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WALL, N.J. – New Jersey Resources (NYSE: NJR) is recognized as one of the “Best Managed Companies in America” in the January 10 issue of Forbes magazine. NJR was selected from among 1,000 publicly traded companies meeting Forbes’ criteria for sales, net worth and share price.

Among the 400 companies on the list, also known as the Forbes Platinum 400, NJR is the only New Jersey-based energy company. A total of 25 energy companies and utilities appear on the 2005 Forbes Platinum 400, which recognizes high-ranking companies according to growth in sales and earnings, leverage, stock market returns, earnings forecasts and other factors such as earnings quality. It is NJR’s third consecutive appearance on the list, also available online at www.forbes.com.

“We are honored to again receive this prestigious honor from Forbes magazine,” said Laurence M. Downes, chairman and CEO of NJR. “Our ability to maintain a strong financial profile and standing as a leader among our peers is a testament to our employees’ never-ending pursuit of excellence.”

NJR recently marked the company’s 13th consecutive fiscal year of higher earnings, driven primarily by continued customer growth at New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG), NJR’s principal subsidiary, and an increasing contribution by NJR Energy Services, an unregulated wholesale energy services subsidiary. During the past several months, NJR has announced additional milestones reflecting the company’s longstanding tradition of service to customers and community. NJNG received the highest score of all New Jersey natural gas utilities for the third successive year in the J.D. Power and Associates 2004 Gas Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study. In November, the American Heart Association (AHA) announced NJNG set a record for corporate fund raising in Monmouth County for the AHA as a sponsor of the Monmouth-Ocean Shoreline Heart Walk.

New Jersey Resources (NYSE:NJR), a Fortune 1000 company and a member of the Forbes Platinum 400, provides reliable retail and wholesale energy services to customers in New Jersey and in states from the Gulf Coast to New England, and Canada. Its principal subsidiary, New Jersey Natural Gas, is one of the fastest-growing local distribution companies in the United States, serving more than 450,000 customers in central and northern New Jersey. Other major NJR subsidiaries include NJR Energy Services and NJR Home Services. NJR Energy Services is a leader in the unregulated energy services market, providing outstanding customer service and management of natural gas storage and capacity assets. NJR Home Services offers retail customers expert heating, air conditioning and appliance services. NJR’s progress is a tribute to the more than 5,000 dedicated employees who have shared their expertise and focus on quality through more than 50 years of serving customers and the community to make NJR a leader in the competitive energy marketplace. For more information, visit NJR’s Web site at njliving.com.