UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2006

OR

o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM               TO             

Commission file number 1-8359

NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 (b) of the Act:

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 (g) of the Act:

None

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

YES: x             No: o

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer: x         Accelerated filer: o         Non-accelerated filer: o

The aggregate market value of the Registrant’s Common Stock held by nonaffiliates was $1,253,111,780 based on the closing price of $45.25 per share on March 31, 2006.

The number of shares outstanding of $2.50 par value Common Stock as of November 20, 2006 was 27,678,310.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareowners to be held January 24, 2007, to be filed on or about December 22, 2006, are incorporated by reference into Part I and Part III of this report.

New Jersey Resources

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

i

INFORMATION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained in this report, including, without limitation, statements as to management expectations and beliefs presented in Item 1.—Business, under the captions “Natural Gas Distribution—General;—Gas Supply;—Regulation and Rates”; and “Environment,” and Item 3.—“Legal Proceedings,” and in Part II including “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Item 7, and “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in Item 7A are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can also be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “intend,” “expect,” “believe” or “continue” or comparable terminology and are made based upon management’s expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effect upon New Jersey Resources Corporation (NJR or the Company). There can be no assurance that future developments will be in accordance with management’s expectations or that the effect of future developments on the Company will be those anticipated by management.

The Company cautions readers that the assumptions that form the basis for forward-looking statements regarding customer growth, customer usage, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, capital requirements, market risk and other matters for fiscal 2007 and thereafter include many factors that are beyond the Company’s ability to control or estimate precisely, such as estimates of future market conditions, the behavior of other market participants and changes in the debt and equity capital markets. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from NJR’s expectations include, but are not limited to those discussed in Risk Factors in Item 1A, as well as the following:

·        weather and economic conditions;

·        demographic changes in the New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG) service territory;

·        the rate of NJNG customer growth;

·        volatility of natural gas commodity prices and its impact on customer usage, NJR Energy Services’ (NJRES) operations and on the Company’s risk management efforts;

·        changes in rating agency requirements and/or credit ratings and their effect on availability and cost of capital to the Company;

·        commercial and wholesale credit risks, including creditworthiness of customers and counterparties;

·        the impact of governmental regulation (including the regulation of rates);

·        fluctuations in energy-related commodity prices;

·        conversion activity and other marketing efforts;

·        actual energy usage of NJNG’s customers;

·        the pace of deregulation of retail gas markets;

·        access to adequate supplies of natural gas;

·        the regulatory and pricing policies of federal and state regulatory agencies;

·        changes due to legislation at the federal and state level;

·        the availability of an adequate number of appropriate counterparties in the wholesale energy trading market;

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INFORMATION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS (Continued)

·        sufficient liquidity in the wholesale energy trading market and continued access to the capital markets;

·        the disallowance of recovery of environmental-related expenditures and other regulatory changes;

·        environmental-related and other litigation;

·        the effects and impacts of inflation on NJR and its subsidiaries operations;

·        change in accounting pronouncements issued by the appropriate standard setting bodies; and

·        terrorist attacks or threatened attacks on energy facilities or unrelated energy companies.

While the Company periodically reassesses material trends and uncertainties affecting the Company’s results of operations and financial condition in connection with its preparation of management’s discussion and analysis of results of operations and financial condition contained in its Quarterly and Annual Reports, the Company does not, by including this statement, assume any obligation to review or revise any particular forward-looking statement referenced herein in light of future events.

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New Jersey Resources
Part I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

New Jersey Resources Corporation (NJR or the Company) is a New Jersey corporation formed in 1982 pursuant to a corporate reorganization. The Company is an energy services holding company providing retail and wholesale energy services to customers in New Jersey, in states from the Gulf Coast to New England, and Canada. The Company is an exempt holding company under section 1263 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. NJR’s subsidiaries and businesses include:

1)               New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG), a local natural gas distribution company that provides regulated retail natural gas service to approximately 471,000 residential and commercial customers in central and northern New Jersey and participates in the off-system sales and capacity release markets. NJNG is regulated by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) and comprises the Company’s Natural Gas Distribution segment.

2)               NJR Energy Services (NJRES) is the Company’s principal non-utility subsidiary. It maintains and trades around a portfolio of physical assets consisting of natural gas storage and transportation contracts. As well, NJRES provides wholesale energy management services to other energy companies. NJRES comprises the Company’s Energy Services segment.

3)               The Company also has a Retail and Other operations segment, which includes the following companies:

a.)            NJR Retail Holdings (Retail Holdings), formed in November 2001 as an unregulated affiliate to consolidate the Company’s unregulated retail operations. Retail Holdings includes the operations of NJR Home Services (NJRHS), a company formed in August 1998 to provide heating ventilation and cooling (HVAC) service repair and contract services.

b.)           NJR Capital Services (Capital), formed as an unregulated affiliate to consolidate the Company’s unregulated energy-related and real estate investments. Capital includes the following wholly owned subsidiaries:

Commercial Realty & Resources (CR&R), a company formed in May 1966, which holds and develops commercial real estate.

NJR Investment, a company formed in October 2000 to make certain energy-related equity investments.

NJR Energy Holdings, including NJR Energy, which invests primarily in energy-related ventures through its subsidiary, NJNR Pipeline (Pipeline) which holds the Company’s 5.53 percent interest in Iroquois Gas and Transmission System, LP (Iroquois).

c.)            NJR Service (Service), an unregulated company formed in August 2000 as a wholly owned subsidiary of NJR to provide shared administrative services, including corporate communications, financial and administrative, internal audit, legal, human resources and technology for NJR and all subsidiaries of NJR.

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS (Continued)

BUSINESS SEGMENTS

The Company operates within three primary business segments: Natural Gas Distribution, Energy Services and Retail and Other.

The Natural Gas Distribution segment consists of regulated energy and off-system, capacity and storage management operations. The Energy Services segment consists of unregulated wholesale energy operations. The Retail and Other segment consists of appliance repair, sales and installation services, commercial real estate development, investment and other corporate activities.

NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION

General

NJNG provides natural gas service to approximately 471,000 customers. Its service territory encompasses 1,436 square miles, covering 104 municipalities with an estimated population of 1.3 million people.

NJNG’s service territory is in New Jersey’s Monmouth and Ocean counties and parts of Morris and Middlesex counties. It is primarily suburban, with a wide range of cultural and recreational activities and highlighted by approximately 100 miles of New Jersey seacoast. It is in proximity to New York City, Philadelphia and the metropolitan areas of northern New Jersey and is accessible through a network of major roadways and mass transportation. NJNG added 10,159 and 10,435 new customers and added natural gas heat and other services to another 874 and 929 existing customers in fiscal 2006 and 2005, respectively. This annual growth rate of approximately 2.2 percent is expected to continue with projected additions of approximately 20,300 new customers over the next two years. This growth would represent an annual increase of approximately 1.5 billion cubic feet (Bcf) in sales to firm customers and approximately $4.8 million in new utility gross margin, as calculated under NJNG’s Conservation Incentive Program (CIP) tariff, which became effective October 1, 2006.

In assessing the potential for future growth in its service area, NJNG uses information derived from county and municipal planning boards that describes housing developments in various stages of approval. Furthermore, builders in NJNG’s service area are surveyed to determine their development plans for future time periods. NJNG has also periodically engaged outside consultants to assist in its customer growth projections. In addition to customer growth through new construction, NJNG’s business strategy includes aggressively pursuing conversions from other fuels, such as electricity and oil. It is estimated that approximately 32 percent of NJNG’s projected customer growth will consist of conversions. NJNG will also continue to pursue off-system sales and nonpeak sales.

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS (Continued)

Throughput

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006, operating revenues and throughput by customer class were as follows:

 

In fiscal 2006, no single customer represented more than 10 percent of total NJNG operating revenue.

Seasonality of Gas Revenues

As a result of the heat-sensitive nature of NJNG’s residential customer base, therm sales are significantly affected by weather conditions. Specifically, customer demand substantially increases during the winter months when natural gas is used for heating purposes. Weather conditions directly influence the volume of natural gas delivered. The relative measurement of the impact of weather is in degree days. Degree-day data is used to estimate amounts of energy required to maintain comfortable indoor temperature levels based on each day’s average temperature. A degree-day is the measure of the variation in the weather based on the extent to which the average daily temperature falls below 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Each degree of temperature below 65 degrees Fahrenheit is counted as one heating degree day. Normal heating degree-days are based on a 20 year average, calculated based upon three reference areas representative of NJNG’s service territory.

For reporting periods though September 30, 2006, the impact of weather on the level and timing of NJNG’s revenues, gross margin and cash flows had been affected by a weather-normalization clause (WNC), which provided for a revenue adjustment if the weather varied by more than one-half of 1 percent from normal. However, the WNC did not capture declines in customer usage. The accumulated adjustment from one heating season (i.e., October-May) was billed or credited to customers in subsequent periods.

Beginning in October 2006, NJNG’s revenues, gross margin and cash flows will be affected by the CIP, which decouples the link between customer usage and NJNG’s utility gross margin, allowing NJNG to encourage its customers to conserve energy. During the three-year term of the pilot, the existing WNC would be suspended and replaced with the CIP tracking mechanism, which addresses utility gross margin variations related to both weather and customer usage. Recovery of such utility gross margin is subject to additional conditions including an earnings test and an evaluation of Basic Gas Supply Service (BGSS)-related savings achieved. Under the CIP agreement, if NJNG does not file

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS (Continued)

for a rate review with the BPU within two years, the return on equity for the earnings test will decline from 10.5 percent to 10.25 percent. For additional information regarding the CIP, see Management’s Discussion and Analysis—Natural Gas Distribution Operations and Note 4. Regulation in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements.

Gas Supply

Firm Natural Gas Supplies

NJNG’s gas supply portfolio consists of long-term (over seven months), winter-term (for the five winter months) and short-term contracts. In fiscal 2006, NJNG purchased gas from 92 suppliers under contracts ranging from one day to four years. In fiscal 2006, NJNG purchased approximately 10.2 percent of its natural gas from Alberta Northeast Gas Limited. No other supplier provided more than 10 percent of NJNG’s natural gas supplies. NJNG believes the loss of any one or all of these suppliers would not have a material adverse impact on its results of operations, financial position or cash flows. NJNG believes that its supply strategy should adequately meet its expected firm load over the next several years.

Firm Transportation and Storage Capacity

In order to take delivery of firm natural gas supplies, which ensures the ability to reliably service its customers, NJNG maintains agreements for firm transportation and storage capacity with several interstate pipeline companies. NJNG receives natural gas at eight city gate stations located in Middlesex, Morris and Passaic counties in New Jersey.

The pipeline companies that provide firm transportation service to NJNG’s city gate stations, the maximum daily deliverability of that capacity in dekatherms (dths) and the contract expiration dates are as follows:

 

The pipeline companies that provide firm transportation service to NJNG and supply the above pipelines are ANR Pipeline Company, Tennessee Gas Pipeline, Dominion Transmission Corporation and Columbia Gulf Transmission Company.

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS (Continued)

In addition, NJNG has storage and related transportation contracts that provide additional maximum daily deliverability of 102,941 dths from storage fields in its Northeast market area. The storage suppliers, the maximum daily deliverability of that storage capacity and the contract expiration dates are as follows:

 

NJNG also has storage contracts, maximum daily deliverability and contract expiration dates as follows:

 

Both Dominion and Stagecoach utilize NJNG’s transportation contracts to transport gas from their storage fields to NJNG’s city gate.

Peaking Supply

To manage its winter peak day demand NJNG maintains two liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities. See Item 2. Properties–NJNG for additional information regarding the LNG storage facilities. NJNG presently has LNG storage deliverability of 150,000 dths per day, which represents approximately 20 percent of its estimated peak day sendout.

Basic Gas Supply Service

Wholesale natural gas prices remain volatile. NJNG has mitigated the impact of these volatile price changes on customers through the use of hedging instruments, which are part of its financial risk management program, its storage incentive program and its BGSS clause. BGSS is a BPU-approved clause that requires all New Jersey natural gas utilities to make an annual filing by each June 1 for review of BGSS rates and to request a potential rate change to be effective the following October 1. The structure also allows each natural gas utility to provisionally increase residential and small commercial customer BGSS rates up to 5 percent on December 1 and February 1 on a self-implementing basis, after proper notice and BPU action on the June filing. Such increases are subject to subsequent BPU review and final approval. Decreases in the BGSS tariff can be implemented upon five days notice to the BPU.

On November 10, 2005, NJNG filed for a 23.2 percent price increase to an average residential customer, which was provisionally approved and became effective on December 14, 2005. This

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS (Continued)

increase was necessary due to higher wholesale natural gas prices and was subject to refund with interest.

During January and March 2006, NJNG filed supporting documentation with the BPU for a bill credit to its residential and small commercial sales customers for the period February 1, 2006 through April 30, 2006, as a result of lower wholesale natural gas prices. The bill credits, which temporarily reduced the BGSS tariff component, provided a benefit of approximately $28.6 million to NJNG’s residential and small commercial customers during that period.

On June 1, 2006, NJNG filed for a reduction to the BGSS rate for residential and small commercial customers, due to the continued decrease in wholesale natural gas prices. The impact to the average residential sales customer’s bill is a decrease of approximately 6.6 percent. This was approved by the BPU on a provisional basis on September 27, 2006. NJNG also credited approximately $22.5 million to residential and small commercial sales customers in September 2006.

On October 25, 2006, NJNG filed supporting documentation with the BPU for a self-implementing BGSS rate reduction to be effective November 1, 2006, which will lower residential and small commercial customers’ bills by approximately 4 percent.

This decrease was initiated due to the continued reduction in wholesale natural gas prices subsequent to NJNG’s November 10, 2005 BGSS filing.

Future Natural Gas Supplies

NJNG expects to meet the natural gas requirements for existing and projected firm customers into the foreseeable future. If NJNG’s long-term natural gas requirements change, NJNG would renegotiate and restructure its contract portfolio components to better match the changing needs of its customers.

Regulation and Rates

State

NJNG is subject to the jurisdiction of the BPU with respect to a wide range of matters, such as rates, the issuance of securities, the adequacy of service, the manner of keeping its accounts and records, the sufficiency of natural gas supply, pipeline safety and the sale or encumbrance of its properties.

See Note 4. Regulation in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding NJNG’s rate proceedings.

Federal

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulates rates charged by interstate pipeline companies for the transportation and storage of natural gas. This affects NJNG’s agreements for the purchase of such services with several interstate pipeline companies. Any costs associated with these services are recoverable through the BGSS.

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Part I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS (Continued)

Competition

Although its franchises are nonexclusive, NJNG is not currently subject to competition from other natural gas distribution utilities with regard to the transportation of natural gas in its service territory. Due to significant distances between NJNG’s current large industrial customers and the nearest interstate natural gas pipelines, as well as the availability of its transportation tariff, NJNG currently does not believe it has significant exposure to the risk that its distribution system will be bypassed. Competition does exist from suppliers of oil, coal, electricity and propane. At the present time, however, natural gas enjoys an advantage over alternate fuels in over 95 percent of new construction due to its efficiency and reliability. As deregulation of the natural gas industry continues, prices will be determined by market supply and demand but, although NJNG believes natural gas will remain competitive with alternate fuels, no assurance can be given in this regard.

In February 1999, the Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act (EDECA), which provides the framework for the restructuring of New Jersey’s energy markets, became law. In March 2001, the BPU issued a written order that approved a stipulation agreement among various parties to fully open NJNG’s residential markets to competition, restructure its rates to segregate its BGSS and delivery (i.e., transportation) prices as required by EDECA and expand an incentive for residential and small commercial customers to switch to transportation service. On September 30, 2006, NJNG had 8,594 residential and 4,280 commercial and industrial customers utilizing the transportation service. Based on its current and projected level of transportation customers, NJNG expects to use its existing firm transportation and storage capacity to fully meet its firm sales contract obligations.

In December 2000, the BPU issued a written order that resolved a customer account services proceeding. During the customer account services proceedings, the BPU noted that issues relating to the provision of services, such as metering and competitive billing, would be reviewed in the future. Based on the belief that there is little interest among third-party suppliers in competitive customer account services, the BPU staff recommended that further review be deferred until the competitive energy market is more fully developed.

In January 2002, the BPU issued an order stating that BGSS could be provided by suppliers other than the state’s natural gas utilities, but BGSS should be provided by the state’s natural gas utilities until further BPU action. No additional action has been taken by the BPU subsequent to its initial order in January 2002.

ENERGY SERVICES

NJRES provides unregulated wholesale energy services, including base load natural gas, peaking and balancing services, utilizing physical assets it controls, as well as  asset management services to customers in states from the Gulf Coast and Mid-Continent to New England and Canada.

NJRES has built a portfolio of customers including local distribution companies, industrial companies, electric generators and retail aggregators. Sales to these customers have allowed NJRES to leverage its transportation and storage capacity and manage sales to these customers in an aggregate fashion. This strategy provides customers with better pricing and allows NJRES to extract more value from its portfolio of storage and transportation capacity. In addition, these customers have

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Part I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS (Continued)

come to rely on NJRES’ reliability, which is, in part, due to the ability to deliver from a firm supply source.

NJRES also focuses on creating value from underutilized natural gas assets, which are typically amassed through contractual rights to natural gas transportation and storage capacity. NJRES has developed a portfolio of storage and transportation capacity in the Northeast, Gulf Coast, Mid-Continent, Appalachia and Eastern Canada. These assets become more valuable when prices change between these areas and across time periods. NJRES seeks to optimize this process on a daily basis as market conditions change by evaluating all the natural gas supplies, transportation and opportunities to which it has access, to find the most profitable alternative for serving its various commitments. This enables NJRES to capture geographic pricing differences across these various regions as delivered natural gas prices change. NJRES’ gross margin is defined as natural gas revenues and management fees less natural gas costs and fixed-demand costs.

In a similar manner, NJRES participates in natural gas storage transactions where it seeks to identify pricing differences that occur over time, as prices for future delivery periods at many locations are readily available. NJRES generates gross margin by locking in the differential between purchasing natural gas at the lowest current or future price and, in a related transaction, selling that natural gas at the highest current or future price, all within the constraints of its contracts and credit policies. Through the use of transportation and storage services, NJRES is able to generate gross margin through pricing differences that occur over the duration of time the assets are held.

NJRES’ portfolio management customers include nonaffiliated utilities and electric generation plants. Services provided by NJRES include optimization of underutilized natural gas assets and basic gas supply functions. Revenue is customarily derived by a combination of a base service fee and incentive-based arrangements.

In fiscal 2006, NJRES had two customers, Hess Corporation and Washington Gas Light, who each represented more than 10 percent of its total revenue. Management believes that the loss of these customers would not have a material effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows as an adequate number of alternative counterparties exist.

Generally, NJRES’ contracts are designated as a hedge for accounting purposes or meet the “normal purchase normal sale” scope exception of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 133 (as amended) “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (SFAS 133). Under the normal purchase normal sale scope exception of SFAS 133 the commodity contract is accounted for under accrual accounting. For each commodity contract designated as a hedge for accounting purposes, the fair value of the effective portion of the hedge is deferred on the balance sheet and recognized in the income statement upon settlement of the hedged transaction. If the commodity contract does not meet the normal purchase normal sale scope exception of SFAS 133, or does not qualify as a hedge for accounting purposes, then it is recorded at fair value as a component of operating revenues.

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New Jersey Resources
Part I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS (Continued)

RETAIL AND OTHER

Retail and Other operations consist primarily of the following unregulated affiliates: NJRHS, which provides service, sales and installation of appliances; CR&R, which holds and develops commercial real estate; NJR Energy, an investor in energy-related ventures through its subsidiary, Pipeline, which consists primarily of its 5.53 percent equity investment in Iroquois, which is a 412-mile natural gas pipeline from the New York-Canadian border to Long Island, New York; NJR Investment, which makes certain energy-related equity investments; and Service Corp., which provides shared administrative services to the Company and all its subsidiaries.

As of September 30, 2006, CR&R’s real estate portfolio consisted of 99 acres of undeveloped land in Monmouth and Atlantic counties and 5 acres of land currently being developed in Monmouth County. In fiscal 2005, CR&R changed its strategy with regard to its 52 acres of undeveloped land in Atlantic County. CR&R is seeking to sell, as opposed to developing, the land. In conjunction with this change in strategy, CR&R estimated its fair value and compared that to its book value. Accordingly, CR&R recognized a pre-tax impairment charge of $3.9 million in fiscal 2005. See Note 1.–Impairment of Long-Lived Assets in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of this change in strategy with regard to the Atlantic County land.

CR&R expects to sell approximately 15 acres of land in November 2006 for approximately $1.7 million, which would result in an anticipated pre-tax gain on sale of approximately $300,000. As this anticipated transaction will contain a lease-back provision with NJRHS of certain portions of buildings to be constructed on the acreage, it is expected that CR&R will recognize the pre-tax gain over the 10 year term of the lease.

CR&R’s 32 acres of undeveloped land in Monmouth County will continue to be developed as market conditions allow.

See Item 2. Properties–Retail and Other for additional information regarding CR&R’s remaining real estate assets.

ENVIRONMENT

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to legislation and regulation by federal, state and local authorities with respect to environmental matters. The Company believes that it is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable environmental laws and regulations.

NJNG is responsible for environmental remediation at certain manufactured gas plant (MGP) sites which contain contaminated residues from former gas manufacturing operations that ceased at these sites by the mid-1950s and in some cases, had been discontinued many years earlier. NJNG is involved with environmental investigations and remedial actions at these MGP sites. In September 2006, with the assistance of an outside consulting firm, NJNG updated an environmental review of the MGP sites, including a review of potential liability for investigation and remedial action. Based on this review, NJNG estimated, at the time of the review, that exclusive of any insurance recoveries, total future expenditures to remediate and monitor the three MGP sites for which it is responsible, will range from $105.4 million to $174.6 million.

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS (Continued)

NJNG’s estimate of these liabilities is based upon known facts, existing technology and enacted laws and regulations in place when the review was completed. Where available information is sufficient to estimate the amount of the liability, it is NJNG’s policy to accrue the full amount of such estimate. Where the information is sufficient only to establish a range of probable liability, and no point within the range is more likely than the other, it is NJNG’s policy to accrue the lower end of the range. Accordingly, NJNG has recorded an MGP remediation liability and a corresponding Regulatory asset of $105.4 million on the Consolidated Balance Sheet, however, actual costs may differ from these estimates. NJNG will continue to seek recovery of these costs through its remediation rider, which is described in more detail in Item 3. Legal Proceedings. See Note 13. Commitments and Contingent Liabilities in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements for information with respect to environmental matters involving material expenditures for the remediation of the MGP sites.

See Item 3. Legal Proceedings for additional information regarding environmental activities.

CR&R is the owner of certain undeveloped land in Monmouth and Atlantic counties, New Jersey, with a net book value at September 30, 2006, of $9.6 million. This land is regulated by the provisions of the Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act (Wetlands Act), which restricts building in areas defined as “freshwater wetlands” and their transition areas. Based upon a third-party environmental engineer’s delineation of the wetland and transition areas in accordance with the provisions of the Wetlands Act, CR&R will file for a Letter of Interpretation from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) as parcels of land are selected for development. If the NJDEP reduces the amount of developable yield from CR&R’s current estimates, a write-down of the carrying value of the undeveloped land may be required. Based upon the environmental engineer’s revised estimated developable yield for undeveloped acreage, the Company does not believe that a write-down of the carrying value of the Monmouth County land was necessary as of September 30, 2006, because the estimated future cash flows from the development of the sites exceed the current investment in the sites.

Although the Company cannot estimate with certainty future costs of environmental compliance, which, among other factors, are subject to changes in technology and governmental regulations, the Company does not presently anticipate any additional significant future expenditure for compliance with existing environmental laws and regulations, other than for the remediation of the MGP sites discussed in Note 13. Commitments and Contingent Liabilities in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements, which would have a material effect upon the capital expenditures, results of operations or competitive position of the Company or its subsidiaries.

EMPLOYEE RELATIONS

The Company and its subsidiaries had 766 and 770 employees at September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. NJNG had 370 and 373 union employees at September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. NJRHS had 84 and 90 union employees at September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. In December 2003, NJNG reached an agreement with Local 1820 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), AFL-CIO, on a 5-year collective bargaining agreement which provides, among other things, for annual base wage increases of 3.25 percent, 3.5 percent, 3.5 percent, 3.75 percent and 4 percent, effective December 4, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007, respectively. In April 2003, NJRHS reached an agreement with the IBEW on a 4-year collective bargaining agreement

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS (Continued)

which provided, among other things, for an annual increase in base wages of 2.5 percent. The agreement also provided for annual increase in wages of 3 percent effective April 3, 2004, 2005 and 2006, with an additional 0.5 percent in “pay at risk” compensation if certain performance measures were met. The Company considers its relationship with employees, including those covered by collective bargaining agreements, to be good.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

When considering any investment in our securities, investors should consider the following information, as well as the information contained under the caption “Forward Looking Statements,” in analyzing our present and future business performance. While this list is not exhaustive, our management also places no priority or likelihood based on their description or order of presentation.

Financial Risks

Ability to access the financial markets

NJR relies on access to both short-term and long-term credit as a significant source of liquidity for capital requirements not satisfied by its cash flow from operations. Any deterioration in NJR’s financial condition could hamper its ability to access the credit markets or otherwise obtain debt financing. Because certain state regulatory approvals may be necessary in order for NJNG to incur debt, NJNG may not be able to access credit markets on a timely basis.

External events could also increase the cost of borrowing or adversely affect the ability to access the financial markets. Such external events could include the following:

·       economic weakness in the United States or in the regions where NJR operates;

·       financial difficulties of unrelated energy companies;

·       capital market conditions generally;

·       market prices for natural gas;

·       the overall health of the natural gas utility industry; and

·       fluctuations in interest rates.

Restrictions on the ability to access financial markets could affect management’s ability to execute NJR’s , NJRES’ and NJNG’s business plan. An inability to access capital may limit the ability to pursue improvements or acquisitions that NJR, or its subsidiaries, may otherwise rely on for future growth.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS (Continued)

Credit rating downgrades could increase financing costs, limit access to the financial markets and negatively affect NJNG

The debt of NJNG is currently rated by the rating agencies Moody’s Investor Services, Inc. and Standard & Poor’s as investment grade. If such ratings are downgraded below investment grade, borrowing costs could increase, as will the costs of maintaining certain contractual relationships.

Lower credit ratings could also adversely affect relationships with state regulators, who may be unwilling to allow NJNG to pass along increased costs to its natural gas customers.

NJRES’ ability to conduct its business is dependent upon the creditworthiness of NJR

If the ability of NJR to issue parental guarantees, or if NJR suffers a reduction in its credit and borrowing capacity, the business prospects of NJRES, which rely on the creditworthiness of NJR, would be adversely affected. NJRES would possibly be required to comply with various margin or other credit enhancement obligations under its trading and marketing contracts, and it may be unable to continue to trade or be able to do so only on less favorable terms with certain counterparties.

Debt covenants may impact financial condition if triggered

NJR and NJNG’s long-term debt obligations contain financial covenants related to debt-to-capital ratios and interest coverage ratios. The failure to comply with any of these covenants could result in an event of default which, if not cured or waived, could result in the acceleration of outstanding debt obligations or the inability to borrow under certain credit agreements. Any such acceleration would cause a material adverse change in NJR or NJNG’s financial condition.

An effective system of internal control is not maintained, leading to material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting

Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires NJR’s management to make an assessment of the design and effectiveness of internal controls. It also requires NJR’s auditors to audit the design and effectiveness of these controls and to form an opinion on both management’s assessment and the effectiveness of these controls. Management’s ongoing assessment of these controls may identify areas of weakness in control design or effectiveness, which may lead to the conclusion that a material deficiency in internal control exists. NJR’s auditors may also identify control deficiencies which may lead to identification of a material weakness in internal control. While NJR’s system of internal controls is reviewed periodically, there exist inherent limitations to control effectiveness, including management override, collusion and lapses in judgment. Should NJR fail to maintain an effective system of internal controls leading to identification of a material weakness, NJR may not be able to produce reliable financial statements, which could result in a loss of investor confidence and a decline in its stock value. In addition, should NJR not be able to produce reliable financial statements, it could limit NJR’s and NJNG’s ability to access the capital markets.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS (Continued)

Operational Risks

NJNG’s operations are subject to certain operating risks

NJNG’s operations are subject to all operating hazards and risks incidental to handling, storing, transporting and providing customers with natural gas, including explosions, pollution, release of toxic substances, fires, storms and other adverse weather conditions and hazards, each of which could result in damage to or destruction of facilities or damage to persons and property. If any of these events were to occur, NJR could suffer substantial losses. Moreover, as a result, NJR has been, and likely will be, a defendant in legal proceedings and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. Although NJR maintains insurance coverage, insurance may not be sufficient to cover all material expenses related to these risks.

Major changes in the supply and price of natural gas may affect financial results

While NJNG expects to provide for the demand of its customers for the foreseeable future, factors impacting suppliers and other third parties including increased competition, further deregulation, transportation costs, transportation availability and drilling for new natural gas resources may impact the supply and price of natural gas. NJNG actively hedges against the fluctuation in the price of natural gas by entering into forward and financial contracts with third parties. Should these third parties fail to perform, it may result in a loss that could have a material impact on the financial position, cash flows and statement of operations of NJR.

NJNG and NJRES rely on third parties to supply natural gas

NJNG’s ability to provide natural gas for its present and projected sales will depend upon its suppliers’ ability to obtain and deliver additional supplies of natural gas, as well as NJNG’s ability to acquire supplies directly from new sources. Factors beyond the control of NJNG, its suppliers and the independent suppliers who have obligations to provide natural gas to certain NJNG customers, may affect NJNG’s ability to deliver such supplies. These factors include other parties’ control over the drilling of new wells and the facilities to transport natural gas to NJNG’s city gate stations, competition for the acquisition of natural gas, priority allocations, impact of severe weather disruptions to natural gas supplies, the regulatory and pricing policies of federal and state regulatory agencies, as well as the availability of Canadian reserves for export to the United States. Energy deregulation legislation may increase competition among natural gas utilities and impact the quantities of natural gas requirements needed for sales service.

NJRES also relies on a firm supply source to meet its energy management obligations for its customers. Should NJRES’ suppliers fail to deliver supplies of natural gas, there could be a material impact on its cash flows and statement of operations.

The use of derivative contracts in the normal course of NJRES’ business could result in financial losses that negatively impact results of operations

NJRES uses derivatives, including futures, forwards and swaps, to manage commodity and financial market risks. NJRES could recognize financial losses on these contracts as a result of volatility in the market values of the underlying commodities or if a counterparty fails to perform under

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS (Continued)

a contract. In the absence of actively quoted market prices and pricing information from external sources, the valuation of these financial instruments can involve management’s judgment or use of estimates. As a result, changes in the underlying assumptions or use of alternative valuation methods could adversely affect the value of the reported fair value of these contracts.

Inflation and increased natural gas costs could adversely impact NJNG’s customer base and customer collections and increase its level of indebtedness

Inflation has caused increases in certain operating and capital costs. NJR has a process in place to continually review the adequacy of NJNG’s rates in relation to the increasing cost of providing service and the inherent regulatory lag in adjusting those rates. The ability to control expenses is an important factor that will influence future results.

Rapid increases in the price of purchased gas may cause NJNG to experience a significant increase in short-term debt because it must pay suppliers for gas when it is purchased, which can be significantly in advance of when these costs may be recovered through the collection of monthly customer bills for gas delivered. Increases in purchased gas costs also slow collection efforts as customers are more likely to delay the payment of their gas bills, leading to higher-than-normal accounts receivable. This situation also results in higher short-term debt levels and increased bad debt expense.

Changes in weather conditions may affect earnings and cash flows

Weather conditions and other natural phenomena can have an adverse impact on earnings and cash flows. Severe weather conditions can impact suppliers and the pipelines that deliver gas to NJNG’s distribution system. Extended mild weather, during either the winter period or summer period, can have a significant impact on demand for and the cost of natural gas. While NJR believes the CIP will mitigate the impact of weather on its gross margin, unusual weather conditions may still have an impact on its earnings. The CIP will not mitigate the impact of unusual weather conditions on its cash flows.

Changes in customer growth may affect earnings and cash flows

NJNG’s ability to increase its utility firm gross margin is dependent upon the new construction housing market, as well as the additional conversion of customers to natural gas from other fuel sources. Should there be a slow down in these markets there could be an adverse impact on NJNG’s utility firm gross margin, earnings and cash flow.

The cost of providing pension and postemployment health care benefits to eligible former employees is subject to changes in pension fund values and changing demographics and may have a material adverse effect on NJR’s financial results

NJR has two defined benefit pension plans and two postemployment health care plans (OPEB) for the benefit of substantially all full-time employees and qualified retirees. The cost of providing these benefits to eligible current and former employees is subject to changes in the market value of

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS (Continued)

the pension and OPEB fund assets and changing demographics, including longer life expectancy of beneficiaries, an expected increase in the number of eligible former employees over the next five years and increases in health care costs.

Any sustained declines in equity markets and reductions in bond yields may have a material adverse effect on the value of NJR’s pension and OPEB funds. In these circumstances, NJR may be required to recognize an increased pension and OPEB expense or a charge to the statement of operations to the extent that the pension and OPEB fund values are less than the total anticipated liability under the plans.

NJRES’ earnings and cash flows are dependent upon an asset optimization strategy of its physical assets with financial transactions

NJRES’ earnings and cash flows are based, in part, on its ability to optimize its portfolio of contractual-based natural gas storage and pipeline assets. The optimization strategy involves utilizing its physical assets to take advantage of differences in natural gas prices between geographic locations and/or time periods. Any change among various pricing points could affect these differentials, which in turn could affect NJRES’ earnings and cash flows.

NJRES is exposed to market risk and may incur losses in wholesale services

The commodity, storage and transportation portfolios at NJRES consist of contracts to buy and sell natural gas commodities, which are settled by physical delivery.

If the values of these contracts change in a direction or manner that NJRES does not anticipate, the value of NJRES’ portfolio could be negatively impacted. NJRES employs a value at risk (VaR) model over these portfolios. VaR is defined as the largest likely potential loss in portfolio value. Based on a 95 percent confidence interval and employing a 1-day and a 10-day holding period for all positions, NJRES’ portfolio of positions as of September 30, 2006 had a 1-day holding period VaR of $600,000 and 10-day holding period VaR of $2.5 million.

Accounting results may not be indicative of the risks NJRES is taking or the expected economic results due to changes in accounting for energy services

Although NJRES enters into various contracts to hedge the value of its energy assets and operations, there can be no assurance that the hedge is operating effectively as intended and will continue to do so. Any uncontemplated change in the underlying item being hedged to that of a different or unforecasted position could result in a substantial negative impact to NJRES’ and NJR’s, financial condition, statement of operations or statement of cash flows.

NJNG and NJRES rely on storage and transportation assets that they do not own or control to deliver natural gas

NJNG and NJRES depend on natural gas pipelines and other storage and transportation facilities owned and operated by third parties to deliver natural gas to wholesale markets and to provide retail energy services to customers. If transportation is disrupted, or if storage capacity is inadequate, including for reasons of force majeure, the ability of NJNG and NJRES to sell and deliver their

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products and services may be hindered. As a result, they may be responsible for damages incurred by their customers, such as the additional cost of acquiring alternative supply at then-current market rates.

Regulatory and Legal Risks

NJR is subject to governmental regulation. Compliance with current and future regulatory requirements and procurement of necessary approvals, permits and certificates may result in substantial costs to NJR

NJR and its subsidiaries are subject to substantial regulation from federal, state and local regulatory authorities. They are required to comply with numerous laws and regulations and to obtain numerous authorizations, permits approvals and certificates from governmental agencies. These agencies regulate various aspects of their business, including customer rates, services and natural gas pipeline operations.

NJR and its subsidiaries cannot predict the impact of any future revisions or changes in interpretations of existing regulations or the adoption of new laws and regulations applicable to them. Changes in regulations or the imposition of additional regulations could influence their operating environment and may result in substantial costs to them.

NJNG may not be able to recover amounts paid to plaintiffs as part of the Long Branch litigation settlement

As fully described in Item 3. Legal Proceedings, during fiscal 2006, NJNG reached a confidential settlement with plaintiffs surrounding claims alleging among other things, personal injury, wrongful death, property damage and claims for medical monitoring stemming from the operation and remediation of the former MGP site in Long Branch. NJNG requested that its insurer, Kemper Insurance Company (Kemper) defend and indemnify claims involving the Long Branch litigation and reimburse NJNG for remediation costs for the Long Branch site that exceed the self-insured retention. Although Kemper has not denied coverage, it has not yet reimbursed NJNG for any costs incurred to date. In October 2004, NJNG instituted suit for declaratory relief against Kemper and the matter is currently being litigated. Management believes that litigation costs and the amounts paid pursuant to the settlement are recoverable through insurance and any liabilities not recoverable through insurance, except for punitive and personal injury damages, would be recoverable, with BPU approval, through the remediation rider. However, there can be no assurance as to the ultimate resolution of the Kemper litigation, the recovery of these amounts or the impact of these matters on NJNG’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Risks related to the regulation of NJNG could affect the rates it is able to charge, its costs and its profitability

NJNG is subject to regulation by federal, state and local authorities. These authorities regulate many aspects of NJNG’s distribution operations, including construction and maintenance of facilities, operations, safety, rates that NJNG can charge customers, rates of return, the authorized cost of capital, recovery of pipeline replacement and environmental remediation costs and relationships with

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its affiliates. NJNG’s ability to obtain rate increases, extend its incentive programs and to maintain its current rates of return depends on regulatory discretion. There can be no assurance that NJNG will be able to obtain rate increases, continue its incentive programs or continue receiving its currently authorized rates of return.

Significant regulatory assets recorded by NJNG could be disallowed for recovery from customers in the future

NJNG records regulatory assets on its financial statements to reflect the rate-making nature and regulatory decision making of the BPU, as allowed by current accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The creation of a regulatory asset allows for the deferral of costs that NJNG would normally, absent the recovery mechanism in rates approved by the BPU to charge its customers, charge to expense on its income statement. Primary regulatory assets that are subject to BPU approval include the underrecovery of BGSS and Universal Service Fund (USF) costs, remediation costs associated with its MGP sites, the WNC and the New Jersey Clean Energy program. If there were to be a change in regulatory position surrounding the collection of these deferred costs there could be a material impact on NJNG’s financial position, operations and cash flows.

NJR’s charter and bylaws may delay or prevent a transaction that stockholders would view as favorable

The certificate of incorporation and bylaws of NJR, as well as New Jersey law, contain provisions that could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing an unsolicited change in control of NJR, which may negatively affect the market price of the common stock or the ability of stockholders to participate in a transaction in which they might otherwise receive a premium for their shares over the then current market price. These provisions also may have the effect of preventing changes in management. In addition, the board of directors is authorized to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval on such terms as the board of directors may determine. The holders of common stock will be subject to, and may be negatively affected by, the rights of any preferred stock that may be issued in the future. In addition, NJR is subject to the New Jersey Shareholders’ Protection Act, which could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of NJR.

Environmental Risks

NJR costs of compliance with present and future environmental laws are significant and could adversely affect its cash flows and profitability

NJR’s operations are subject to extensive federal, state and local environmental statutes, rules and regulations relating to air quality, water quality, waste management, natural resources and site remediation. Compliance with these laws and regulations may require NJR to expend significant financial resources to, among other things, conduct site remediation and perform environmental monitoring. If NJR fails to comply with applicable environmental laws and regulations, even if it is unable to do so due to factors beyond its control, it may be subject to civil liabilities or criminal penalties and may be required to incur significant expenditures to come into compliance. Additionally, any alleged violations of environmental laws and regulations may require NJR to expend significant resources in its defense against alleged violations.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

NJNG (All properties are located in New Jersey)

NJNG owns approximately 6,500 miles of distribution main, 6,300 miles of service main, 210 miles of transmission main and approximately 483,000 meters. Mains are primarily located under public roads. Where mains are located under private property, NJNG has obtained easements from the owners of record.

Additionally, NJNG owns and operates two LNG storage plants in Stafford Township, Ocean County, and Howell Township, Monmouth County. The two LNG plants have an aggregate estimated maximum capacity of 150,000 dths per day. These facilities are used for peaking natural gas supply and emergencies.

NJNG owns four service centers located in Rockaway Township, Morris County; Atlantic Highlands and Wall Township, Monmouth County; and Lakewood, Ocean County. These service centers house storerooms, garages, gas distribution and administrative offices. NJNG leases its headquarters and customer service facilities in Wall Township, customer service offices in Asbury Park, Monmouth County, and a service center in Manahawkin, Ocean County. These customer service offices support customer contact, marketing, economic development and other functions.

Substantially all of NJNG’s properties, not expressly excepted or duly released, are subject to the lien of an Indenture of Mortgage and Deed of Trust to BNY Midwest Trust Company, Chicago, Illinois, dated April 1, 1952, as amended by 31 supplemental indentures (Indenture), as security for NJNG’s bonded debt, which totaled approximately $195 million at September 30, 2006. In addition, under the terms of the Indenture, NJNG could have issued approximately $424 million of additional first mortgage bonds as of September 30, 2006.

Retail and Other (All properties are located in New Jersey)

At September 30, 2006, CR&R owned 122 acres of undeveloped land. See Note 1. Impairment of Long-Lived Assets in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of a change in strategy with regard to CR&R’s 52 acres of Atlantic County land.

See Item 1. Environment for a discussion of regulatory matters concerning undeveloped land owned by CR&R.

NJRHS leases service centers in Town of Dover, Morris County, and Tinton Falls, Monmouth County.

Capital Expenditure Program

See MD&A–Cash Flows for a discussion of anticipated fiscal 2007 and 2008 capital expenditures for each business segment.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

MGP Remediation

NJNG has identified 11 former MGP sites, dating back to the late 1800s and early 1900s, which contain contaminated residues from the former gas manufacturing operations. Ten of these 11 sites in question were acquired by NJNG in 1952. Gas manufacturing operations ceased at these sites at least by the mid-1950s and, in some cases, had been discontinued many years earlier. All of the former gas manufacturing facilities were subsequently dismantled by NJNG or the previous owners. Since October 1989, NJNG has been operating under Administrative Consent Orders or Memoranda of Agreement with the NJDEP covering all 11 sites. These orders and agreements establish the procedures to be followed in developing a final remedial cleanup plan for each site. NJNG is currently involved in administrative proceedings with the NJDEP with respect to the MGP sites in question and is participating in various studies and investigations by outside consultants to determine the nature and extent of any such contaminated residues and to develop appropriate programs of remedial action where warranted. Until September 2000, most of the cost of such studies and investigations had been shared under an agreement with the former owner and operator of 10 of the MGP sites, Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L), a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corporation (FirstEnergy).

In September 2000, a revised agreement was executed pursuant to which NJNG is responsible for two of the sites, while JCP&L is responsible for the remaining eight sites. Also in September 2000, NJNG purchased a 20-year cost-containment insurance policy and an Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Insurance Policy (ERCLIP) for the two sites (see Kemper Insurance Company Litigation below.) On September 14, 2004, the BPU approved a simultaneous transfer of properties whereby NJNG would take ownership of two sites. NJNG continues to participate in the investigation and remedial action and bears the cost related to the one MGP site that was not subject to the original cost-sharing agreement.

In June 1992, the BPU approved a remediation rider through which NJNG may, subject to BPU approval, recover its remediation expenditures, including carrying costs, over rolling 7-year periods. On April 12, 2006, the BPU approved a stipulation that maintained the existing recovery rate of approximately $19.2 million annually. As of September 30, 2006, $83.7 million of previously incurred remediation costs, net of recoveries from customers as well as received and anticipated insurance proceeds, are included in Regulatory assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

In March 1995, NJNG instituted an action for declaratory relief against 24 separate insurance companies in the Superior Court of New Jersey. These insurance carriers provided comprehensive general liability coverage to NJNG from 1951 through 1985. In July 1996, the complaint was amended to name Kaiser-Nelson Steel and Salvage Company (Kaiser-Nelson) and its successors for environmental damages caused by Kaiser-Nelson’s decommissioning of structures at several MGP sites. In September 2001, NJNG reached a favorable settlement with the insurance carrier that provided the majority of NJNG’s coverage. This settlement involved a significant cash payment to NJNG, which was credited to the remediation rider, and was received in four installments ending October 2004. In January 2006, NJNG reached a settlement of all claims with Kaiser-Nelson, which included a cash payment that was received by NJNG and credited to the remediation rider. Consequently, NJNG has now dismissed or reached a settlement with all of its insurance carriers who provided comprehensive general liability coverage to NJNG in connection with the MGP sites.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS (Continued)

NJNG is pursuing the potential settlement of alleged Natural Resource Damage (NRD) claims that might be brought by the NJDEP concerning three MGP sites. NJDEP has not made any specific demands for compensation for alleged injury to groundwater or other natural resources. NJNG’s evaluation of these potential claims is in the early stages, and it is not yet possible to quantify the amount of compensation that NJDEP might seek to recover. NJNG anticipates any costs associated with this matter would be recoverable through the remediation rider.

Long Branch Litigation

Since July 2003, a series of complaints were filed in the New Jersey Superior Court against NJNG, NJR, JCP&L and FirstEnergy. The complaints were originally filed in Monmouth County and, as of February 2004, were designated as a Mass Tort Litigation (the “Mass Tort Litigation”) for centralized case management purposes and transferred to the Bergen County Law Division. There were originally 528 complaints filed. All 528 complaints have been dismissed or settled, as described below.

Among other things, the complaints alleged personal injuries, wrongful death, survivorship actions, property damage and claims for medical monitoring stemming from the operation and remediation of the former MGP site in Long Branch, New Jersey. The relief sought included compensatory damages, the establishment of a medical monitoring fund, disgorgement of alleged profits, cost of cleanup and remediation, natural resource damages and punitive damages.

In December 2005, a confidential settlement between NJNG and the plaintiffs was finalized and approved by the New Jersey Superior Court in Bergen County.

JCP&L and FirstEnergy made a demand upon NJNG and NJR for indemnification pursuant to the September 2000 agreement between these entities and NJNG, whereby NJNG assumed responsibility for the Long Branch site. NJNG has agreed to honor the indemnification terms of the agreement. NJNG’s insurance carriers were initially notified of the claims, and Kemper Insurance Company (Kemper), under the ERCLIP, initially agreed to provide a defense and certain coverage, subject to a reservation of rights regarding various allegations in the complaints, typically not covered by insurance against Kemper (see Kemper Insurance Company Litigation below).

Management believes that litigation costs and the settlement amount are recoverable through insurance (subject to the outcome of the Kemper Insurance Company Litigation). Additionally, management believes that any liabilities not recoverable through insurance, except for punitive and personal injury damages, would be recoverable, with BPU approval, through the remediation rider. However, there can be no assurance as to the ultimate resolution of the recovery of these amounts or the impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Twelve pro se matters have been filed against the Company and NJNG since February 26, 2005. These complaints were filed in the Superior Court of New Jersey Law Division, Bergen County and allege the same claims made in the Mass Tort Litigation. There are five active cases remaining. The others have been dismissed or disposed of by the court. NJNG and the Company believe that the allegations in the complaints have no merit and are vigorously defending against them.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS (Continued)

The amount of total liability resulting from the pro se matters described in the preceding paragraph, if any, and any related insurance recovery cannot be determined at this time; however, based on information and relevant circumstances known at this time, management does not believe these suits will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Kemper Insurance Company Litigation

In October 2004, NJNG instituted suit for declaratory relief against Kemper in the Superior Court of New Jersey Law Division, Ocean County. The matter is under active case management. Kemper provided insurance under an ERCLIP together with a cost containment coverage policy effective July 21, 2000. Prior to the institution of this suit, NJNG requested that Kemper defend and indemnify claims involving the Mass Tort Litigation (see Long Branch Site Litigation, above) and reimburse NJNG for remediation costs for the Long Branch site that exceed the self-insured retention. Kemper reserved its rights regarding various allegations in the Mass Tort Litigation and agreed to participate in the defense of that matter. Although Kemper has not denied coverage, it has not yet reimbursed NJNG for any costs incurred to date. In fiscal 2003, Kemper ceased its underwriting operations and voluntarily commenced a runoff of its business. The Illinois Department of Insurance has approved Kemper’s runoff plan. Management believes that, with the exception of any liability for punitive and personal injury damages, any costs associated with Kemper’s failure to meet its future obligations will be recoverable, with BPU approval, through the remediation rider.

There can be no assurance as to the ultimate resolution of this matter or the impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

General

The Company is party to various other claims, legal actions and complaints arising in the ordinary course of business. In the Company’s opinion, other than as disclosed in this Item 3. The ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

None

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ITEM 4A. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY

 

There is no arrangement or understanding between the officers listed above and any other person pursuant to which they were selected as officers. The following is a brief account of their business experience during the past five years:

Laurence M. Downes, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Downes has held the position of Chairman since September 1996. He has held the position of President and Chief Executive Officer since July 1995. From January 1990 to July 1995, he held the position of Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

Kathleen T. Ellis, Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs

Ms. Ellis has held the position of Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs since December 2004. From December 2002 to November 2004, she held the position of Director of Communications for the Governor of the State of New Jersey, and from August 1998 to December 2002, she held the position of Manager of Communications and Director, State Governmental Affairs for Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G), a combined gas and electric utility company based in Newark, NJ.

Glenn C. Lockwood, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Lockwood has held the position of Chief Financial Officer since September 1995 and the added position of Senior Vice President since January 1996. From January 1994 to September 1995, he held the position of Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer. From January 1990

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ITEM 4A. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY (Continued)

to January 1994, he held the position of Assistant Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer.

Joseph P. Shields, Senior Vice President, NJRES and NJNG

Mr. Shields joined NJNG in 1983 and has been Senior Vice President, NJRES since January 1996. As head of the energy services business unit, he is responsible for natural gas supply acquisitions, negotiating transportation agreements and monitoring natural gas control activities as well as regulated wholesale marketing activity for NJNG.

Mariellen Dugan, Vice President and General Counsel

Ms. Dugan has held the position of Vice President and General Counsel since December 2005. Prior to joining NJR, from February 2004 to November 2005, she held the position of First Assistant Attorney General for the State of New Jersey, and from February 2003 to February 2004, she held the position of Chief of Staff, Executive Assistant Attorney General of the State of New Jersey. From July 1999 to January 2003, Ms. Dugan was Of Counsel to the law firm of Kevin H. Marino P.C. in Newark, NJ.

Kathleen F. Kerr, Vice President, Marketing and Customer Services, NJNG

Mrs. Kerr joined NJNG as Vice President, Marketing and Customer Services in January 2005. Before joining NJNG, Mrs. Kerr was Director of Customer Service for PSE&G from April 2002 to December 2004. Prior thereto, she held various senior management level positions at PSE&G in customer services and other areas from April 1985 to December 2004.

Craig A. Lynch, Vice President, Energy Delivery, NJNG

Mr. Lynch has held the position of Vice President, Energy Delivery, NJNG, since November 2005. He joined NJNG in 1984 and is responsible for all aspects of NJNG’s distribution, transmission, and utility operations. Prior to his current position, Mr. Lynch held the position of Director, Distribution, NJNG from July 1997 to October 2005. His duties were focused on the operation of the distribution system, ensuring that the expansion and maintenance of the system satisfied all federal, state, county and municipal regulations and conformed to all of NJNG’s procedures and practices in an efficient and economical manner.

Thomas J. Massaro, Jr., Vice President, Corporate Strategy, Service; Treasurer, NJNG

Mr. Massaro has held the position of Vice President, Corporate Strategy, since June 2005 and the position of Treasurer at NJNG, since September 2006. He is responsible for the company’s treasury function, strategic planning process and quality. He joined NJNG in June 1989 as a Management Engineer and has held several senior management positions in marketing, operations and customer service, including President of NJRHS from November 2004 to June 2005, and Director of Operations at NJRHS from January 2004 to November 2004.

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ITEM 4A. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY (Continued)

George C. Smith, Vice President, Internal Auditing

Mr. Smith joined NJR in 1984 as an Associate Auditor. He has held the position of Vice President, Internal Auditing since January 2004. In his prior role as Director of Internal Audit from 1998 to 2004, he redefined the internal audit function at NJR, implementing a new approach to identify and analyze controls and related processes.

Mark R. Sperduto, Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, NJNG

Mr. Sperduto joined NJNG in March 2005 and is responsible for the regulatory affairs strategy and supports initiatives on key issues such as price stability and improved service. Previously, Mr. Sperduto held the positions of Issues Manager-Financial and Director—Corporate Issues at PSE&G from November 2001 to March 2005 and held various positions there from August 1991 to November 2001. Mr. Sperduto started his career on the staff of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, holding various positions with the agency from 1980 to 1991.

Deborah G. Zilai, Vice President, Corporate Services, Service

Mrs. Zilai has held the position of Vice President, Corporate Services since June 2005. She joined New Jersey Resources in June 1996 after a twenty-year career at International Business Machines Corporation, where she held various management positions. Her current responsibilities include technology, human resources and supply chain management. From June 1996 to May 2005, she served as Vice President, Information Systems and Services.

Rhonda M. Figueroa, Corporate Secretary

Ms. Figueroa has held the position of Corporate Secretary since March 2006. Her responsibilities include serving as the secretary to the Board of Directors of NJR and its subsidiaries as well as various internal committees. She also serves as the company’s registered agent and keeper of records. Ms. Figueroa joined NJR in 1981. From November 2005 to March 2006 she held the position of Assistant Corporate Secretary, from August 2002 to November 2005, she held the position of Manager of Business Transformation, and from August 2001 to August 2002, she held the position of Manager of Marketing Services for NJRHS.

Linda B. Kellner, Director of Government Affairs and Chief of Staff

Ms. Kellner has held the position of Chief of Staff since February 2001 and the position of Director of Government Affairs since January 2003. She currently is responsible for state and federal legislative activities impacting the energy industry, community relations as they relate to the Company’s environmental remediation projects, the corporate-wide Diversity initiative and preparation of communications for the NJR Board of Directors. From January of 2000 to January of 2003, she held the position of Manager of Government Affairs and from October of 1995 to December of 1999, she served as Manager of Policy Analysis.

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

NJR’s Common Stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol NJR. As of September 30, 2006, NJR had 16,679 holders of record of its common stock.

NJR’s common stock high and low sales prices and dividends paid per share were as follows:

 

The Company has been authorized by its Board of Directors to cumulatively repurchase up to 3.5 million shares of its common stock through a repurchase program that was initiated in 1996. As of September 30, 2006, the Company has repurchased approximately 3.15 million shares of its common stock.

The following table sets forth NJR’s repurchase activity for the quarter ended September 30, 2006:

 

The chief executive officer’s annual certification regarding the Company’s compliance with the NYSE’s corporate governance listing standards was submitted to the NYSE in February 2006.

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New Jersey Resources
Part II

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATISTICS

(a)             Total assets for 2005, 2004 and 2001 have been reclassified to reflect broker margin deposit amounts.

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New Jersey Resources
Part II

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA (Continued)

(a)             Excluding accumulated other comprehensive income.

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New Jersey Resources
Part II

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA (Continued)

NJNG OPERATING STATISTICS

 

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