New Jersey Resources Rises Nearly 100 Spots in the Fortune 1000

Business Wire, May 19, 2009

WALL, N.J. -- New Jersey Resources (NYSE: NJR) recently ranked 572 on Fortune magazine’s annual list of America’s largest corporations. This moved the company ahead 99 places over its 2008 ranking.

“It’s an honor to be included in the Fortune 1000 for an eighth consecutive year and to move upward nearly 100 spots is testament to our consistent growth,” said Laurence M. Downes, chairman and CEO of NJR. “At NJR, we are committed to consistent performance as indicated by raising our dividend over 10 percent in each of the past two years, providing our shareowners with a superior return.”

In 2008, NJR had the highest total rate of return to investors amongst the 20 energy companies included on the list. NJR’s total return to shareowners was 22 percent in 2008 and has averaged 12.4 percent over the past 10 years. In the energy industry, NJR ranked 13th in total revenue for 2008 with $3.8 billion, an increase of more than 26 percent over the previous year.

Each year, Fortune magazine compiles the list of America’s 1,000 biggest companies and ranks them by total revenue. The list is also broken down into industries and lists other financial figures such as earnings per share growth, profits and total return to investors. For more information on this year’s Fortune 1000, visit the magazine’s Web site at www.fortune.com.

New Jersey Resources, a Fortune 1000 company, provides natural gas and clean energy services to customers in New Jersey and in states from the Gulf Coast to New England, and Canada. With over $3 billion in annual revenues, NJR safely and reliably delivers natural gas through more than 6,500 miles of main to nearly half a million customers; develops and manages a diverse portfolio of more than 740,000 dth/d of transportation capacity and nearly 27 Bcf of storage capacity; and provides appliance installation and service to approximately 150,000 homes and businesses. NJR has also made significant investments in the midstream asset sector through equity partnerships, including Steckman Ridge and Iroquois. Through Conserve to Preserve®, NJR is providing customers solutions to meet their energy needs in an environmentally responsible way. For more information about NJR, visit www.njliving.com.