs and expenses of such arbitration, including the reasonable
            counsel fees, costs and expenses incurred by the Employee in either
            prosecuting or defending the arbitration proceeding, shall be borne
            and paid by the Company.

      10.   It is agreed that neither the Employee nor any other person shall
            have any right to commute, bequeath, pledge, sell, assign, transfer,
            levy upon or otherwise encumber the rights to receive any payments
            hereunder, which payments and the rights thereto are expressly
            declared to be

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            non-transferable and non-assignable, and in the event of any
            attempted disposition of such payments or rights in violation hereof
            the Company shall have no further liability hereunder.

      11.   The Employee shall designate in writing, to be annexed hereto, one
            or more beneficiaries to whom the benefits in the event of his/her
            death shall be paid pursuant to paragraphs 2, 3, 5 or 6 hereof. In
            the absence of such designation, or in the event no designated
            beneficiary survives the Employee, then any such benefits shall be
            payable in like manner to the Employee's executor or administrator.
            In the event of the death of all designated beneficiaries after
            commencement but prior to completion of payment of the installments
            of benefits, the balance thereof shall be payable in like manner to
            the executor or administrator of the last surviving beneficiary.

      12.   This Agreement shall be binding upon the parties hereto, and upon
            the heirs, executors, administrators, or other personal
            representatives and designated beneficiaries of the Employee, and
            upon the successors and assigns of the Company.

      13.   During the lifetime of the Employee, this Agreement may be amended
            or terminated at any time or times, in whole or in part, by the
            mutual written agreement of the Employee and the Company.

      14.   This Agreement shall be executed in duplicate, each copy of which
            when executed and delivered shall be an original, but both copies
            shall, together, constitute one and the same instrument.

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused these presents to
be duly executed in their respective name and their respective seals to be
hereunto affixed and attested, the day and year first above written.

NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION

________________________________        Date: ______________________
LAURENCE M. DOWNES
Chairman & CEO

________________________________        Date: ______________________
Witness

________________________________        Date: ______________________
EMPLOYEE

________________________________        Date: ______________________
Witness

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                           DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY

      I hereby designate the following person (or persons) as my beneficiary (or
beneficiaries) to whom the benefits provided hereunder in the event of my death
shall be paid pursuant to this Agreement:

   Name:                         ___________________________________

   Address:                      ___________________________________
                                 ___________________________________

   Relationship to Employee:     ___________________________________

DATED:______________________________

SIGNED:_____________________________
                (employee)

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                                (EMPLOYEE'S NAME)

                             EFFECTIVE _____________

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                   SCHEDULE "A"
                              CUMULATIVE TERMINATION
YEAR         AGE                     BENEFIT
<S>          <C>              <C>
1998                                    $
1999                                    $
2000                                    $
2001                                    $
2002                                    $
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
</TABLE>

                                       6<PAGE>

EXHIBIT 10.6

                        EMPLOYMENT CONTINUATION AGREEMENT

      THIS AGREEMENT between New Jersey Resources Corporation, a New Jersey
corporation (the "Company"), and <<NAME>> (the "Executive"), dated as of this
____ day of __________, 200_.

                                  WITNESSETH :

      WHEREAS, the Company has employed the Executive in an officer position
with the Company or affiliate thereof and has determined that the Executive
holds an important position with same;

      WHEREAS, the Company believes that, in the event it is confronted with a
situation that could result in a change in ownership or control of the Company,
continuity of management will be essential to its ability to evaluate and
respond to such situation in the best interests of shareholders;

      WHEREAS, the Company understands that any such situation will present
significant concerns for the Executive with respect to his financial and job
security;

      WHEREAS, the Company desires to assure itself of the Executive's services
during the period in which it is confronting such a situation, and to provide
the Executive certain financial assurances to enable the Executive to perform
the responsibilities of his position without undue distraction and to exercise
his judgment without bias due to his personal circumstances;

      WHEREAS, to achieve these objectives, the Company and the Executive desire
to enter into an agreement providing the Company and the Executive with certain
rights and obligations upon the occurrence of a Change in Control or Potential
Change in Control (as defined in Section 2);

      NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants
herein contained, it is hereby agreed by and between the Company and the
Executive as follows:

      1. Operation of Agreement.

<PAGE>

            (a) Effective Date. The effective date of this Agreement shall be
the date on which a Change in Control occurs (the "Effective Date"), provided
that, except as provided in Section 1(b), if the Executive is not employed by
the Company on the Effective Date, this Agreement shall be void and without
effect.

            (b) Termination of Employment Following a Potential Change in
Control. Notwithstanding Section 1(a), if (i) the Executive's employment is
terminated by the Company Without Cause (as defined in Section 6(c)) after the
occurrence of a Potential Change in Control and prior to the occurrence of a
Change in Control and (ii) a Change in Control occurs within one year of such
termination, the Executive shall be deemed, solely for purposes of determining
his rights under this Agreement, to have remained employed until the date such
Change in Control occurs and to have been terminated by the Company Without
Cause immediately after this Agreement becomes effective.

      2. Definitions.

            (a) Change in Control. For the purposes of this Agreement, a "Change
in Control" shall be deemed to have occurred if:

                  (i) any Person (as defined below) has acquired, "beneficial
      ownership" (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3, as promulgated under Section
      13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
      Act")) of securities of the Company representing fifty (50%) percent or
      more of the combined Voting Power (as defined below) of the Company's
      securities;

                  (ii) within any 24-month period, the persons who were
      directors of the Company immediately before the beginning of such period
      (the "Incumbent Directors") shall cease (for any reason other than death)
      to constitute at least a majority of the Board or the board of directors
      of any successor to the Company, provided that any director who was not a
      director at the beginning of such period shall be deemed to be an
      Incumbent Director if such director (A) was elected to the Board by, or on
      the recommendation of or with the approval of, at least two-thirds of the
      directors who then qualified as Incumbent Directors either actually or by
      prior operation of this Section 2(a)(ii) and (B) was not designated by a
      person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a
      Corporate Event, as described in Section 2(a)(iii); or

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                  (iii) the stockholders of the Company approve a merger,
      consolidation, share exchange, division, sale or other disposition of all
      or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a "Corporate Event"),
      as a result of which the shareholders of the Company immediately prior to
      such Corporate Event shall not hold, directly or indirectly, immediately
      following such Corporate Event a majority of the Voting Power of (x) in
      the case of a merger or consolidation, the surviving or resulting
      corporation, (y) in the case of a share exchange, the acquiring
      corporation or (z) in the case of a division or a sale or other
      disposition of assets, each surviving, resulting or acquiring corporation
      which, immediately following the relevant Corporate Event, holds more than
      10% of the consolidated assets of the Company immediately prior to such
      Event.

            (b) Potential  Change in Control.  For the purposes of this
Agreement, a "Potential Change in Control" shall be deemed to have occurred if:

                  (i) a Person commences a tender offer for securities
      representing at least 20% of the Voting Power of the Company's securities;

                  (ii) the Company enters into an agreement the consummation of
      which would constitute a Change in Control;

                  (iii) proxies for the election of directors of the Company are
      solicited by anyone other than the Company; or

                  (iv) any other event occurs which is deemed to be a Potential
      Change in Control by the Board.

            (c) Person Defined. For purposes of this Section 2, "Person" shall
have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act,
as supplemented by Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that
Person shall not include (i) the Company or any subsidiary of the Company or
(ii) any employee benefit plan sponsored by the Company or any subsidiary of the
Company.

            (d) Voting Power Defined. A specified percentage of "Voting Power"
of a company shall mean such number of the Voting Securities as shall enable the
holders thereof to cast such percentage of all the votes which could be cast in
an annual election of directors (without consideration of the rights of any
class of stock other than the common stock of the company to elect directors by
a separate class vote); and "Voting Securities" shall mean all securities of a
company entitling the holders thereof to vote in

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<PAGE>

an annual election of directors (without consideration of the rights of any
class of stock other than the common stock of the company to elect directors by
a separate class vote).

      3. Employment Period. Subject to Section 6 of this Agreement, the Company
agrees to continue the Executive in its employ, and the Executive agrees to
remain in the employ of the Company, for the period (the "Employment Period")
commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the third anniversary of the
Effective Date.

      4. Position and Duties.

            (a) No Reduction in Position. During the Employment Period, the
Executive's position (including titles), authority and responsibilities shall be
at least commensurate with those held, exercised and assigned immediately prior
to the Effective Date. It is understood that, for purposes of this Agreement,
such position, authority and responsibilities shall not be regarded as not
commensurate merely by virtue of the fact that a successor shall have acquired
all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company as
contemplated by Section 12(b) of this Agreement. The Executive's services shall
be performed at the location where the Executive was employed immediately
preceding the Effective Date.

            (b) Business Time. From and after the Effective Date, the Executive
agrees to devote substantially all of his attention during normal business hours
to the business and affairs of the Company, to the extent necessary to discharge
his responsibilities hereunder, except for (i) time spent in managing his
personal, financial and legal affairs, serving on corporate, civic or charitable
boards or committees or working for any charitable or civic organization, in
each case only if and to the extent not materially interfering with the
performance of such responsibilities, and (ii) periods of vacation and sick
leave to which he is entitled. It is expressly understood and agreed that the
Executive's continuing to serve on any boards and committees on which he is
serving or with which he is otherwise associated immediately preceding the
Effective Date shall be deemed not to interfere with the performance of the
Executive's services to the Company.

      5. Compensation.

            (a) Base Salary. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall
receive a base salary at a monthly rate at least equal to the monthly salary
paid to the Executive by the Company and any of its affiliated companies
immediately prior to the Effective Date. The base salary shall be reviewed at
least once each year after the Effective Date, and may be increased (but not
decreased) at any time and from time to

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time by action of the Board or any committee thereof or by any individual having
authority to take such action in accordance with the Company's regular
practices. The Executive's base salary, as it may be increased from time to
time, shall hereafter be referred to as "Base Salary". Neither the Base Salary
nor any increase in Base Salary after the Effective Date shall serve to limit or
reduce any other obligation of the Company hereunder.

            (b) Annual Bonus. During the Employment Period, in addition to the
Base Salary, for each fiscal year of the Company ending during the Employment
Period, the Executive shall be afforded the opportunity to receive an annual
bonus on terms and conditions no less favorable to the Executive (taking into
account reasonable changes in the Company's goals and objectives) than the
annual bonus opportunity that had been made available to the Executive for the
fiscal year ended immediately prior to the Effective Date (the "Annual Bonus
Opportunity"). Any amount payable in respect of the Annual Bonus Opportunity
shall be paid as soon as practicable following the year for which the amount (or
prorated portion) is earned or awarded, but not later than 90 days after the
close of the calendar year for which the bonus is payable, unless electively
deferred by the Executive pursuant to any deferral programs or arrangements that
the Company may make available to the Executive.

            (c) Long-term Incentive Compensation Programs. During the Employment
Period, the Executive shall participate in all long-term incentive compensation
programs ("LTICP") for key executives at a level that is commensurate with the
Executive's participation in such plans immediately prior to the Effective Date,
or, if more favorable to the Executive, at the level made available to the
Executive or other similarly situated officers at any time thereafter.

            (d) Benefit Plans. During the Employment Period, the Executive (and,
to the extent applicable, his dependents) shall be entitled to participate in or
be covered under all pension, retirement, deferred compensation, savings,
medical, dental, health, disability, severance, group life, accidental death and
travel accident insurance plans and programs of the Company and its affiliated
companies at a level that is commensurate with the Executive's participation in
such plans immediately prior to the Effective Date, or, if more favorable to the
Executive, at the level made available to the Executive or other similarly
situated officers at any time thereafter.

            (e) Expenses. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be
entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred by
the Executive in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Company as
in effect immediately prior to the Effective Date. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Company

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may apply the policies and procedures in effect after the Effective Date to the
Executive, if such policies and procedures are more favorable to the Executive
than those in effect immediately prior to the Effective Date.

            (f) Vacation, Perquisites and Fringe Benefits. During the Employment
Period, the Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation, perquisites and fringe
benefits at a level that is commensurate with the paid vacation, perquisites and
fringe benefits available to the Executive immediately prior to the Effective
Date, or, if more favorable to the Executive, at the level made available from
time to time to the Executive or other similarly situated officers at any time
thereafter.

            (g) Indemnification. The Company agrees that if the Executive is
made a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any action, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a
"Proceeding"), by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer or
employee of the Company, the Executive shall be indemnified and held harmless by
the Company to the fullest extent legally permitted or authorized by agreement,
or by the Company's certificate of incorporation or bylaws or resolutions of the
Board or, if greater, by the laws of the State of New Jersey, against all cost,
expense, liability and loss (including, without limitation, attorney's fees,
judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid or to be paid
in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by the Executive in connection
therewith. The Company agrees to continue and maintain a directors' and
officers' liability insurance policy covering Executive to the extent the
Company provides such coverage for its other executive officers.

            (h) Office and Support Staff. The Executive shall be entitled to an
office with furnishings and other appointments, and to secretarial and other
assistance, at a level that is at least commensurate with that provided to the
Executive immediately prior to the Effective Date.

      6. Termination.

            (a) Death, Disability or Retirement. Subject to the provisions of
Section 1 hereof, this Agreement shall terminate automatically upon the
Executive's death, termination due to "Disability" (as defined below) or
voluntary retirement under any of the Company's retirement plans as in effect
from time to time. For purposes of this Agreement, Disability shall mean the
Executive has been incapable of substantially fulfilling the positions, duties,
responsibilities and obligations set forth in this Agreement because of
physical, mental or emotional incapacity resulting from injury, sickness or
disease for a period of at least six consecutive months. The Company and the
Executive

                                       6
<PAGE>

shall agree on the identity of a physician to resolve any question as to the
Executive's disability. If the Company and the Executive cannot agree on the
physician to make such determination, then the Company and the Executive shall
each select a physician and those physicians shall jointly select a third
physician, who shall make the determination. The determination of any such
physician shall be final and conclusive for all purposes of this Agreement. The
Executive or his legal representative or any adult member of his immediate
family shall have the right to present to such physician such information and
arguments as to the Executive's disability as he, she or they deem appropriate,
including the opinion of the Executive's personal physician.

            (b) Voluntary Termination. Notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement to the contrary, following a Change in Control the Executive may, upon
not less than 30 days' written notice to the Company, voluntarily terminate
employment for any reason (including early retirement under the terms of any of
the Company's retirement plans as in effect from time to time), provided that
any termination by the Executive pursuant to Section 6(d) on account of Good
Reason (as defined therein) shall not be treated as a voluntary termination
under this Section 6(b).

            (c) Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive's employment for
Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" means (i) the Executive's
conviction of a felony or the entering by the Executive of a plea of nolo
contendere to a felony charge, (ii) the Executive's gross neglect, willful
malfeasance or willful gross misconduct in connection with his employment
hereunder which has had a material adverse effect on the business of the Company
and its subsidiaries, unless the Executive reasonably believed in good faith
that such act or nonact was in or not opposed to the best interests of the
Company, or (iii) repeated material violations by the Executive of his
obligations under Section 4 of this Agreement, which violations are demonstrably
willful and deliberate on the Executive's part and which result in material
damage to the Company's business or reputation.

            (d) Good Reason. Following the occurrence of a Change in Control,
the Executive may terminate his employment for Good Reason. For purposes of this
Agreement, "Good Reason" means the occurrence of any of the following, without
the express written consent of the Executive, after the occurrence of a Change
in Control:

                  (i) (A) the assignment to the Executive of any duties
      inconsistent with the Executive's position, authority or responsibilities
      as contemplated by Section 4 of this Agreement, or (B) any other material
      adverse change in such position, including titles, authority or
      responsibilities;

                                       7
<PAGE>

                  (ii) any failure by the Company to comply with any of the
      provisions of Section 5 of this Agreement, other than an insubstantial or
      inadvertent failure remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of
      notice thereof given by the Executive;

                  (iii) the Company's requiring the Executive to be based at any
      office or location more than 35 miles (or such other distance as shall be
      set forth in the Company's relocation policy as in effect at the Effective
      Time) from that location at which he performed his services specified
      under the provisions of Section 4 immediately prior to the Change in
      Control, except for travel reasonably required in the performance of the
      Executive's responsibilities;

                  (iv) any other material breach of this Agreement by the
      Company; or

                  (v) any failure by the Company to obtain the assumption and
      agreement to perform this Agreement by a successor as contemplated by
      Section 12(b).

In no event shall the mere occurrence of a Change in Control, absent any further
impact on the Executive, be deemed to constitute Good Reason.

            (e) Notice of Termination. Any termination by the Company for Cause
or by the Executive for Good Reason shall be communicated by Notice of
Termination to the other party hereto given in accordance with Section 13(e).
For purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" means a written notice
given, in the case of a termination for Cause, within 10 business days of the
Company's having actual knowledge of the events giving rise to such termination,
and in the case of a termination for Good Reason, within 180 days of the
Executive's having actual knowledge of the events giving rise to such
termination, and which (i) indicates the specific termination provision in this
Agreement relied upon, (ii) sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's
employment under the provision so indicated, and (iii) if the termination date
is other than the date of receipt of such notice, specifies the termination date
of the Executive's employment (which date shall be not more than 15 days after
the giving of such notice). The failure by the Executive to set forth in the
Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of
Good Reason shall not waive any right of the Executive hereunder or preclude the
Executive from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing his rights
hereunder.

                                       8
<PAGE>

            (f) Date of Termination. For the purpose of this Agreement, the term
"Date of Termination" means (i) in the case of a termination for which a Notice
of Termination is required, the date of receipt of such Notice of Termination
or, if later, the date specified therein, as the case may be, and (ii) in all
other cases, the actual date on which the Executive's employment terminates
during the Employment Period.

      7. Obligations of the Company upon Termination.

            (a) Death or Disability. If the Executive's employment is terminated
during the Employment Period by reason of the Executive's death or Disability,
this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive or
the Executive's legal representatives under this Agreement other than those
obligations accrued hereunder at the Date of Termination, and the Company shall
pay to the Executive (or his beneficiary or estate) (i) the Executive's full
Base Salary through the Date of Termination (the "Earned Salary"), (ii) any
vested amounts or vested benefits owing to the Executive under the Company's
otherwise applicable employee benefit plans and programs, including any
compensation previously deferred by the Executive (together with any accrued
earnings thereon) and not yet paid by the Company and any accrued vacation pay
not yet paid by the Company (the "Accrued Obligations"), and (iii) any other
benefits payable due to the Executive's death or Disability under the Company's
plans, policies or programs (the "Additional Benefits").

            Any Earned Salary shall be paid in cash in a single lump sum as soon
as practicable, but in no event more than 30 days (or at such earlier date
required by law), following the Date of Termination. Accrued Obligations and
Additional Benefits shall be paid in accordance with the terms of the applicable
plan, program or arrangement.

            (b) Cause and Voluntary Termination. If the Executive's employment
shall be terminated for Cause or voluntarily terminated by the Executive (other
than on account of Good Reason following a Change in Control), the Company shall
pay the Executive (i) the Earned Salary in cash in a single lump sum as soon as
practicable, but in no event more than 10 days, following the Date of
Termination, and (ii) the Accrued Obligations in accordance with the terms of
the applicable plan, program or arrangement.

            (c) Termination by the Company other than for Cause and Termination
by the Executive for Good Reason.

                  (i) Lump Sum Payments. If, during the Employment Period, the
      Company terminates the Executive's employment other than for Cause, or

                                       9
<PAGE>

      following a Change in Control the Executive terminates his employment for
      Good Reason, the Company shall pay to the Executive the following amounts:

                  (A)   the Executive's Earned Salary;

                  (B)   a cash amount (the "Severance Amount") equal to
                        <<SEVERANCE>> times the sum of (x) the Executive's
                        annual Base Salary and (y) an amount equal to the
                        average of the annual bonuses paid to the Executive with
                        respect to each of the last three calendar years ended
                        prior to the Change in Control (or, if at the Date of
                        Termination, the Executive has been employed for less
                        than three full calendar years, for the number of full
                        calendar years during which the Executive was employed);

                  (C)   the Accrued Obligations.

      The Earned Salary and Severance Amount shall be paid in cash in a single
      lump sum as soon as practicable, but in no event more than 30 days (or at
      such earlier date required by law), following the Date of Termination.
      Accrued Obligations shall be paid in accordance with the terms of the
      applicable plan, program or arrangement.

                  (ii) Continuation of Benefits. If, during the Employment
      Period, the Company terminates the Executive's employment other than for
      Cause, or following a Change in Control the Executive terminates his
      employment for Good Reason, the Executive (and, to the extent applicable,
      his dependents) shall be entitled, after the Date of Termination until the
      earlier of (1) the [second](1) anniversary of the Date of Termination (the
      "End Date") and (2) the date the Executive becomes eligible for comparable
      benefits under a similar plan, policy or program of a subsequent employer,
      to continue participation in all of the Company's employee and executive
      welfare and fringe benefit plans (the "Benefit Plans"). To the extent any
      such benefits cannot be provided under the terms of the applicable plan,
      policy or program, the Company shall provide a comparable benefit under
      another plan or from the Company's general assets. The Executive's
      participation in the Benefit Plans will be on the same terms and
      conditions that would have applied had the Executive continued to be
      employed by the Company

-----------
(1)   Third anniversary in the case of chief executive officer.

                                       10
<PAGE>

      through the End Date.

                  (iii) Vesting and Exercisability of Stock Options. If, during
      the Employment Period, the Company terminates the Executive's employment
      other than for Cause, or the Executive terminates his employment for Good
      Reason, all outstanding options held by the Executive to purchase shares
      of Common Stock of the Company ("Options") shall become fully vested on
      the date of such termination of employment and the Executive shall have
      the right to exercise the Options, whether or not such Options would
      otherwise be exercisable, for a period of ninety days following such
      termination of employment (or, if less, until the end of the stated term
      of the Options).

                  (iv) Vesting of Performance Unit Awards. Upon a Change in
      Control, (1) all Performance Unit awards for which the earned value has
      not yet been determined as of the date of the Change in Control shall be
      deemed to have earned a value equal to the greater of (A) the target value
      of the Performance Unit award (including any Dividend Equivalent Rights
      ("DERs") declared thereon), or (B) the actual value of such Performance
      Unit award (including all DERs declared thereon) calculated as if the
      performance period during which total shareholder return is measured had
      terminated as of the Change in Control (without proration of such award),
      and (2) all earned but unvested Performance Units, including those earned
      in accordance with the preceding clause (1), shall become fully vested.

                  (d) Discharge of the Company's Obligations. Except as
      expressly provided in the last sentence of this Section 7(d), the amounts
      payable to the Executive pursuant to this Section 7 (whether or not
      reduced pursuant to Section 7(e)) following termination of his employment
      shall be in full and complete satisfaction of the Executive's rights under
      this Agreement and any other claims he may have in respect of his
      employment by the Company or any of its subsidiaries. Such amounts shall
      constitute liquidated damages with respect to any and all such rights and
      claims and, upon the Executive's receipt of such amounts, the Company
      shall be released and discharged from any and all liability to the
      Executive in connection with this Agreement or otherwise in connection
      with the Executive's employment with the Company and its subsidiaries.
      Nothing in this Section 7(d) shall be construed to release the Company
      from its commitment to indemnify the Executive and hold the Executive
      harmless from and against any claim, loss or cause of action arising from
      or out of the Executive's performance as an officer, director or employee
      of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or in any other capacity,
      including any fiduciary capacity, in which the Executive served

                                       11
<PAGE>

      at the request of the Company to the maximum extent permitted by
      applicable law.

            (e) Certain Further Payments by the Company.

                  (i) Application of Section 7(e). In the event that any amount
      or benefit paid or distributed to the Executive pursuant to this
      Agreement, taken together with any amounts or benefits otherwise paid or
      distributed to the Executive by the Company or any affiliated company
      (collectively, the "Covered Payments"), are or become subject to the tax
      (the "Excise Tax") imposed under Section 4999 of the Code or any similar
      tax that may hereafter be imposed, the Company shall pay to the Executive
      at the time specified in Section 7(e)(v) below an additional amount (the
      "Tax Reimbursement Payment") such that the net amount retained by
      Executive with respect to such Covered Payments, after deduction of any
      Excise Tax on the Covered Payments and any Federal, state and local income
      tax and Excise Tax on the Tax Reimbursement Payment provided for by this
      Section 7(e), but before deduction for any Federal, state or local income
      or employment tax withholding on such Covered Payments, shall be equal to
      the amount of the Covered Payments.

                  (ii) Application of Section 280G. For purposes of determining
      whether any of the Covered Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax and
      the amount of such Excise Tax,

                  (A)   such Covered Payments will be treated as "parachute
                        payments" within the meaning of Section 280G of the
                        Code, and all "parachute payments" in excess of the
                        "base amount" (as defined under Section 280G(b)(3) of
                        the Code) shall be treated as subject to the Excise Tax,
                        unless, and except to the extent that, in the good faith
                        judgment of the Company's independent certified public
                        accountants appointed prior to the Effective Date or tax
                        counsel selected by such accountants (the
                        "Accountants"), the Company has a reasonable basis to
                        conclude that such Covered Payments (in whole or in
                        part) either do not constitute "parachute payments" or
                        represent reasonable compensation for personal services
                        actually rendered (within the meaning of Section
                        280G(b)(4)(B) of the Code) in excess of the "base
                        amount," or such "parachute payments" are otherwise not
                        subject to such Excise Tax, and

                                       12
<PAGE>

                  (B)   the value of any non-cash benefits or any deferred
                        payment or benefit shall be determined by the
                        Accountants in accordance with the principles of Section
                        280G of the Code.

                  (iii) Calculation of Tax Reimbursement Payment. For purposes
      of determining the amount of the Tax Reimbursement Payment, the Executive
      shall be deemed to pay:

                  (A)   Federal income taxes at the highest applicable marginal
                        rate of Federal income taxation for the calendar year in
                        which the Tax Reimbursement Payment is to be made, and

                  (B)   any applicable state and local income taxes at the
                        highest applicable marginal rate of taxation for the
                        calendar year in which the Tax Reimbursement Payment is
                        to be made, net of the maximum reduction in Federal
                        incomes taxes which could be obtained from the deduction
                        of such state or local taxes if paid in such year.

                  (iv) Adjustments in Respect of Tax Reimbursement Payment. In
      the event that the Excise Tax is subsequently determined by the
      Accountants or pursuant to any proceeding or negotiations with the
      Internal Revenue Service to be less than the amount taken into account
      hereunder in calculating the Tax Reimbursement Payment made, the Executive
      shall repay to the Company, at the time that the amount of such reduction
      in the Excise Tax is finally determined, the portion of such prior Tax
      Reimbursement Payment that would not have been paid if such Excise Tax had
      been applied in initially calculating such Tax Reimbursement Payment, plus
      interest on the amount of such repayment at the rate provided in Section
      1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event any
      portion of the Tax Reimbursement Payment to be refunded to the Company has
      been paid to any Federal, state or local tax authority, repayment thereof
      shall not be required until actual refund or credit of such portion has
      been made to the Executive, and interest payable to the Company shall not
      exceed interest received or credited to the Executive by such tax
      authority for the period it held such portion. The Executive and the
      Company shall mutually agree upon the course of action to be pursued (and
      the method of allocating the expenses thereof) if the Executive's good
      faith claim for refund or credit is denied.

                  In the event that the Excise Tax is later determined by the
      Accountants or pursuant to any proceeding or negotiations with the
      Internal

                                       13
<PAGE>

      Revenue Service to exceed the amount taken into account hereunder at the
      time the Tax Reimbursement Payment is made (including, but not limited to,
      by reason of any payment the existence or amount of which cannot be
      determined at the time of the Tax Reimbursement Payment), the Company
      shall make an additional Tax Reimbursement Payment in respect of such
      excess (plus any interest or penalty payable with respect to such excess)
      at the time that the amount of such excess is finally determined.

                  (v) Payment. The Tax Reimbursement Payment (or portion
      thereof) provided for in Section 7(e)(i) above shall be paid to the
      Executive not later than 10 business days following the payment of the
      Covered Payments; provided, however, that if the amount of such Tax
      Reimbursement Payment (or portion thereof) cannot be finally determined on
      or before the date on which payment is due, the Company shall pay to the
      Executive by such date an amount estimated in good faith by the
      Accountants to be the minimum amount of such Tax Reimbursement Payment and
      shall pay the remainder of such Tax Reimbursement Payment (together with
      interest at the rate provided in Section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code) as
      soon as the amount thereof can be determined, but in no event later than
      45 calendar days after payment of the related Covered Payment. In the
      event that the amount of the estimated Tax Reimbursement Payment exceeds
      the amount subsequently determined to have been due, such excess shall
      constitute a loan by the Company to the Executive, payable on the fifth
      business day after written demand by the Company for payment (together
      with interest at the rate provided in Section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code).

      8. Nonexclusivity of Rights. Except as expressly provided herein, nothing
in this Agreement shall prevent or limit the Executive's continuing or future
participation in any benefit, bonus, incentive or other plan or program provided
by the Company or any of its affiliated companies and for which the Executive
may qualify, nor shall anything herein limit or otherwise prejudice such rights
as the Executive may have under any other agreements with the Company or any of
its affiliated companies, including employment agreements or stock option
agreements. Amounts which are vested benefits or which the Executive is
otherwise entitled to receive under any plan or program of the Company or any of
its affiliated companies at or subsequent to the Date of Termination shall be
payable in accordance with such plan or program.

      9. No Mitigation or Offset. The Executive shall have no obligation to seek
other employment and, except as expressly provided in Sections 7(c)(ii), there
shall be no offset against amounts due to Executive under this Agreement on
account of any remuneration attributable to subsequent employment that he may
obtain. The Company's

                                       14
<PAGE>

obligation to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to
perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any circumstances,
including, without limitation, any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or
other right which the Company may have against the Executive or others,
including, without limitation, any claim arising due to the Executive's
violation of his covenants under Section 11(a) hereof. In the event that the
Executive shall in good faith give a Notice of Termination for Good Reason and
it shall thereafter be determined that Good Reason did not exist, the employment
of the Executive shall, unless the Company and the Executive shall otherwise
mutually agree, be deemed to have terminated, at the date of giving such
purported Notice of Termination, by mutual consent of the Company and the
Executive and the Executive shall be entitled to receive only his Earned Salary
and the Accrued Obligations which he would have been entitled to receive upon a
voluntary termination.

      10. Legal Fees and Expenses. If the Executive asserts any claim in any
contest (whether initiated by the Executive or by the Company) as to the
validity, enforceability or interpretation of any provision of this Agreement,
the Company shall pay the Executive's legal expenses (or cause such expenses to
be paid) including, without limitation, his reasonable attorney's fees, on a
quarterly basis, upon presentation of proof of such expenses in a form
acceptable to the Company, provided that the Executive shall reimburse the
Company for such amounts, plus simple interest thereon at the 90-day United
States Treasury Bill rate as in effect from time to time, compounded annually,
if the Executive shall not prevail, in whole or in part, as to any material
issue as to the validity, enforceability or interpretation of any provision of
this Agreement.

      11. Confidential Information; Company Property. By and in consideration of
the salary and benefits to be provided by the Company hereunder, including the
severance arrangements set forth herein, the Executive agrees that:

            (a) Confidential Information. The Executive shall hold in a
fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company all secret or confidential
information, knowledge or data relating to the Company or any of its affiliated
companies, and their respective businesses, (i) obtained by the Executive during
his employment by the Company or any of its affiliated companies and (ii) not
otherwise public knowledge (other than by reason of an unauthorized act by the
Executive). After termination of the Executive's employment with the Company,
the Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company,
unless compelled pursuant to an order of a court or other body having
jurisdiction over such matter, communicate or divulge any such information,
knowledge or data to anyone other than the Company and those designated by it.
The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the covenants and obligations of the
Executive with respect to confidentiality relate to special, unique and
extraordinary matters and that a violation

                                       15
<PAGE>

of any of the terms of such covenants and obligations will cause the Company
irreparable injury for which adequate remedies are not available at law.
Therefore, the Executive agrees that the Company shall be entitled to an
injunction, restraining order or such other equitable relief (without the
requirement to post bond) restraining Executive from committing any violation of
the covenants and obligations contained in this Section 11(a). These remedies
are cumulative and are in addition to any other rights and remedies the Company
may have at law or in equity.

            (b) Company Property. Except as expressly provided herein, promptly
following the Executive's termination of employment, the Executive shall return
to the Company all property of the Company and all copies thereof in the
Executive's possession or under his control, except that the Executive may
retain his personal notes, diaries, Rolodexes, calendars and correspondence.

      12. Successors.

            (a) This Agreement is personal to the Executive and, without the
prior written consent of the Company, shall not be assignable by the Executive
otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement
shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's legal
representatives.

            (b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon
the Company and its successors. The Company shall require any successor to all
or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, whether
direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation, acquisition of stock, or
otherwise, by an agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Executive,
expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and
to the same extent as the Company would be required to perform if no such
succession had taken place.

      13. Miscellaneous.

            (a) Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey, applied
without reference to principles of conflict of laws.

            (b) Arbitration. Except to the extent provided in Section 11(a), any
dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement shall
be resolved by binding arbitration. The arbitration shall be held in Newark, New
Jersey and except to the extent inconsistent with this Agreement, shall be
conducted in accordance with the Expedited Employment Arbitration Rules of the
American Arbitration

                                       16
<PAGE>

Association (or such other voluntary arbitration rules applicable to employment
contract disputes) in effect at the time of the arbitration, supplemented, as
necessary, by those principles which would be applied by a court of law or
equity. The arbitrator shall be acceptable to both the Company and the
Executive. If the parties cannot agree on an acceptable arbitrator, the dispute
shall be heard by a panel of three arbitrators, one appointed by each of the
parties and the third appointed by the other two arbitrators.

            (c) Amendments. This Agreement may not be amended or modified
otherwise than by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto or their
respective successors and legal representatives.

            (d) Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the matters referred to
herein. No other agreement relating to the terms of the Executive's employment
by the Company, oral or otherwise, shall be binding between the parties unless
it is in writing and signed by the party against whom enforcement is sought.
There are no promises, representations, inducements or statements between the
parties other than those that are expressly contained herein. The Executive
acknowledges that he is entering into this Agreement of his own free will and
accord, and with no duress, that he has read this Agreement and that he
understands it and its legal consequences.

            (e) Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be
in writing and shall be given by hand-delivery to the other party or by
registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid,
addressed as follows:

      If to the Executive:        at the home address of the Executive noted on
                                  the records of the Company

      If to the Company:          New Jersey Resources Corporation
                                  1415 Wyckoff Road
                                  Wall, New Jersey 07719
                                  Attn.:  Secretary

or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be effective
when actually received by the addressee.

            (f) Tax Withholding. The Company shall withhold from any amounts
payable under this Agreement such Federal, state or local taxes as shall be
required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

                                       17
<PAGE>

            (g) Severability; Reformation. In the event that one or more of the
provisions of this Agreement shall become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in
any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining
provisions contained herein shall not be affected thereby. In the event that any
of the provisions of any of Section 11(a) are not enforceable in accordance with
its terms, the Executive and the Company agree that such Section shall be
reformed to make such Section enforceable in a manner which provides the Company
the maximum rights permitted at law.

            (h) Waiver. Waiver by any party hereto of any breach or default by
the other party of any of the terms of this Agreement shall not operate as a
waiver of any other breach or default, whether similar to or different from the
breach or default waived. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be
implied from any course of dealing between the parties hereto or from any
failure by either party hereto to assert its or his rights hereunder on any
occasion or series of occasions.

            (i) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.

            (j) Captions. The captions of this Agreement are not part of the
provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set his hand and the
Company has caused this Agreement to be executed in its name on its behalf, and
its corporate seal to be hereunto affixed and attested by its Secretary, all as
of the day and year first above written.

                                NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION

                                _________________________________________
                                By: LAURENCE M. DOWNES
                                Title:President and Chief Executive Officer

ATTEST:

________________________
RHONDA M. FIGUEROA
Corporate Secretary

                                       18
<PAGE>

                                _________________________________________
                                <<NAME_2>>
WITNESSED:
___________________

                                       19

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