PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC & GAS CO
11-K, 1997-06-30
ELECTRIC & OTHER SERVICES COMBINED
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 11-K


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


    For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996 Commission File Number 1-973

           A. Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if
                 different from that of the issuer named below:

         PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC AND GAS COMPANY THRIFT AND TAX-DEFERRED
                                  SAVINGS PLAN
                                  80 PARK PLAZA
                            NEWARK, NEW JERSEY 07101
                          MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 570
                          NEWARK, NEW JERSEY 07101-0570


         B. Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan
                   and the address of its principal executive office:

                                   See page 2.



<PAGE>



Equities Growth Fund A
TWENTIETH CENTURY INVESTORS, INC.           PROVIDENT NATIONAL ASSURANCE COMPANY
4500 MAIN STREET                            FOUNTAIN SQUARE
P.O. BOX 419200                             CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE 37402
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI 64141-6200
                                            NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Balanced Fund B                             501 MADISON AVENUE
PHOENIX SERIES FUND                         NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10010
101 MUNSON STREET
GREENFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS 01301             AIG LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                                            ONE ALICO PLAZA
Stable Value Fund C                         P.O. BOX 667
THE PRUDENTIAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY       WILMINGTON, DELAWARE 19899
OF AMERICA
PRUDENTIAL PLAZA                            Enterprise Common Stock Fund D
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY 07101                    and ESOP Fund
                                            PUBLIC SERVICE ENTERPRISE GROUP
                                            INCORPORATED
METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY         80 PARK PLAZA
ONE MADISON AVENUE                          NEWARK, NEW JERSEY 07101-1171
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10010-3690
                                            Large Company Stock Index Fund E
                                            BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
PRINCIPAL MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE             280 PARK AVENUE
COMPANY                                     NEW YORK, NEW YORK  10017
THE PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP
DES MOINES, IOWA 50392-0001                 Utilities Equities Fund F
                                            FIDELITY PORTFOLIOS
                                            82 DEVONSHIRE STREET
JOHN HANCOCK MUTUAL LIFE COMPANY            BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02109
JOHN HANCOCK PLACE
P. O. BOX 111                               Intermediate Government Securities G
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02117                 Fund G
                                            VOYAGEUR FUND MANAGERS INC.
                                            90 SOUTH SEVENTH STREET
                                            SUITE 4400
ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY             MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA 55402
ALLSTATE PLAZA WEST
3100 SANDERS ROAD                           International Stock Fund H
NORTHBROOK, ILLINOIS 60062                  T. ROWE PRICE INC.
                                            100 EAST PRATT STREET
TRANSAMERICA OCCIDENTAL LIFE INS.           BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 2120
1150 SOUTH OLIVE
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90015               Mid/Small Company Stock Fund
                                            PUTNAM INVESTMENTS
FIRST ALLMERICA FINANCIAL LIFE              P.O. BOX 41203
INSURANCE COMPANY                           PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND 02940
440 LINCOLN STREET
WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS  01653

J.P.MORGAN
60 WALL STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10260

<PAGE>


                     PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC AND GAS COMPANY
                      THRIFT AND TAX-DEFERRED SAVINGS PLAN

                                      INDEX



                                                                          PAGE
                                                                          ----


INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT........................................       4

STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
  AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995..................................       5 -10

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
  FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 and 1995....................       11-16

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.......................................       17-27

SIGNATURES..........................................................       28

EXHIBIT INDEX.......................................................       29



<PAGE>


  INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT

Employee Benefits Committee of
Public Service Electric and Gas Company:

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits
of the Public Service  Electric and Gas Company Thrift and Tax- Deferred Savings
Plan (the "Plan") as of December 31, 1996 and 1995,  and the related  statements
of changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended.  These
financial  statements  are the  responsibility  of the  Plan's  management.  Our
responsibility  is to express an opinion on these financial  statements based on
our audits.

We  conducted  our  audits  in  accordance  with  generally   accepted  auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes
assessing the  accounting  principles  used and  significant  estimates  made by
management,  as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our  opinion,  such  financial  statements  present  fairly,  in all material
respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan at December 31, 1996
and 1995,  and the changes in net assets  available  for  benefits for the years
then ended in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

     Our  audits  were  conducted  for the  purpose of forming an opinion on the
basic financial  statements taken as a whole.  The  supplemental  information by
fund is presented for the purpose of additional  analysis of the basic financial
statements rather than to present information regarding the net assets available
for benefits and changes in net assets  available for benefits of the individual
funds,  and is not a  required  part of the  basic  financial  statements.  This
information is the responsibility of the Plan's management. Such information has
been  subjected  to the auditing  procedures  applied in our audits of the basic
financial  statements  and, in our  opinion,  is fairly  stated in all  material
respects when considered in relation to the basic financial  statements taken as
a whole.


DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Parsippany, New Jersey
June 25, 1997


<PAGE>
<TABLE>
                                                            PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC AND GAS COMPANY
                                                              THRIFT AND TAX-DEFERRED SAVINGS PLAN
                                                         STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
                                                                    As of December 31, 1996

                                                                (Supplemental Information by Fund)

<CAPTION>

                                                              Equities                                Enterprise
                                                               Growth     Balanced    Stable Value   Common Stock
                                                   Total       Fund A      Fund B        Fund C         Fund D
                                              ---------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                            <C>           <C>          <C>         <C>            <C>          
ASSETS
 Investments, at fair value
    Plan interest in PSE&G Company             $449,181,673  $          - $        -  $  231,052,943 $  42,281,519
    Master Employee Benefit Plan Trust

  Receivables-Interest
       and Dividends                              1,273,044             -          -       1,258,680        13,873
                                              ---------------------------------------------------------------------
         Total Assets                          $450,454,717  $          - $        -  $  232,311,623 $  42,295,392
                                              =====================================================================

LIABILITIES

 Accounts Payable                              $    195,199  $          - $        -  $      143,307 $      38,569
 Transfer to/from PSE&G Company
   Employee Savings Plan                            181,176             -          -         168,771             -
 Forfeitures                                          4,303             -          -               -           598
                                              ---------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total Liabilities                           380,678             -          -         312,078        39,167
                                              ---------------------------------------------------------------------

     Net Assets Available for Benefits         $450,074,039  $          - $        -  $  231,999,545 $  42,256,225
                                              =====================================================================

<FN>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</FN>
</TABLE>



<PAGE>
<TABLE>
                                                            PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC AND GAS COMPANY
                                                                THRIFT AND TAX-DEFERRED SAVINGS PLAN
                                                           STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
                                                                     As of December 31, 1996

                                                           (Supplemental Information by Fund (Continued))

<CAPTION>

                                                                          Intermediate
                                                 Large Company  Utilities  Government   International   Mid/Small
                                                  Stock Index   Equities   Securities       Stock        Company
                                                     Fund E      Fund F      Fund G        Fund H       Stock Fund
                                                 --------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                 <C>           <C>        <C>          <C>            <C>        
ASSETS
 Investments, at fair value
   Plan interest in PSE&G Company
    Master Employee Benefit Plan Trust              $75,429,866   $     -    $5,411,340   $19,716,058    $15,217,008

  Receivables-Interest
       and Dividends                                          -         -             -             -              -
                                                 --------------------------------------------------------------------
         Total Assets                               $75,429,866   $     -    $5,411,340   $19,716,058    $15,217,008
                                                 ====================================================================

LIABILITIES

 Accounts Payable                                   $    90,219   $     -    $    2,804   $   (12,800)   $  (151,503)
 Transfer to/from PSE&G Company
    Employee Savings Plan                                     -         -             -             -              -
 Forfeitures                                              1,885         -            21           304          1,091
                                                 --------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total Liabilities                                92,104         -         2,825       (12,496)      (150,412)
                                                 --------------------------------------------------------------------

     Net Assets Available for Benefits              $75,337,762   $     -    $5,408,515   $19,728,554    $15,367,420
                                                 ====================================================================

<FN>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</FN>
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
                                                                     PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC AND GAS COMPANY
                                                                       THRIFT AND TAX-DEFERRED SAVINGS PLAN
                                                                  STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
                                                                               As of December 31, 1996

                                                                   (Supplemental Information by Fund (Continued))

<CAPTION>

                                                 Conservative    Moderate     Aggressive
                                                    Pre-Mix       Pre-Mix       Pre-Mix                   Holding       Trust
                                                   Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio        ESOP      Account     Loan Fund
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                 <C>          <C>            <C>           <C>           <C>       <C>        
ASSETS
 Investments, at fair value
   Plan interest in PSE&G Company
    Master Employee Benefit Plan Trust              $8,453,723   $20,189,441    $14,165,616   $5,339,552    $89,921   $11,834,686

  Receivables-Interest
       and Dividends                                         -             -              -           93        398             -
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Total Assets                               $8,453,723   $20,189,441    $14,165,616   $5,339,645    $90,319   $11,834,686
                                                 =================================================================================

LIABILITIES

 Accounts Payable                                   $    9,114   $    75,319    $   (16,376)  $    9,686    $43,210   $   (36,350)
 Transfer to/from PSE&G Company
   Employee Savings Plan                                 6,190         6,215              -            -          -             -
 Forfeitures                                                43            87            274            -          -             -
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total Liabilities                               15,347        81,621        (16,102)       9,686     43,210       (36,350)
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Net Assets Available for Benefits              $8,438,376   $20,107,820    $14,181,718   $5,329,959    $47,109   $11,871,036
                                                 =================================================================================

<FN>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</FN>
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
<TABLE>

                                                                  PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC AND GAS COMPANY
                                                                    THRIFT AND TAX-DEFERRED SAVINGS PLAN
                                                               STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
                                                                          As of December 31, 1995

                                                                      (Supplemental Information by Fund)

<CAPTION>

                                                                   Equities                       Fixed        Enterprise
                                                                    Growth        Balanced        Income      Common Stock
                                                       Total        Fund A         Fund B         Fund C         Fund D
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                 <C>            <C>            <C>           <C>             <C>        
ASSETS
 Investments
  Enterprise Common Stock                           $ 65,343,084   $         -    $         -   $          -    $57,979,587
  Equities Growth Fund                                23,362,801    23,362,801              -              -              -
  Balanced Fund                                       12,096,913             -     12,096,913              -              -
  Insurance Annuity Contracts (GICs )                227,071,949             -              -    227,071,949              -
  Stock Index Equities Fund                           52,506,341             -              -              -              -
  Utilities Equities Fund                             12,524,247             -              -              -              -
  Government Securities Fund                           6,535,810             -              -              -              -
  International Stock Fund                            10,913,105             -              -              -              -
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Total Investments                           410,354,250    23,362,801     12,096,913    227,071,949     57,979,587
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Participant Loans Receivable                        13,154,101             -              -              -              -
  Receivables-Interest
       and Dividends                                   3,051,675        91,252            (86)     1,299,563      1,018,887
  Cash and Temporary Cash
       Investments                                     4,483,854             -              -      3,556,107        265,618
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Total Assets                               $431,043,880   $23,454,053    $12,096,827   $231,927,619    $59,264,092
                                                 ===========================================================================

LIABILITIES

 Accounts Payable                                   $  1,591,802   $    96,698    $    (3,140)  $    272,992    $    35,405
 Purchases of Securities                               1,007,474             -              -              -      1,007,474
 Forfeitures                                             100,450             -              -              -              -
 Other                                                   (45,570)       (5,765)           487        (34,433)           825
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total Liabilities                              2,654,156        90,933         (2,653)       238,559      1,043,704
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Net Assets Available for Benefits              $428,389,724   $23,363,120    $12,099,480   $231,689,060    $58,220,388
                                                 ===========================================================================

<FN>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</FN>
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
                                                                 PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC AND GAS COMPANY
                                                                   THRIFT AND TAX-DEFERRED SAVINGS PLAN
                                                              STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
                                                                         As of December 31, 1995

                                                               (Supplemental Information by Fund (Continued))

<CAPTION>

                                                  Stock Index     Utilities    Government    T.Rowe Price
                                                    Equities      Equities     Securities   Internat.Stock
                                                     Fund E        Fund F        Fund G         Fund H        ESOP Fund
                                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                 <C>           <C>            <C>          <C>              <C>       
ASSETS
 Investments
  Enterprise Common Stock                           $         -   $         -    $        -   $           -    $7,363,497
  Equities Growth Fund                                        -             -             -               -             -
  Balanced Fund                                               -             -             -               -             -
  Insurance Annuity Contracts (GICs)                          -             -             -               -             -
  Stock Index Equities Fund                          52,506,341             -             -               -             -
  Utilities Equities Fund                                     -    12,524,247             -               -             -
  Government Securities Fund                                  -             -     6,535,810               -             -
  International Stock Fund                                    -             -             -      10,913,105             -
                                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Total Investments                           52,506,341    12,524,247     6,535,810      10,913,105     7,363,497
                                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Participant Loans Receivable                                -             -             -               -             -
  Receivables-Interest
       and Dividends                                    498,935       (10,121)       43,863           4,514             -
  Cash and Temporary Cash
       Investments                                       99,598             -            47             104            56
                                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Total Assets                               $53,104,874   $12,514,126    $6,579,720   $  10,917,723    $7,363,553
                                                 =========================================================================

LIABILITIES

 Accounts Payable                                   $   603,860   $   (12,269)   $   33,454   $       4,593        44,350
 Purchases of Securities                                      -             -             -               -             -
 Forfeitures                                                  -             -             -               -             -
 Other                                                   (6,684)            -             -               -             -
                                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total Liabilities                               597,176       (12,269)       33,454           4,593        44,350
                                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Net Assets Available for Benefits              $52,507,698   $12,526,395    $6,546,266   $  10,913,130    $7,319,203
                                                 =========================================================================

<FN>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</FN>
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
                  PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC AND GAS COMPANY
                      THRIFT AND TAX-DEFERRED SAVINGS PLAN
               STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
                          As of December 31, 1995
                  (Supplemental Information by Fund (Concluded))



                                                    Holding        Trust
                                                    Account       Loan Fund
                                                 ----------------------------
<S>                                                <C>           <C>        
ASSETS
 Investments
  Enterprise Common Stock                          $          -  $         -
  Equities Growth Fund                                        -            -
  Balanced Fund                                               -            -
  Insurance Annuity Contracts (GICs )                         -            -
  Stock Index Equities Fund                                   -            -
  Utilities Equities Fund                                     -            -
  Government Securities Fund                                  -            -
   International Stock Fund                                   -            -
                                                 ----------------------------
         Total Investments                                    -            -
                                                 ----------------------------


  Participant Loans Receivable                                -   13,154,101
  Receivables-Interest
       and Dividends                                    104,868            -
  Cash and Temporary Cash
       Investments                                      562,324            -
                                                 ----------------------------
         Total Assets                              $    667,192  $13,154,101
                                                 ============================

LIABILITIES

 Accounts Payable                                  $    515,859  $         -
 Purchases of Securities                                      -            -
 Forfeitures                                            100,450            -
 Other                                                        -            -
                                                 ----------------------------
        Total Liabilities                               616,309            -
                                                 ----------------------------

     Net Assets Available for Benefits             $     50,883  $13,154,101
                                                 ============================

<FN>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</FN>
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
                                                               PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC AND GAS COMPANY
                                                                 THRIFT AND TAX-DEFERRED SAVINGS PLAN
                                                                  STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
                                                                        AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
                                                                  For the Year Ended December 31, 1996

                                                                   (Supplemental Information by Fund)

<CAPTION>

                                                              Equities                                           Enterprise
                                                               Growth          Balanced       Stable Value      Common Stock
                                               Total           Fund A           Fund B           Fund C            Fund D
                                            -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                          <C>               <C>              <C>              <C>               <C>        
ADDITIONS
 Participant Deposits                        $ 28,928,457      $ 2,934,890      $ 1,318,684      $ 11,817,518      $ 2,769,588
 Employers Contributions                        7,724,863          742,012          335,692         3,280,090          798,778
 Interfund Transfers - net                              -      (29,036,498)     (13,312,480)          862,747      (12,640,657)
                                            -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total Deposits and Contributions         36,653,320      (25,359,596)     (11,658,104)       15,960,355       (9,072,291)
                                            -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Plan Interest in Master Trust
 Investment Income                             34,518,823        3,544,014          776,735        15,263,104       (2,279,879)
                                            -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Total Additions                        71,172,143      (21,815,582)     (10,881,369)       31,223,459      (11,352,170)
                                            -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DEDUCTIONS
 Withdrawals                                   48,892,615        1,593,537        1,232,029        30,536,100        4,567,152
 Dividends Paid                                   460,678                -                -                 -                -
 Forfeitures                                      145,221           24,050            7,723            26,591           14,901
 Transfer to/(from) PSE&G Company
   Employee Savings Plan                          (10,686)         (70,049)         (21,641)          350,283           29,940
                                            -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total Deductions                       49,487,828        1,547,538        1,218,111        30,912,974        4,611,993
                                            -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET
 ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS                 21,684,315      (23,363,120)     (12,099,480)          310,485      (15,964,163)

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR
BENEFITS  -  BEGINNING OF YEAR                428,389,724       23,363,120       12,099,480       231,689,060       58,220,388
                                            -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE
FOR BENEFITS  -  END OF YEAR                 $450,074,039      $         -      $         -      $231,999,545      $42,256,225
                                            ===================================================================================

<FN>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</FN>
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
                                                                  PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC AND GAS COMPANY
                                                                   THRIFT AND TAX-DEFERRED SAVINGS PLAN
                                                                     STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
                                                                           AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
                                                                    For the Year Ended December 31, 1996

                                                                (Supplemental Information by Fund (Continued))

<CAPTION>

                                                                                Intermediate
                                                  Large Company     Utilities     Government  International    Mid/Small
                                                   Stock Index       Equities     Securities      Stock         Company
                                                      Fund E          Fund F        Fund G        Fund H      Stock Fund
                                                 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
 <S>                                                <C>               <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>        
 ADDITIONS
 Participant Deposits                              $    5,247,928    $ 1,009,102   $  568,171    $ 1,911,492   $   364,252
 Employers Contributions                                1,334,628        256,733      149,824        460,294       100,243
 Interfund Transfers - net                              8,094,861    (13,211,523)  (1,356,553)     6,103,664    14,945,307
                                                 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total Deposits and Contributions                 14,677,417    (11,945,688)    (638,558)     8,475,450    15,409,802
                                                 --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Plan Interest in Master Trust
 Investment Income                                     13,410,802        479,587      133,502      2,462,033         2,161
                                                 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total Additions                                28,088,219    (11,466,101)    (505,056)    10,937,483    15,411,963
                                                 --------------------------------------------------------------------------

DEDUCTIONS
 Withdrawals                                            5,410,105      1,077,617      625,992      2,127,678        42,832
 Dividends Paid                                                 -              -            -              -             -
 Forfeitures                                               34,030          8,440        8,581         16,493         1,711
 Transfer to/(from) PSE&G Company
   Employee Savings Plan                                 (185,980)       (25,763)      (1,878)       (22,112)            -
                                                 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total Deductions                                5,258,155      1,060,294      632,695      2,122,059        44,543
                                                 --------------------------------------------------------------------------

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET
 ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS                         22,830,064    (12,526,395)  (1,137,751)     8,815,424    15,367,420

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR
BENEFITS  -  BEGINNING OF YEAR                         52,507,698     12,526,395    6,546,266     10,913,130             -
                                                 --------------------------------------------------------------------------

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE
FOR BENEFITS  -  END OF YEAR                       $   75,337,762    $         -   $5,408,515    $19,728,554   $15,367,420
                                                 ==========================================================================

<FN>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</FN>
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
                                                       PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC AND GAS COMPANY
                                                        THRIFT AND TAX-DEFERRED SAVINGS PLAN
                                                          STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
                                                                AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
                                                         For the Year Ended December 31, 1996

                                                     (Supplemental Information by Fund (Concluded))


<CAPTION>

                                             Conservative Moderate   Aggressive
                                              Pre-Mix     Pre-Mix      Pre-Mix                 Holding      Trust
                                             Portfolio   Portfolio    Portfolio     ESOP       Account     Loan Fund
                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------------

<S>                                           <C>        <C>          <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>        
ADDITIONS
 Participant Deposits                         $  117,400 $   450,068  $   419,364 $        -  $         - $         -
 Employers Contributions                          33,228     110,232      123,109          -            -           -
 Interfund Transfers - net                     8,213,054  19,092,946   13,270,165   (704,973)           -    (320,060)
                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total Deposits and Contributions         8,363,682  19,653,246   13,812,638   (704,973)           -    (320,060)
                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------------

Plan Interest in Master Trust
 Investment Income                               183,442     541,475      435,380   (451,671)      (3,774)     21,912
                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total Additions                        8,547,124  20,194,721   14,248,018 (1,156,644)      (3,774)   (298,148)
                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------------

DEDUCTIONS
 Withdrawals                                     108,705      86,814       63,729    376,876            -   1,043,449
 Dividends Paid                                        -           -            -    460,678            -           -
 Forfeitures                                          43          87        2,571          -            -           -
 Transfer to/(from) PSE&G Company
   Employee Savings Plan                               -           -            -     (4,954)           -     (58,532)
                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total Deductions                         108,748      86,901       66,300    832,600            -     984,917
                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------------

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET
 ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS                 8,438,376  20,107,820   14,181,718 (1,989,244)      (3,774) (1,283,065)

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR
BENEFITS  -  BEGINNING OF YEAR                         -           -            -  7,319,203       50,883  13,154,101
                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------------

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE
FOR BENEFITS  -  END OF YEAR                  $8,438,376 $20,107,820  $14,181,718 $5,329,959  $    47,109 $11,871,036
                                             =========================================================================

<FN>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</FN>
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
                                                           PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC AND GAS COMPANY
                                                             THRIFT AND TAX-DEFERRED SAVINGS PLAN
                                                             STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
                                                                   AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
                                                            For the Year Ended December 31, 1995

                                                               (Supplemental Information by Fund)

<CAPTION>

                                                             Equities                    Fixed      Enterprise
                                                              Growth      Balanced      Income     Common Stock
                                                  Total       Fund A       Fund B       Fund C        Fund D
                                             --------------------------------------------------------------------

<S>                                           <C>           <C>          <C>          <C>            <C>        
ADDITIONS
 Participant Deposits                         $ 27,430,459  $ 2,636,045  $ 1,259,883  $ 13,440,286   $ 3,514,341
 Employers Contributions                         8,586,992      798,319      386,678     4,278,454     1,162,496
 Interfund Transfers - net                               -    5,039,266    1,992,320    (2,391,755)  (11,873,357)
                                             --------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total Deposits and Contributions          36,017,451    8,473,630    3,638,881    15,326,985    (7,196,520)
                                             --------------------------------------------------------------------

Income
 Interest                                       15,238,679            -            -    15,198,811        29,144
 Dividends                                      11,438,768    3,294,388      911,623             -     4,246,390
 Loan Interest Income                                    -       67,557       36,663       466,996       130,067
                                             --------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total Income                            26,677,447    3,361,945      948,286    15,665,807     4,405,601
                                             --------------------------------------------------------------------

Appreciation(Depreciation) of Investments       24,045,742     (854,855)     950,542        43,710     8,121,182
                                             --------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total Additions                         86,740,640   10,980,720    5,537,709    31,036,502     5,330,263
                                             --------------------------------------------------------------------

DEDUCTIONS
 Withdrawals                                    27,714,601      712,581      566,824    18,712,599     3,457,371
 Dividends Paid                                    544,112            -            -             -             -
 Forfeitures                                       100,431       21,072        6,704        40,972         9,561
 Transfer to/(from) PSE&G Company
   Employee Savings Plan                           469,847        4,661      (41,453)      269,130       243,817
                                             --------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total Deductions                        28,828,991      738,314      532,075    19,022,701     3,710,749
                                             --------------------------------------------------------------------

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET
 ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS                  57,911,649   10,242,406    5,005,634    12,013,801     1,619,514

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR
BENEFITS  -  BEGINNING OF YEAR                 370,478,075   13,120,714    7,093,846   219,675,259    56,600,874
                                             --------------------------------------------------------------------

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE
FOR BENEFITS  -  END OF YEAR                  $428,389,724  $23,363,120  $12,099,480  $231,689,060   $58,220,388
                                             ====================================================================

<FN>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</FN>
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
                                                                        PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC AND GAS COMPANY
                                                                         THRIFT AND TAX-DEFERRED SAVINGS PLAN
                                                                          STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
                                                                                AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
                                                                         For the Year Ended December 31, 1995

                                                                      (Supplemental Information by Fund (Continued))

<CAPTION>

                                                      Stock Index      Utilities      Government     T.Rowe Price
                                                        Equities        Equities      Securities    Internat.Stock
                                                         Fund E          Fund F         Fund G          Fund H         ESOP Fund
                                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                     <C>             <C>             <C>            <C>              <C>        
ADDITIONS
 Participant Deposits                                   $  3,638,339    $   920,075     $   565,616    $  1,455,874     $         -
 Employers Contributions                                   1,092,008        291,584         168,475         408,978               -
 Interfund Transfers - net                                 5,829,324      3,135,243        (307,337)       (584,566)       (430,315)
                                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total Deposits and Contributions                    10,559,671      4,346,902         426,754       1,280,286        (430,315)
                                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Income
 Interest                                                          -              -               -             163               8
 Dividends                                                 1,232,411        527,187         345,580         337,076         544,113
 Loan Interest Income                                         99,598         28,435          13,927          37,783               -
                                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total Income                                       1,332,009        555,622         359,507         375,022         544,121
                                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Appreciation(Depreciation) of Investments                 11,453,890      1,757,616         679,124         746,505       1,053,740
                                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total Additions                                   23,345,570      6,660,140       1,465,385       2,401,813       1,167,546
                                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DEDUCTIONS
 Withdrawals                                               2,273,899        653,635         276,340         823,621         536,937
 Dividends Paid                                                    -              -               -               -         544,112
 Forfeitures                                                  13,454          4,296           1,691           2,681               -
 Transfer to/(from) PSE&G Company
   Employee Savings Plan                                     (27,346)        (7,698)        (16,339)        (16,048)           (173)
                                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total Deductions                                   2,260,007        650,233         261,692         810,254       1,080,876
                                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET
 ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS                            21,085,563      6,009,907       1,203,693       1,591,559          86,670

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR
BENEFITS  -  BEGINNING OF YEAR                            31,422,135      6,516,488       5,342,573       9,321,571       7,232,533
                                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE
FOR BENEFITS  -  END OF YEAR                            $ 52,507,698    $12,526,395     $ 6,546,266    $ 10,913,130     $ 7,319,203
                                                    ================================================================================

<FN>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</FN>
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
                PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC AND GAS COMPANY
                 THRIFT AND TAX-DEFERRED SAVINGS PLAN
                       STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
                             AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
                  For the Year Ended December 31, 1995

              (Supplemental Information by Fund (Concluded))


<CAPTION>

                                                Holding       Trust
                                                Account      Loan Fund
                                             ---------------------------
<S>                                           <C>           <C>        
ADDITIONS
 Participant Deposits                         $          -  $         -
 Employers Contributions                                 -            -
 Interfund Transfers - net                               -     (408,823)
                                             ---------------------------
      Total Deposits and Contributions                   -     (408,823)
                                             ---------------------------

Income
 Interest                                           10,553            -
 Dividends                                               -            -
 Loan Interest Income                                    -     (881,026)
                                             ---------------------------
        Total Income                                10,553     (881,026)
                                             ---------------------------

Appreciation(Depreciation) of Investments           59,997       34,291
                                             ---------------------------
        Total Additions                             70,550   (1,255,558)
                                             ---------------------------

DEDUCTIONS
 Withdrawals                                        30,685     (329,891)
 Dividends Paid                                          -            -
 Forfeitures                                             -            -
 Transfer to/(from) PSE&G Company
   Employee Savings Plan                                 -       61,296
                                             ---------------------------
        Total Deductions                            30,685     (268,595)
                                             ---------------------------

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET
 ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS                      39,865     (986,963)

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR
BENEFITS  -  BEGINNING OF YEAR                      11,018   14,141,064
                                             ---------------------------

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE
FOR BENEFITS  -  END OF YEAR                  $     50,883  $13,154,101
                                             ===========================


<FN>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</FN>
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1.       SUMMARY OF THE PLAN

The Board of Directors of Public Service  Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G or the
Company)  adopted  the PSE&G  Thrift and  Tax-Deferred  Savings  Plan  (Plan) to
encourage thrift and savings by eligible employees (Eligible Employees).  It was
first  offered to Eligible  Employees in 1981.  Effective  January 1, 1996,  the
Trust that held the Plan assets  became the PSE&G Master  Employee  Benefit Plan
Trust,  (Master Trust), a Master Trust covering this Plan and the PSE&G Employee
Savings Plan (Savings Plan).  (See Note 4. Investment in Master Trust.) The Plan
was last  amended  December 16, 1996,  effective  December 16, 1996,  except for
changes  listed  below,  which are  effective  as of January  1, 1997.  The Plan
amendments  made during 1996 provide the following,  effective  October 1, 1996:
Equities  Growth Fund A,  Balanced  Fund B, and  Utilities  Equities Fund F were
discontinued;  Mid/Small  Company Stock Fund,  Conservative  Pre-Mix  Portfolio,
Moderate Pre-Mix Portfolio,  and Aggressive Pre-Mix Portfolio were added; Fund C
was renamed Stable Value Fund rather than Fixed Income Fund,  Fund E was renamed
Large Company Stock Index Fund rather than Stock Index Equities Fund, and Fund G
was renamed  Intermediate  Government  Securities  Fund  rather than  Government
Securities Fund. Additionally, the Plan merged with U.S. Energy Partners' 401(k)
Plan.  The Plan accepted  balances from U.S.  Energy  Partners' Plan with graded
vesting for its employer  match.  Participation  with respect to the U.S. Energy
Partners'   accounts  became  effective  December  16,  1996.  An  employee  may
participate in the Plan from the date of hire.  Matching  Company  Contributions
begin when an employee has completed  one Year of Service.  Any Employee who, at
the time  he/she  becomes  employed  by the  Company,  is a  participant  in the
Employee  Savings  Plan,  shall  automatically  be  enrolled in the Plan and all
balances in the Employee  Savings Plan shall be  transferred to the Plan and all
contribution  and investment  elections in effect for the Employee  Savings Plan
shall remain in effect.  Participation in the Plan is entirely voluntary, except
with respect to those employees who participated in the Employee Stock Ownership
Plan (ESOP) Fund as a result of their  participation  in the PSE&G Tax Reduction
Act  Employee  Stock  Ownership  Plan  (TRASOP)  and/or the PSE&G  Payroll-Based
Employee Stock  Ownership Plan (PAYSOP),  which plans were merged into this Plan
in 1988.  Eligible  Employees  are those  employees  not covered by a collective
bargaining  agreement  and who were  hired by  PSE&G or any  affiliate  of PSE&G
participating  in the Plan  (together  hereafter  each called an  "Employer"  or
collectively  "Employers").  Certain Eligible Employees may also elect to have a
distribution  from another  qualified  corporate plan  contributed as a rollover
contribution  with the  approval of the  Employee  Benefits  Committee  of PSE&G
(Committee), the Plan Administrator.

The following changes were effective January 1, 1997:

1. to allow Basic Deposits in any integral multiple of 1% of Compensation to a
   total of 8%, rather than 6%;
2. to allow Supplemental Deposits in any integral multiple of 1% of Compensation
   to a total of 17%, rather than 19%;
3. all  administrative  expenses as well as taxes and  brokerage costs  will  be
   deducted  from the  Trust Fund, rather than  paid directly by the Company and
   its Participating Affiliates;

Under the Plan,  each  participating  Employee  (Participant)  may elect to make
basic deposits to Investment  Funds of such  Participant's  choosing  within the
Thrift Account Fund of 1% - 8% of his/her  compensation  (Basic  Deposits),  and
his/her  respective  Employer  will  contribute  an amount equal to 50% thereof,
subject to certain exceptions and limitations (Employer Contributions). Employer
Contributions with respect to Basic Deposits in excess of 6% of compensation are
made  in  shares  of  the  Common  Stock  of  Public  Service  Enterprise  Group
Incorporated (Enterprise),  the parent of the Company, and are not available for
transfer  to  any  other  Fund  or  withdrawal   from  the  Plan  prior  to  the
Participant's termination of employment. In addition, a Participant may elect to
make supplemental  deposits to such Funds in increments of 1% of Compensation up

<PAGE>

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

to an  additional  17% of  Compensation  (Supplemental  Deposits),  subject   to
certain limitations, without any corresponding matching Employer Contribution. A
Participant may designate such Basic and/or Supplemental Deposits as Nondeferred
(post-income  tax  contributions)  or Deferred  (pre-income tax  contributions).
Also,  each  Participant  may, within any Plan Year, make one or more Additional
Lump Sum Deposits on a  Nondeferred  basis in the minimum  amount of $250 and in
such total amounts which when aggregated with such Participant's  Basic Deposits
and Supplemental Deposits, do not exceed 25% of his or her Compensation for that
Plan Year. The maximum  amount of Deferred  Deposits to a  Participant's  Thrift
Account  may  have  to be  limited  to less  than  25% of  Compensation  to meet
requirements of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (IRC). The extent
of any such  limitation  will be  determined  from time to time by the Committee
based on the actual  pattern of Deferred  Deposits by all  Participants.  If the
maximum  permitted  percentage  of  Compensation  for  Thrift  Account  Deferred
Deposits is reduced,  then all  Deferred  Deposits in excess of such  percentage
will  automatically  be treated as  Nondeferred  Deposits.  This will  result in
taxable income to the affected  Participants for Deferred  Deposits in excess of
any limit so  established.  The  Committee  will attempt to assure that any such
limitation will apply only to future contributions,  but it is possible that, in
order  to  meet   requirements  of  the  IRC,  the  limitation   will,  in  some
circumstances,  have to be  applied  retroactively.  Deferred  Deposits  may not
generally  be withdrawn  until age 59-1/2.  Nondeferred  Deposits,  on the other
hand,   may  be  withdrawn  at  any  time  subject  to  certain   penalties  and
restrictions.

Thrift Account Deposits are made through payroll deductions by the Participant's
Employer,  rollover contributions from other qualified plans and Additional Lump
Sum Deposits.  Deposits by Participants  and  contributions  by their respective
Employers are  transferred to a Trustee and separately held in the Plan's Thrift
Account  Fund of the  Trust  Fund for  investment  and  other  transactions,  as
directed by  Participants.  Participants  are  entitled to choose which funds to
invest Deposits and Employer  Contributions  in from among the Investment  Funds
offered under the Plan.

Bankers Trust Company is the Trustee of the Master Trust established pursuant to
the Plan.

Loan Provisions

The Trustee may,  subject to the approval of PSE&G's  Director,  Performance and
Rewards,  lend a Participant  who is employed by an Employer an amount up to 50%
of the value of the vested portion of such Participant's Thrift Account and ESOP
Fund, but no more than the aggregate value of such Participant's  Thrift Account
or $ 50,000,  whichever is less.  Any  Participant  loan must be for a principal
amount  of $ 1,000  or more and no  Participant  may have  more  than two  loans
outstanding at any time. All loans,  including interest thereon,  must be repaid
by payroll  deductions in equal monthly  installments  over a period of 12 to 60
months as selected by the  Participant.  However,  a Participant  may prepay any
such loan in full or in part in a lump sum in accordance  with such rules as may
be prescribed by the  Committee.  A Participant  may not apply for more than one
loan in any calendar  year. A loan to a Participant  is considered an investment
of such  Participant's  Thrift  Account and  repayments of principal of any loan
together with interest  thereon,  are invested in the Thrift Account  Investment
Funds of the Plan in accordance with the Participant's  then-current  investment
direction for Deposits and Employer Contributions.

Each  loan bears  interest  at a rate  fixed from time to time by the  Committee
taking into  consideration  the then-current  interest rates being charged.  The
rate of interest  applicable to any loan at its inception  remains in effect for
the duration of such loan. During 1996, the rate of interest on loans granted to
Participants,  by quarter  and  starting  with the first  quarter,  was  8-1/2%,
8-1/4%,  8-1/4%,  and 8-1/4%.  (See Note 2.  SIGNIFICANT  ACCOUNTING  POLICIES -
Loans.)


<PAGE>

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

2.       SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Accounting

The  financial  statements  of the Plan have been  prepared in  accordance  with
generally accepted accounting principles.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial  statements in conformity  with generally  accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect  the  reported  amounts  of assets  and  liabilities  and  disclosure  of
contingent  assets and  liabilities at the date of the financial  statements and
the  reported  amounts of revenues  and expenses  during the  reporting  period.
Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Dividends and Interest

Dividends,  interest,  and other income  attributable to each Investment Fund of
the Plan are  reinvested in that  Investment  Fund to the extent not used to pay
direct  expenses of that Fund.  (See Expenses of Plan,  below.) All Deposits and
Employer  Contributions  in the  Stable  Value  Fund C are  invested  in  either
traditional   Guaranteed  Investment  Contracts  (traditional  GICs)  issued  by
insurance companies, or Benefit Responsive Agreements (Synthetic GICs) which are
similar to traditional GICs in terms of their ability to preserve  principal and
provide a stable rate of return.  Synthetic  GICs are different in that they are
backed  or  secured  by  a  separate  portfolio  of  high-quality  fixed  income
securities  that are directly  owned by the Fund.  The portfolio is wrapped by a
"book value wrapper",  usually a financial institution other than the manager of
the Synthetic GIC, which  provides a crediting  rate and which  guarantees  that
benefit   repayments  will  be  made  at  book  value.   Deposits  and  Employer
Contributions  earn  interest  at the  composite  rate of all GICs in which  the
assets of such fund are then invested.  Such rate varies as such Traditional and
Synthetic  GICs  mature  or are  entered  into,  and as  Deposits  and  Employer
Contributions are made to and withdrawn from such contracts. Under the contracts
in effect during 1996, the composite  rate of interest  earned by such assets so
invested  was not less than  6.73%.  ESOP Fund  Participants  receive  quarterly
payments directly from the Trustee equal to the dividends paid to the Trustee on
the shares of Enterprise Common Stock held for their ESOP Fund.

Reclassifications

Certain  reclassifications of prior year data have been made to conform with the
current presentation.

Valuation of Investments

Investments of Equities Growth Fund A, Balanced Fund B, Enterprise  Common Stock
Fund  D,  Large  Company  Stock  Index  Fund  E,  Utilities   Equities  Fund  F,
Intermediate  Government  Securities Fund G, International Stock Fund H, and the
shares of  Enterprise  Common  Stock held by the ESOP Fund are based upon quoted
market  values.  The value of Stable Value Fund C is based on the contract value
of all GICs in which the  assets of the fund are  invested.  The  contracts  are
included in the financial  statements at contract value, which approximates fair
value.  Temporary  investments are valued at cost which approximates fair market
value. Securities transactions are accounted for on the trade date.

The Plan's  financial  statements  have been  prepared  in  accordance  with the
financial reporting  requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974, as amended (ERISA),  as permitted by the applicable  rules.  Under such
requirements,  realized  gains  and  losses  from  securities  transactions  are
computed using an adjusted cost basis as prescribed by the Department of Labor's

<PAGE>

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

(DOL) Rules and Regulations  for Reporting and Disclosure.  The adjusted cost is
the fair value of the  security at the  beginning  of the Plan year,  or cost if
acquired  since that date.  Unrealized  gains and losses on securities  held for
investment  are  computed  on the basis of the change in fair value  between the
beginning and end of the Plan year.

Expenses of Plan

Effective January 1, 1997, all expenses incurred with the  administration of the
Plan, including taxes and brokerage costs, will be deducted from the Trust Fund.
However,  in 1996  and  1995,  all  expenses  incurred  in  connection  with the
administration  of the Plan,  including  expenses of the Trustee,  but excluding
brokerage  commissions  and taxes  relating to the sale of shares of  Enterprise
Common Stock at the direction of  Participants,  were paid directly by PSE&G and
its Participating Affiliates.

The  assets  of Common  Stock  Fund D and ESOP  Fund are  invested  in shares of
Enterprise  Common Stock.  Shares of Enterprise Common Stock required for Fund D
are  purchased  by the Trustee  either  directly  from  Enterprise,  at its sole
discretion,  on the open  market  through  a broker  or from the ESOP  Fund.  In
situations  where  the  ESOP is in a  "sell"  position  and Fund D is in a "buy"
position,  Fund D will buy from  the ESOP at the  closing  price on the NY Stock
Exchange. In such case, no brokerage commissions are charged on the transaction.
Otherwise, all shares sold for Common Stock Fund D and the ESOP Fund are sold by
the  Trustee on the open  market  through a broker.  Brokerage  commissions  and
transfer taxes are paid by the Trust Fund.

Loans

A loan to a Participant is considered an investment of such Participant's Thrift
Account and the principal amount of the loan is treated as a separate investment
within the various sub-accounts of the Participant's Thrift Account.  Repayments
of the principal amount of the loan are credited to each such  sub-account,  and
repayments of principal along with any accrued  interest thereon are invested in
the Plan's Investment Funds in the same manner as the Participant's then-current
investment direction for Deposits and Employer  Contributions.  Loan amounts are
taken from  sub-accounts  of a  Participant's  Thrift  Account in the  following
order:

(a)  Deferred Deposits
(b)  Unmatured Vested Employer Contributions
(c)  Matured Vested Employer Contributions
(d)  Rollover Contributions
(e)  Unmatured Post-1986 Nondeferred Deposits
(f)  Matured Post-1986 Nondeferred Deposits
(g)  Pre-1987 Nondeferred Deposits

Each loan is secured by an assignment of the Participant's  entire right,  title
and  interest  in and to the Trust  Fund to the  extent of the loan and  accrued
interest thereon (See Note 1. SUMMARY OF THE PLAN - Loan Provisions).

Interfund Transfers - ESOP Fund to Thrift Account

Participants  are permitted to transfer all, but not less than all,  shares from
their ESOP Funds to their Thrift Accounts. To effect such transfers, the Trustee
will sell the shares of Enterprise Common Stock held in the ESOP Fund and invest
the proceeds in the Thrift Account Funds designated by the Participant. The cash
value of each share of Enterprise  Common Stock transferred will be equal to the
price per share of Enterprise Common Stock actually received by the Trustee. Any
such transfer is treated as a rollover contribution.

<PAGE>

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

Holding Account

The Holding Account is a vehicle to record the transactions from either one fund
to another  fund or to an outside  source.  Daily  balances  which remain in the
account are invested in temporary  cash accounts  until  disbursement.  Activity
within the Holding Account includes inflows and outflows of cash related to fund
transfers,  employee  and  employer  contributions,   withdrawals,  receipts  of
dividends and interest, benefit payments and loan transactions.

Vesting

Employer  Contributions to a Participant's Thrift Account are immediately vested
upon a Participant's  completion of five years of service with the Employer,  or
when a Participant is eligible for retirement,  is disabled, laid off or dies. A
Participant  will become vested in the value of his or her U.S.  Energy Partners
Employer Contribution Subaccount according to the following schedule:

Years of Service                                     Vested Percentage
- ----------------                                     -----------------
Less than one                                               0%
One                                                        20%
Two                                                        40%
Three                                                      60%
Four                                                       80%
Five or More                                              100%

All amounts credited to a Participant's ESOP Fund are fully vested.

Penalties Upon Withdrawal

If a Participant withdraws vested Employer  Contributions and/or Deposits before
they have been in the Plan for twenty-four  months,  such Participant  loses the
matching  Employer  Contributions  on Deposits made during the subsequent  three
months.  Distributions to Participants electing to withdraw Nondeferred Deposits
and Employer  Contributions are made as soon as practicable after such elections
are received by the Plan's Record Keeper.  Nondeferred Deposits may be withdrawn
at any time but  certain  penalties  may  apply.  Deferred  Deposits  may not be
withdrawn  during   employment  prior  to  age  59-1/2  except  for  reasons  of
extraordinary  financial  hardship  and  to the  extent  permitted  by the  IRC.
Distributions to Participants of approved hardship  withdrawals are made as soon
as practicable after such approval.

Benefits Payable

As of December 31, 1996 and 1995, the net assets available for benefits included
benefits due to Participants who elected to withdraw from the Plan in the amount
of $700,450  and  $365,707,  respectively.  Such  amounts are not  reflected  as
liabilities in the financial statements of the Plan.

3.       INVESTMENTS

The financial statements of the Plan include the following:

         a.       Thrift Account Investment Funds

                  (1)    Effective October, 1996, the Equities Growth Fund A was
                         discontinued.   Prior  to  that  date,  the  assets  of
                         Equities  Growth  Fund A were  invested  in the capital
                         stock of the Twentieth  Century  Investors Inc.  Growth
                         Fund (the "Twentieth  Century Growth Fund"), a no-load,
                         open-ended   mutual  fund.   The   prospectus  for  the
                         Twentieth  Century Growth Fund indicated that such fund
                         invests  primarily  in the  common  stock of  companies
                         considered  by its  investment  manager  to have  above
                         average potential for capital appreciation.

<PAGE>

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

                  (2)      Effective  October,  1996,  the  Balanced  Fund B was
                           discontinued.  Prior  to that  date,  the  assets  of
                           Balanced Fund B were invested in the capital stock of
                           Phoenix Balanced Fund, a no-load,  open-ended  mutual
                           fund. The  prospectus  for the Phoenix  Balanced Fund
                           indicated  that  such  fund  invests  primarily  in a
                           combination   of  equity   and  fixed   income   debt
                           securities  that its  investment  manager  expects to
                           provide  current income along with long-term  capital
                           growth and conservation of capital.

                  (3)      The  assets of Stable  Value Fund C are  invested  in
                           GICs and  similar  investment  instruments  issued by
                           insurance  companies or other financial  institutions
                           which  contractually   provide  for  a  guarantee  of
                           principal  and interest for the  respective  contract
                           periods. All contract values approximate fair values.

                          The  following  Traditional  GICs  are  continuing  in
                          effect:

                          (i)    A four and one half year contract expiring June
                                 30, 1997 and two five year  contracts  expiring
                                 December   31,  1997  and   December  31  1998,
                                 respectively, with Provident National Assurance
                                 Company,  effective interest rates of 6.67% and
                                 6.81%, and 5.85% respectively,  contract values
                                 of $19,420,500,  $24,478,147,  and $18,866,187,
                                 respectively;

                          (ii)   A  five  year  and a  four  and  one-half  year
                                 contract  with   Metropolitan   Life  Insurance
                                 Company,  expiring  June 30, 1998 and  December
                                 31,  1999,  respectively,   effective  interest
                                 rates  of  5.70%   and   8.17%,   respectively,
                                 contract values of $17,537,177 and $13,779,635,
                                 respectively;

                          (iii)  A  five  year   contract   with  Allstate  Life
                                 Insurance  Company,  expiring  June  30,  1998,
                                 effective  interest  rate  of  6.00%,  contract
                                 value of $18,371,532;

                          (iv)   A five year contract with the Principal  Mutual
                                 Life  Insurance  Company,  expiring on December
                                 31,  1999,  effective  interest  rate of 8.15%,
                                 contract value of $15,198,841;

                          (v)    A  four  and  one-half   year   contract   with
                                 Transamerica Occidental Life Insurance Company,
                                 expiring   January  1,  1997,   and   effective
                                 interest  rate  of  6.72%,  contract  value  of
                                 $7,535,772;

                          (vi)   A  five  year  contract  with  First  Allmerica
                                 Financial Life Insurance Company, formerly with
                                 State Mutual Life Insurance  Company,  expiring
                                 January 4,  1999,  effective  interest  rate of
                                 5.66%, contract value of $18,864,933; and

                          (vii)  A  five  year   contract  with  New  York  Life
                                 Insurance  Company,  expiring  June  30,  1999,
                                 effective  interest  rate  of  7.07%,  contract
                                 value of $31,314,213.

                          The following Synthetic GIC is continuing in effect:

                          An open-ended  contract  with J.P.  Morgan as the book
                          value  wrapper  and  Pacific   Investment   Management
                          Company managing the underlying portfolio providing an
                          effective  credit rate,  as of December  31, 1996,  of
                          7.15% and a contract value of $35,580,299.  The credit
                          rate for the Synthetic  GIC effective  January 1, 1997
                          through March 31, 1997 was 7.22%.


<PAGE>

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)


                  (4)      The  assets of  Enterprise  Common  Stock  Fund D are
                           invested by the Trustee in Enterprise Common Stock.

                  (5)      The assets of Large  Company  Stock  Index Fund E are
                           invested   by   the   Trustee   in   Bankers    Trust
                           Institutional  Equity  500 Index Fund  ("Stock  Index
                           Equities  Fund"),  a no-load  mutual fund  managed by
                           Bankers   Trust   Company,   so  as  to  achieve  the
                           approximate  return of the  Standard  and  Poor's 500
                           Composite Stock Index.

                  (6)      Effective October,  1996, the Utilities Equities Fund
                           F was discontinued. Prior to that date, the assets of
                           Utilities  Equities  Fund  F  were  invested  in  the
                           capital stock of Fidelity  Utilities Income Fund (the
                           "Fidelity  Utilities  Fund"),  a no-load,  open-ended
                           mutual  fund.   The   prospectus   for  the  Fidelity
                           Utilities  Fund  indicated  that  such  fund  invests
                           primarily  in equity  securities  of gas and electric
                           utility   companies  and  companies  engaged  in  the
                           communications  field.  The Fidelity  Utilities  Fund
                           may, from time to time,  include shares of Enterprise
                           Common Stock or PSE&G Preferred Stock.

                  (7)      The assets of Intermediate Government Securities Fund
                           G are invested in the capital  stock of Voyageur U.S.
                           Government   Securities   Fund  (the  "Voyageur  U.S.
                           Government Securities Fund"), an open-end diversified
                           mutual fund.  The  prospectus  of the  Voyageur  U.S.
                           Government  Securities  Fund indicates that such fund
                           invests  primarily  in U.S.  Treasury  bills,  notes,
                           bonds and other obligations issued or unconditionally
                           guaranteed  by  the  U.S.  Government,  or  otherwise
                           backed  by the  full  faith  and  credit  of the U.S.
                           Government,  and repurchase  agreements fully secured
                           by such obligations.

                  (8)      The assets of International Stock Fund H are invested
                           in the capital  stock of T. Rowe Price  International
                           Funds Inc.  (the "T. Rowe Price  International  Stock
                           Fund"),  a  no-load,   open-ended  mutual  fund.  The
                           prospectus for the T. Rowe Price  International Stock
                           Fund  indicates  that such fund invests  primarily in
                           common stocks of established, non-U.S. companies.
                  
                  (9)      The assets of  Mid/Small  Company  Stock Fund,  a new
                           investment option in 1996, are invested in the Putnam
                           Vista Fund,  an  open-ended,  diversified  management
                           investment  company  mutual fund.  The prospectus for
                           the  Putnam  Vista  Fund  indicates  that  such  fund
                           invests in a  diversified  portfolio of common stocks
                           which  may  include  widely-traded  common  stocks of
                           larger companies as well as common stocks of smaller,
                           less well-known companies.

                  (10)     The assets of the Conservative  Pre-Mix Portfolio,  a
                           new  investment  option  in  1996,  are  invested  in
                           specific  percentages  within a mix of five  existing
                           funds: 40% Stable Value, 20% Intermediate  Government
                           Securities,   20%  Large  Company  Stock  Index,  10%
                           International Stock, and 10% Mid/Small Company Stock.
                           Every quarter the Trustee re-aligns this portfolio to
                           match its conservative  (risk and return)  investment
                           strategy of 60% in bonds and 40% in stocks.

                  (11)     The assets of the Moderate Pre-Mix  Portfolio,  a new
                           investment  option in 1996,  are invested in specific
                           percentages  within a mix of five existing funds: 25%
                           Large  Company  Stock Index,  20% Stable  Value,  20%
                           International  Stock,  20%  Intermediate   Government
                           Securities,  and 15% Mid/Small  Company Stock.  Every
                           quarter the trustee re-aligns this portfolio to match
                           its moderate (risk and return) investment strategy of
                           60% in stocks and 40% in bonds.

                  (12)     The assets of the Aggressive Pre-Mix Portfolio, a new
                           investment  option in 1996,  are invested in specific
                           percentages  within a mix of four existing funds: 30%
                           Large Company Stock Index, 25%  International  Stock,
                           25% Mid/Small  Company  Stock,  and 20%  Intermediate
                           Government  Securities.  Every  quarter  the  Trustee
                           re-aligns  this  portfolio  to match  its  aggressive
                           (risk  and  return)  investment  strategy  of  80% in
                           stocks and 20% in bonds.

         b.       ESOP Fund

                  Shares of Enterprise Common Stock held as assets of the Plan's
                  ESOP Fund were  transferred to the Plan in 1988 as a result of
                  the  spin-off  and merger with the Plan of the  non-bargaining
                  unit  portions  of  PSE&G's  former  TRASOP  and  PAYSOP.   No
                  additional  contributions  in or transfers  into the ESOP Fund
                  are presently permitted or were allowed during 1996.

<PAGE>

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

       c.     PARTICIPANTS
                                                 Participants
                                               As of December 31,
                                               ------------------

                                              1996          1995
                                              ----          ----

Total Plan Participants                      6,156          6,116

Participants by Fund

Equities Growth Fund A (1)                    --            1,825
Balanced Fund B (1)                           --            1,177
Stable Value Fund C                          3,914          4,324
Enterprise Common Stock Fund D               2,099          2,672
Large Company Stock Index Fund E             2,622          2,407
Utilities Equities Fund F (1)                  --           1,127
Interm. Government Securities Fund G           749            832
International Stock Fund H                   1,495            936
Mid/Small Company Stock Fund (2)             1,091           --
Conservative Pre-Mix Portfolio (2)             435           --
Moderate Pre-Mix Portfolio (2)                 930           --
Aggressive Pre-Mix Portfolio (2)             1,045           --
ESOP Fund                                      559           674

- ---------------------------------------

     (1) Fund discontinued in 1996
     (2) New Investment Fund in 1996


4.       INVESTMENT IN MASTER TRUST

Effective  January 1, 1996,  the Plan's  investments  are included in the Master
Trust which was  established  for the  investment  of assets of the Plan and the
Savings Plan. Accordingly,  a ratio is used to separate the Thrift Plan balances
from the Savings Plan balances  based on the  Statement of Net Assets  Available
for Plan Benefits.  The ratio is calculated by dividing  individual  fund totals
from one Plan by the Master Trust totals.  Each  percentage has been carried out
to the eighth  decimal.  As of December 31, 1996, the Plan's interest in the net
assets of the Master Trust was approximately 67%.

The  following  table  presents  the fair values of  investments  for the Master
Trust.

<PAGE>

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

                                                     December 31, 1996
                                                     -----------------
Investments at fair value:
  Participant Loans                                     $  22,451,539
  Cash and Cash equivalents                                41,413,758
  Common Stock of Public Service Enterprise Group          75,274,227
  Mutual Funds                                            218,696,575
  Guaranteed Insurance Contracts                          308,079,794
                                                        -------------
                                                        $ 665,915,893
                                                        =============

Investment income for the Master Trust is as follows:

  Net appreciation in fair value of Mutual Funds        $  30,374,351
  Net depreciation in fair value of Common Stock
   of Enterprise                                          (11,569,069)
  Interest from Mutual Funds                                   45,265
  Interest from Common Stock of Enterprise Funds              154,745
  Interest from Guaranteed Insurance Contracts             20,845,795
  Dividends from Mutual Funds                               2,148,761
  Dividends from Common Stock of Enterprise                 6,676,501
                                                        -------------
                                                        $  48,676,349
                                                        =============

5.       UNIT VALUE INFORMATION - THRIFT ACCOUNT INVESTMENT FUNDS

Unit values of the  Investment  Funds are determined at the end of each business
day  (Valuation  Date) by dividing the market value of net assets  available for
benefits  by  the  number  of  units  allocated  to all  Participants  as of the
respective Valuation Date.

New units are allocated to each Participant's  Thrift Account at the end of each
business day by dividing Deposits made by, or on behalf of, such Participant for
such business day and the related Employer Contributions,  if any, together with
repayment  of the  principal  amount  of any  loan to the  Participant's  Thrift
Account including interest earned thereon by the unit value determined as of the
end of the Valuation Date. If a Participant makes a transfer between  Investment
Funds,  makes a  withdrawal,  receives  a  distribution  or a loan,  or  makes a
rollover  contribution,  the  amount  so  transferred,  withdrawn,  distributed,
loaned,  or rolled over is also  determined by the unit value of each Investment
Fund  as of the  applicable  Valuation  Date  for  such  transaction. 

<PAGE>

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -(Continued)

The  unit  information of investments by Investment Fund as of the last business
day of each year is as follows:


                                                  Unit Value
Investment Fund                         Year       (Dollars)     Number of Units
- ----------------                        ----      -----------    ---------------

Equities Growth Fund A (1)              1996       10.000000            ---
                                        1995       19.390000      1,204,889.170

Equities Fund B (1)                     1996       10.000000            ---
                                        1995       16.800000        720,054.345

Stable Value Fund C                     1996       12.154370     19,100,248.073
                                        1995       11.387117     19,941,127.241

Enterprise Common Stock Fund D          1996        9.916231      4,264,794.978
                                        1995       11.708390      4,951,969.229

Large Company Stock Index Fund E        1996       11.659470      6,461,508.254
                                        1995       13.970000      3,758,506.872

Utilities Equities Fund F (1)           1996       10.000000            ---
                                        1995       16.160000        775,015.285

Intermediate Government Securities
Fund G                                  1996       10.507339        514,736.944
                                        1995       10.780339        606,271.287

International Stock Fund H              1996       10.966759      1,798,940.875
                                        1995       12.230000        892,322.567

Mid/Small Company Stock Fund (2)        1996        9.984863      1,539,071.772

Conservative Pre-Mix Portfolio (2)      1996       10.316256        817,968.831

Moderate Pre-Mix Portfolio (2)          1996       10.369822      1,939,070.825

Aggressive Pre-Mix Portfolio (2)        1996       10.399420      1,364,886.881

- -----------------------------------

(1)     Investment Fund discontinued in 1996
(2)     New Investment Fund in 1996

ESOP FUND VALUATION

Enterprise  Common Stock share value is determined  by using the closing  market
price on the New York Stock  Exchange as reported in the Wall Street  Journal as
Composite  Transactions.  If a Participant  withdraws shares, the shares are, at
the Participant's  election,  either  distributed to such Participant or sold by
the Trustee and the proceeds,  net of commissions and taxes,  are distributed to
the Participant.

The  ESOP  Fund  information  as of the  last  business  day of each  year is as
follows:

                    Year         Price per share         Number of shares
                    ----         ---------------         ----------------

ESOP Fund           1996             $27.250                 195,947
                    1995             $30.625                 240,441

<PAGE>

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Concluded)

5.    FEDERAL INCOME TAXES

The Company  believes that the Plan and its related Trust including the portions
of the former TRASOP and PAYSOP applicable to non-bargaining  unit Participants,
which portions were spun-off and merged with the Plan effective January 1, 1988,
are qualified under Sections 401(a) and 501(a) of the IRC and, as such, the Plan
is exempt from taxation on its earnings.  A determination letter to such effect,
dated  December  29,  1995,  was obtained  from the  Internal  Revenue  Service.
Participants are not taxed on Deferred  Deposits,  Employer  Contributions or on
the earnings  credited to their Thrift Account Fund, until  distribution of such
Thrift Account Fund.

6.    COMPLIANCE WITH ERISA

 The Plan is generally  subject to the  provisions  of Titles I and II of ERISA,
including the provisions with respect to reporting,  disclosure,  participation,
vesting and fiduciary responsibility.  However, it is not subject to the funding
requirements  of Title I, and benefits  under the Plan are not guaranteed by the
Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation under Title IV of ERISA.



<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES





Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
trustees (or other persons who administer the Plan) have duly caused this annual
report to be signed by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.





                     Public Service Electric and Gas Company
                      Thrift and Tax-Deferred Savings Plan
             -------------------------------------------------------
                                 (Name of Plan)




                               By M. PETER MELLETT
                     ---------------------------------------
                                M. PETER MELLETT
                            Chairman of the Employee
                               Benefits Committee




Date: June 30, 1997


<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number
- --------------


     1                      Public  Service  Electric  and Gas  Company  Thrift 
                            and  Tax-Deferred  Savings Plan, as  amended as  of 
                            December 16,  1996,  and  effective  December 16,
                            1996.


     2                     Independent Auditors' Consent.



                                                                       EXHIBIT I



















                     PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC AND GAS COMPANY

                      THRIFT AND TAX-DEFERRED SAVINGS PLAN




















                                             Amended Effective December 16, 1996




<PAGE>


                     PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC AND GAS COMPANY

                      THRIFT AND TAX-DEFERRED SAVINGS PLAN

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


Page

ARTICLE I             Amendment and Restatement - Purpose....................  1

               Section 1.1  Amendment and Restatement of the Plan............  1
               Section 1.2  Purpose..........................................  1

ARTICLE II            Definitions............................................  1

               Section 2.1   Account.........................................  1
               Section 2.2   Active Participant..............................  1
               Section 2.3   Additional Lump Sum Deposits....................  1
               Section 2.4   Affiliate.......................................  1
               Section 2.5   Balanced Fund...................................  1
               Section 2.6   Basic Deposits..................................  2
               Section 2.7   Board of Directors..............................  2
               Section 2.8   Cash Balance Plan...............................  2
               Section 2.9   Code............................................  2
               Section 2.10 Commissioner.....................................  2
               Section 2.11 Committee or Employee Benefits Committee.........  2
               Section 2.12 Company..........................................  2
               Section 2.13 Compensation.....................................  2
               Section 2.14 Deferred.........................................  3
               Section 2.15 Deposits.........................................  3
               Section 2.16 Disability.......................................  4
               Section 2.17 Effective Date...................................  4
               Section 2.18 Eligible Employee................................  4
               Section 2.19 Employee.........................................  4
               Section 2.20 Employee Savings Plan............................  4
               Section 2.21 Employer.........................................  4
               Section 2.22 Employer Contributions...........................  4
               Section 2.23 Enrollment Date..................................  4
               Section 2.24 Enterprise.......................................  4
               Section 2.25 Enterprise Common Stock..........................  4
               Section 2.26 Enterprise Common Stock Fund.....................  4
               Section 2.27 Equities Fund....................................  5
               Section 2.28 Equities Index Fund..............................  5
               Section 2.29 ERISA............................................  5
               Section 2.30 ESOP Account.....................................  5
               Section 2.31 Fixed Income Fund................................  5
               Section 2.32 Funds............................................  5
               Section 2.33 General Manager..................................  5
               Section 2.34 Government Obligations Fund......................  5
               Section 2.35 Highly Compensated Employee......................  5
               Section 2.36 Highly Compensated Participant...................  7
               Section 2.37 Hour of Service..................................  7
               Section 2.38 Investment Manager...............................  7
               Section 2.39 Lay Off or Laid Off..............................  7
               Section 2.40 Leased Employee..................................  7
               Section 2.41 Matured..........................................  7
               Section 2.42 Nondeferred......................................  8
               Section 2.43 Participant......................................  8
               Section 2.44 Participating Affiliate..........................  8
               Section 2.45 Plan.............................................  8
               Section 2.46 Plan Year........................................  8
               Section 2.47 Qualified Domestic Relations Order or "QDRO".....  8
               Section 2.48 Recordkeeper.....................................  9
               Section 2.49 Required Beginning Date..........................  9
               Section 2.50 Retirement.......................................  9
               Section 2.51 Retirement Choice Program........................  9
               Section 2.52 Rollover Contributions...........................  9
               Section 2.53 Supplemental Deposits............................  9
               Section 2.54 Thrift Account...................................  9
               Section 2.55 Trust Agreement.................................. 10
               Section 2.56 Trust Fund....................................... 10
               Section 2.57 Trustee.......................................... 10
               Section 2.58 Year of Service.................................. 10

ARTICLE III           Participation.......................................... 11

               Section 3.1  Participation.................................... 11
               Section 3.2  Effective Date of  Participation................. 11

ARTICLE IV            Deposits............................................... 12

               Section 4.1    Basic Deposits................................. 12
               Section 4.2    Supplemental Deposits.......................... 12
               Section 4.3    Additional Lump Sum Deposits................... 13
               Section 4.4    Method of Deposits............................. 13
               Section 4.5    Limit on Deferred Deposits..................... 13
               Section 4.6    Distribution of Excess Deferral Amounts........ 13
               Section 4.7    Code Section 401(k) Limits on Deferred Deposits 14
               Section 4.8    Unmatched Employer Contributions............... 15


<PAGE>


               Section 4.9   Code Section 401(m) Limits on Nondeferred
                             Deposits and Employer Contributions............. 15
               Section 4.10  Changing Deposit Percentages.................... 16
               Section 4.11  Suspension of Deposits.......................... 16
               Section 4.12  Limit on Additional Lump Sum Deposits........... 17
               Section 4.13  Elections....................................... 17
               Section 4.14  Rollover Contributions.......................... 17
               Section 4.15  Transfer from the Employee Savings Plan......... 17

ARTICLE V             Employer Contributions................................. 17

               Section 5.1    Amount and Payment of Employer Contributions... 17
               Section 5.2    Employer Contributions in Enterprise Common
                              Stock.......................................... 18
               Section 5.3    Reduction of Employer Contributions by
                              Forfeitures.................................... 18
               Section 5.4    Maximum Annual Additions....................... 18
               Section 5.5    Return of Employer Contributions............... 18
               Section 5.6    Allocation from Cash Balance Plan.............. 18

ARTICLE VI            Thrift Account Investments............................. 18

               Section 6.1    Investment of Deposits, Rollover
                              Contributions and Employer Contributions....... 19
               Section 6.2    Change in Investment Direction................. 19
               Section 6.3    Transfer of Investments........................ 19
               Section 6.4    Loans.......................................... 20

ARTICLE VII    Thrift Account Funds.......................................... 20

               Section 7.1    Establishment of Funds......................... 20
               Section 7.2    Enterprise Common Stock Fund................... 22

ARTICLE VIII   Thrift Accounts............................................... 22

               Section 8.1    Establishment of Thrift Accounts............... 22
               Section 8.2    Measure of Thrift Accounts..................... 23
               Section 8.3    Valuation of Funds............................. 23
               Section 8.4    Valuation of Thrift Accounts................... 23
               Section 8.5    Separate Accounting............................ 23

ARTICLE IX            ESOP Accounts.......................................... 23

               Section 9.1    Maintenance of Separate Accounts............... 23
               Section 9.2    Allocation of Distributions.................... 23
               Section 9.3    Withdrawals or Transfers During Employment..... 24
               Section 9.4    Dividends and Other Income..................... 25
               Section 9.5    Voting of ESOP Account Common Stock............ 25

ARTICLE X             Vesting................................................ 25

               Section 10.1   Vesting of Employer Contributions.............. 26
               Section 10.2   Vesting of Deposits, Rollover Contributions
                              and the ESOP Account........................... 27

ARTICLE XI            Account Distributions and Withdrawals.................. 27

               Section 11.1  Distribution Upon Retirement, Disability,
                             Lay Off or Death................................ 27
               Section 11.2  Distribution Upon Other Termination
                             of Employment................................... 27
               Section 11.3  Withdrawal of Nondeferred Deposits
                             and Employer Contributions During Employment.... 28
               Section 11.4  Withdrawals of Deferred Deposits During
                             Employment After Age 591/2...................... 29
               Section 11.5  Hardship Withdrawals............................ 29
               Section 11.6  Suspension of Participation..................... 32
               Section 11.7  Transfer of Employment.......................... 32
               Section 11.8  Form of Distributions........................... 32
               Section 11.9  Time of Distributions........................... 34
               Section 11.10 Limitation on Post Age 701/2Distributions....... 34
               Section 11.11 Distribution in the Case of Certain Disabilities 35
               Section 11.12 Loans........................................... 35
               Section 11.13 Inability to Locate Payee....................... 37
               Section 11.14 Federal Income Tax Withholding
                                 on Distributions and Withdrawals............ 37
               Section 11.15 Direct Rollover to Another Plan or IRA.......... 37

ARTICLE XII    Limits on Benefits and Contributions Under
                      Qualified Plans........................................ 38

               Section 12.1   Definitions.................................... 38
               Section 12.2   Annual Addition Limits......................... 45
               Section 12.3   Overall Limit.................................. 47
               Section 12.4   Special Rules.................................. 48

ARTICLE XIII   Top-Heavy Requirements........................................ 48

               Section 13.1   Definitions.................................... 48
               Section 13.2   General Requirements........................... 50
               Section 13.3   Maximum Compensation........................... 50
               Section 13.4   Vesting........................................ 50
               Section 13.5   Minimum Contributions.......................... 50
               Section 13.6   Participants Under Defined Benefit Plans....... 52
               Section 13.7   Super Top-Heavy Plans.......................... 52
               Section 13.8   Determination of Top Heaviness................. 52
               Section 13.9   Determination of Super Top Heaviness........... 52
               Section 13.10  Calculation of  Top-Heavy Ratios............... 53
               Section 13.11  Cumulative Accounts and Cumulative
                                  Accrued Benefits........................... 53

ARTICLE XIV    Beneficiary in Event of Death................................. 54

               Section 14.1  Designation and Change of Beneficiary........... 54

ARTICLE XV     Administration................................................ 56

               Section 15.1  Named Fiduciary................................. 56
               Section 15.2  Administration.................................. 56
               Section 15.3  Control and Management of Assets................ 57
               Section 15.4  Benefits to be Paid from Trust.................. 57
               Section 15.5  Expenses........................................ 57

ARTICLE XVI    Claims Procedure.............................................. 58

               Section 16.1  Filing of Claims................................ 58
               Section 16.2  Appeal of Claims................................ 58
               Section 16.3  Review of Appeals............................... 58

ARTICLE XVII   Merger or Consolidation....................................... 58

               Section 17.1  Merger or Consolidation......................... 58

ARTICLE XVIII  Non-Alienation of Benefits.................................... 58

               Section 18.1  Non-Alienation of Benefits...................... 58

ARTICLE XIX    Amendments.................................................... 59

               Section 19.1  Amendment Process............................... 59

ARTICLE XX     Termination................................................... 59

               Section 20.1  Authority to Terminate.......................... 59
               Section 20.2  Distribution Upon Termination................... 59

ARTICLE XXI    Plan Confers No Right to Employment........................... 59

               Section 21.1  No right to Employment.......................... 59

ARTICLE XXII   Alternate Payees.............................................. 60

               Section 22.1  Alternate Payees Under QDROs.................... 60

ARTICLE XXIII  Construction.................................................. 60

               Section 23.1  Governing Law................................... 60
               Section 23.2  Headings........................................ 60

<PAGE>


                     PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC AND GAS COMPANY

                      THRIFT AND TAX-DEFERRED SAVINGS PLAN

                                    ARTICLE I

                               AMENDMENT - PURPOSE

     Section 1.1 Amendment of the Plan.  Public Service Electric and Gas Company
hereby further amends, on December 16, 1996 and effective December 16, 1996, its
Thrift and Tax-Deferred  Savings Plan, a savings,  profit-sharing and tax-credit
employee stock ownership plan for its Employees and those of its Affiliates. The
Plan was  originally  adopted as of July 1, 1981 and was  formerly  known as the
Public Service Electric and Gas Company Thrift Plan.

     Section 1.2  Purpose.  The purpose of the Plan is to  encourage  and assist
thrift and savings by eligible  non-bargaining  unit employees of Public Service
Electric  and Gas Company and certain of its  Affiliates  through  tax-sheltered
forms of investment.

                                   ARTICLE II

                                   DEFINITIONS

     When used herein, the words and phrases  hereinafter defined shall have the
following meanings unless a different meaning is clearly required by the context
of the Plan:

     Section 2.1  "Account"  shall mean the separate  account  maintained in the
Plan for each  Participant  which consists of the  Participant's  Thrift Account
(including, for some Participants,  the U.S. Energy Partners Account) and/or the
Participant's ESOP Account.

     Section  2.2  "Active  Participant"  shall  mean  a  Participant  who is an
Eligible  Employee  presently making  Nondeferred  Deposits or for whom Deferred
Deposits are presently being made.

     Section 2.3 "Additional  Lump Sum Deposits" shall mean that amount which is
contributed  to the Plan by a Participant on a lump sum basis.  Additional  Lump
Sum Deposits shall not be entitled to be matched by Employer Contributions.

     Section 2.4 "Affiliate" shall mean any organization  which is a member of a
controlled  group of corporations (as defined in Code section 414(b) as modified
by Code section 415(h)) which includes the Company,  or any trades or businesses
(whether or not incorporated) which are under common control (as defined in Code
section 414(c) as modified by Code section 415(h)) with the Company, or a member
of an  affiliated  service  group (as  defined  in Code  section  414(m))  which
includes the Company,  or any other entity  required to be  aggregated  with the
Company pursuant to regulations promulgated pursuant to Code section 414(o).

     Section  2.5  "Balanced  Fund"  shall  mean the  Fund or Funds  established
pursuant to Section 7.1(f).

     Section 2.6 "Basic Deposits" shall mean that amount,  not less than 1%, nor
more than 6% (8%,  effective January 1, 1997) (or such lower maximum  percentage
as may  be  established  by  the  Committee)  of a  Participant's  Compensation,
contributed  to  the  Plan  through  payroll  deduction  by  or on  behalf  of a
Participant which is entitled to be matched by Employer Contributions.

     Section 2.7 "Board of  Directors"  shall mean the Board of Directors of the
Company.

     Section 2.8 "Cash Balance Plan" shall mean the Cash Balance Pension Plan of
Public Service Electric and Gas Company.

     Section  2.9  "Code"  shall  mean the  Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as
amended, or as it may be amended from time to time.

     Section  2.10  "Commissioner"  shall  mean  the  Commissioner  of  Internal
Revenue.

     Section 2.11  "Committee" or "Employee  Benefits  Committee" shall mean the
Employee Benefits Committee of the Company appointed by the Board of Directors.

     Section 2.12 "Company" shall mean Public Service Electric and Gas Company.

     Section 2.13  "Compensation"  shall mean the total  remuneration  paid to a
Participant for services  rendered to an Employer  excluding the Employer's cost
for any public or private  employee  benefit  plan,  but  including all Deferred
Basic and  Supplemental  Deposits  made by a Participant  or on a  Participant's
behalf to this Plan and all elective  contributions that are made by an Employer
on behalf of a Participant which are not includable in income under Code section
125, under rules adopted by the Committee which are uniformly  applicable to all
Participants  similarly  situated.  However,  Compensation shall not include the
following:

     (a)  any amounts which are deferred under any Deferred Compensation Plan of
          any Employer and any  payments  from any such plans of any  previously
          deferred amount;

     (b)  any  amounts  received as an award  pursuant  to any of the  following
          incentive compensation programs:

          (1)  the Company's Management Incentive Compensation Plan;

          (2)  the  Community   Energy   Alternatives   Incorporated   Executive
               Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan;

          (3)  the Energy Development Corporation Management Incentive Plan;

          (4)  the   Energy   Development    Corporation   Long-Term   Incentive
               Compensation Plan;


<PAGE>

          (5)  the  Enterprise  Diversified  Holdings  Incorporated   Management
               Incentive Compensation Plan;

          (6)  the Public Service  Enterprise Group  Incorporated 1989 Long-Term
               Incentive Plan;

          (7)  the Public Service Conservation  Resources  Corporation Executive
               Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan;

          (8)  the Public Service  Conservation  Resources  Corporation Employee
               Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan; and

          (9)  the  Community  Energy   Alternatives   Incorporated  1987  Stock
               Appreciation Rights Plan;

     (c)  any amounts which constitute reimbursement of expenses;

     (d)  the following miscellaneous payments:

          (1)  Separation pay;

          (2)  Gratuity Payments upon death;

          (3)  Payment for vacation due at time of death;

          (4)  Worker's Compensation for permanent partial disability;

          (5)  Employer   contributions   for  social   security,   unemployment
               compensation or other taxes; and

          (6)  Employer reimbursement towards adoption expenses;

     (e)  the following special international payments:

          (1)  International service premium;

          (2)  Cost of living allowance;

          (3)  Equalization  Pay;

          (4)  Foreign service pay; and

          (5)  Hardship allowance; and


     (f)  any  amounts  received  by a  Participant  as a result  of the sale of
          vacation entitlements.

     In any case,  however,  for the purposes of the Plan,  Compensation for any
Plan Year shall not exceed the limit imposed by Code section 401(a)(17).

     Section  2.14  "Deferred"  in  reference  to Deposits  shall mean that such
Deposits are deferred from current  federal  income  taxation under Code section
401(k).

     Section 2.15  "Deposits"  shall mean the aggregate of  Additional  Lump Sum
Deposits,  Basic  Deposits and  Supplemental  Deposits made by or on behalf of a
Participant to his or her Thrift  Account.  The total of all Deposits made by or


<PAGE>


on  behalf   of a  Participant  in any  Plan  Year  shall  notexceed  25% of the
Participant's  Compensation for such Plan Year. Deposits shall include "Deferred
Compensation"  credited to the Participant under the U.S. Energy Partners 401(k)
Plan.

     Section 2.16 "Disability" shall mean any physical or mental condition which
renders  a  Participant  incapable  of  performing  further  work for his or her
Employer,  as  certified  in  writing  by a Doctor of  Medicine  designated  and
approved by the Committee.

     Section 2.17 "Effective Date" shall mean October 1, 1996.

     Section 2.18 "Eligible  Employee" shall mean any Employee who has completed
at least one Year of Service  whether or not he or she  actually  elects to make
any Deposits.

     Section  2.19  "Employee"  shall  mean any  individual  in the employ of an
Employer  who is not  included in a unit of  employees  covered by a  collective
bargaining  agreement.  The term  "Employee"  shall not include a director of an
Employer who serves in no capacity  other than as a director,  a  consultant  or
independent  contractor  doing work for an  Employer  or a person  employed by a
consultant or independent contractor doing work for an Employer.

     Section 2.20 "Employee Savings Plan" shall mean the Public Service Electric
and Gas Company Employee Savings Plan.

     Section  2.21  "Employer"  shall  mean the  Company  and any  Participating
Affiliate.

     Section 2.22 "Employer Contributions" shall mean the amounts contributed to
the Plan on behalf of  Participants by an Employer in accordance with Article V.
Employer   Contributions  shall  include  "Employer's  Matching   Contributions"
credited to the Participant under the U.S. Energy Partners 401(k) Plan.

     Section  2.23  "Enrollment  Date" shall mean the earliest of: (a) the first
day of the first payroll period in which payroll deductions from a Participant's
Compensation  are made for Deposits  under the Plan;  (b) the date an Additional
Lump Sum  Deposit is  accepted  by the Plan from a  Participant;  (c) the date a
Rollover  Contribution is accepted from a Participant for payment to the Trustee
for  investment in the Plan in accordance  with Section 4.14; or (d) the date an
ESOP Account or a U.S.  Energy  Partners  Account is  established on behalf of a
Participant.

     Section 2.24 "Enterprise"  shall mean the Company's parent,  Public Service
Enterprise Group Incorporated.

     Section 2.25 "Enterprise Common Stock" shall mean the Common Stock, without
nominal or par value, of Enterprise.

     Section 2.26 "Enterprise Common Stock Fund" shall mean the Fund established
pursuant to Section 7.1(c).

     Section  2.27  "Equities  Fund"  shall  mean the Fund or Funds  established
pursuant to Section 7.1(a).

     Section 2.28 "Equities Index Fund" shall mean the Fund established pursuant
to Section 7.1(d).

     Section 2.29 "ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974, as amended, or as it may be amended from time to time.

     Section 2.30 "ESOP Account" shall mean that separate  portion of an Account
established  pursuant to Section 9.1 which  evidences  the shares of  Enterprise
Common Stock transferred to the Plan for the Account of a Participant,  pursuant
to the merger with this Plan with the Public  Service  Electric  and Gas Company
Tax  Reduction Act Employee  Stock  Ownership  Plan  (TRASOP)  and/or the Public
Service  Electric and Gas Company  Payroll-Based  Employee Stock  Ownership Plan
(PAYSOP), including the net worth of the Trust Fund attributable thereto.

     Section 2.31 "Fixed  Income Fund" shall mean the Fund or Funds  established
pursuant to Section 7.1(b).

     Section 2.32 "Funds" shall mean the several  investment  Funds  established
pursuant to Section 7.1. As used in the singular,  "Fund" shall mean one of such
Funds.

     Section 2.33 "General  Manager"  shall mean the Director - Performance  and
Rewards of the Company.

     Section  2.34  "Government  Obligations  Fund" shall mean the Fund or Funds
established pursuant to Section 7.1(e).

     Section 2.35 "Highly Compensated Employee" shall mean:

     (a)  For any Plan  Year,  any  Employee  who,  during  the Plan Year or the
          preceding Plan Year--

          (1)  was at any time a 5% owner;

          (2)  received  Compensation  for such Plan Year from the Company or an
               Affiliate  in excess of the amount  provided  for by Code section
               414(q)(1)(B);

          (3)  received  Compensation  for such Plan Year from the Company or an
               Affiliate  in excess of the amount  provided  for by Code section
               414(q)(1)(C) and was in the top-paid group of Employees; or

          (4)  was at any time an officer of the Company or of an Affiliate  and
               received  Compensation for such Plan Year greater than 50% of the
               amount provided for by Code section 415(b)(1)(A).

     (b)  In the case of the Plan Year for which the relevant  determination  is
          being made, an Employee not described in subparagraph  (a)(2),  (a)(3)
          or (a)(4) of this Section for the preceding Plan Year (without  regard
          to  this  paragraph)  shall  not  be  treated  as  described  in  such
          subparagraphs  (a)(2),  (a)(3) or (a)(4)  unless  such  Employee  is a
          member of the group  consisting of the 100 Employees paid the greatest
          Compensation  during  the year for which such  determination  is being
          made.

     (c)  For  purposes of this  Section,  an Employee  shall be treated as a 5%
          owner  for any Plan  Year if at any time  during  such  Plan Year such
          Employee was a 5% owner (as defined in Code section  416(i)(1)) of the
          Company or an Affiliate.

     (d)  For purposes of this Section, an Employee shall be considered as being
          in the top-paid  group of Employees for any Plan Year if such Employee
          is in the group consisting of the top 20% of the Employees when ranked
          on the basis of Compensation paid during such Plan Year.

     (e)  For purposes of determining  the top-paid  group under  paragraph (d),
          the following Employees shall be excluded:

          (1)  Employees who have not completed 6 months of service;
               
          (2)  Employees who normally work less than 171/2hours per week;

          (3)  Employees  who  normally  work  during  not more than six  months
               during any year;

          (4)  Employees who have not attained age 21; and

          (5)  Employees  who are  nonresident  aliens and who receive no earned
               income  (within the meaning of Code section  911(d)(2))  from the
               Company or an  Affiliate  which  constitutes  income from sources
               within the United  States  (within  the  meaning of Code  section
               861(a)(3)).

     (f)  For purposes of subparagraph  (a)(4) of this Section,  no more than 50
          Employees (or, if lesser, the greater of three Employees or 10% of the
          Employees) shall be treated as officers. If for any year no officer of
          the Company or an Affiliate is  described  in  subparagraph  (a)(4) of
          this  Section,  the highest  paid of the officers of the Company or an
          Affiliate  for such Plan Year shall be treated  as  described  in such
          subparagraph.

     (g)  If any  individual  is a member  of the  family  of a 5% owner or of a
          Highly  Compensated  Employee in the group consisting of the 10 Highly
          Compensated  Employees paid the greatest  Compensation during the Plan
          Year,  then:  (1) except for purposes of Section 4.5, such  individual
          shall not be considered a separate Employee;  and (2) any Compensation
          paid to such individual (and any applicable  contribution on behalf of
          such individual)  shall be treated as if it were paid to (or on behalf
          of) the 5% owner or Highly Compensated Employee.  For purposes of this
          subparagraph  (g), the term "family"  shall mean,  with respect to any
          Employee,  such Employee's spouse and lineal ascendants or descendants
          and  spouses  of such  lineal  ascendants  or  descendants;  provided,
          however,  that  for  purposes  of  determining  whether  the  limit on
          includable  Compensation  contained  in Code section  401(a)(17)  (see
          Section 2.12) has been exceeded,  the term "family"  shall mean,  with
          respect to any Employee,  such  Employee's  spouse and the children of
          such  Employee  who have not  attained age 19 by the close of the Plan
          Year.

     (h)  For  purposes  of this  Section,  the term  "Compensation"  shall mean
          Compensation  within the meaning of Section 12.1, but including salary
          reduction  contributions  to a  cafeteria  plan,  a 401(k)  plan and a
          simplified employee pension.

     (i)  A former Employee shall be treated as a Highly Compensated Employee if
          (1) such Employee was a Highly Compensated Employee when such Employee
          separated  from service or (2) such Employee was a Highly  Compensated
          Employee at any time after attaining age 55.

     Section 2.36 "Highly Compensated Participant" shall mean:

     (a)  those Highly Compensated Employees who are Participants or

     (b)  those Highly  Compensated  Employees who are Eligible  Employees,  who
          have  satisfied all conditions  for  participation  under Section 3.1,
          whether or not they  actually  elect to make any  Deposits or Rollover
          Contributions to the Plan.

     Section  2.37 "Hour of Service"  shall mean each hour for which an Employee
is directly or indirectly  paid  remuneration  or entitled to such payment by an
Employer  including any hours for which back pay,  irrespective of mitigation of
damages, is either awarded or agreed to by an Employer.

     Section  2.38  "Investment  Manager"  shall mean an  investment  manager as
defined in ERISA section 3(38).

     Section 2.39 "Lay Off" or Laid Off" shall mean a Participant's  involuntary
separation  from service with an Employer  because of a reduction in work forces
at a time when there is no further  work  available  with the Employer for which
the Participant is qualified.

     Section  2.40  "Leased  Employee"  shall mean an  individual  who is not an
Employee but who would be a leased  employee as defined in Code section  414(n),
but for the one year service requirement of Code section 414(n)(2)(B).

     Section 2.41 "Matured" in reference to Deposits and Employer  Contributions
shall  mean that the  respective  amount  has been held in the Plan for at least
twenty-four  months.  The  twenty-four  month period will include periods during
which Deposits and Employer  Contributions held in the Participant's U.S. Energy
Partners Account were held in the U.S. Energy Partners 401(k) Plan.

     Section 2.42  "Nondeferred"  in reference to Deposits  shall mean that such
Deposits  are not deferred  from  current  federal  income  taxation  under Code
section 401(k).

     Section 2.43 "Participant" shall mean any person who has an interest in the
Trust Fund.

     Section  2.44  "Participating  Affiliate"  shall mean any  Affiliate of the
Company which:  (a) adopts the Plan with the approval of the Board of Directors;
(b) authorizes the Board of Directors and the Employee Benefits Committee to act
for it in all  matters  arising  under  or with  respect  to the  Plan;  and (c)
complies  with such other  terms and  conditions  relating to the Plan as may be
imposed by the Board of Directors.

     Section 2.45 "Plan" shall mean this Public Service Electric and Gas Company
Thrift and Tax-Deferred  Savings Plan, including all amendments hereto which may
hereafter be made.

     Section 2.46 "Plan Year" shall mean the calendar year.

     Section 2.47 "Qualified  Domestic Relations Order" or "QDRO" shall mean any
judgment,  decree or order pursuant to a state  domestic  relations or community
property law which relates to the provision of child support or marital property
rights,  which creates or recognizes the existence of an alternate payee's right
to (or  assigns to an  alternate  payee the right to)  receive  all or part of a
Participant's Account, and which meets the requirements of (a) and (b) below, as
interpreted in accordance with Code section 414(p):

     (a)  such order specifies:

          (1)  the name and last known mailing  address of the  Participant  and
               each alternate payee;

          (2)  the amount or the percentage of the  Participant's  Account to be
               paid to each alternate  payee, or the manner in which such amount
               or percentage is to be determined;
                        
          (3)  the number of payments or the period to which the order  applies;
               and

          (4)  each plan to which such order applies; and

     (b)  such order does not require the Plan to:

          (1)  provide  any type or form of  benefit  or  option  not  otherwise
               provided under the Plan;

          (2)  provide increased benefits; or
                       

          (3)  pay to an alternate payee amounts  required to be paid to another
               alternate payee under a prior QDRO.

     Section  2.48  "Recordkeeper"   shall  mean  the  person(s)  or  entity(is)
designated  by the  Committee  to  maintain  the  records  of the  Plan and Plan
Accounts  and to  perform  such  other  functions  as may be  designated  by the
Committee.

     Section  2.49  "Required   Beginning  Date"  shall  mean  with  respect  to
distributions  to any  Participant,  April 1 of the calendar year  following the
calendar year in which the Participant  attains age 70 1/2;  provided,  however,
that with respect to distributions to any Participant who attained age 70 before
July 1, 1987 and who was not a "5% owner" as defined in Section 13.1(f)(3),  the
Required  Beginning Date for such  Participant  shall be April 1 of the calendar
year following the calendar year in which (1) the Participant attains age 70 1/2
or (2) the Participant retires, whichever is later.

     Section 2.50  "Retirement"  shall mean the  termination  of employment by a
Participant other than by reason of his or her death:

     (a)  under  circumstances  entitling  the  Participant  to  an  immediately
          payable periodic  retirement  benefit under the Pension Plan of Public
          Service  Electric and Gas Company or the Cash Balance  Pension Plan of
          Public Service Electric and Gas Company, or

     (b)  at or after age 65.

     Section 2.51  "Retirement  Choice  Program"  shall mean the Public  Service
Electric and Gas Company Retirement Choice Program.

     Section 2.52  "Rollover  Contributions"  shall mean Employee  contributions
transferred  to the Plan,  in accordance  with Section 4.14,  from a trust under
another  corporate  plan,  each qualified under Code sections 501(a) and 401(a),
respectively.

     Section  2.53  "Supplemental  Deposits"  shall mean the amount,  if any, of
Compensation  contributed to the Plan through payroll  deduction by or on behalf
of a  Participant  which is greater than the maximum  permitted  Basic  Deposit.
Supplemental  Deposits  shall include  "Deferred  Compensation"  credited to the
Participant under the U.S. Energy Partners 401(k) Plan.

     Section  2.54  "Thrift  Account"  shall  mean that  separate  portion of an
Account established pursuant to Section 8.1 and which consists of the sum of the
following subaccounts of such Participant:

     (a)  Basic Deposit  Subaccount  shall mean that portion of a  Participant's
          Thrift  Account which  evidences the value of Basic  Deposits by or on
          behalf of a Participant under the Plan, including the net worth of the
          Trust Fund attributable thereto.

     (b)  Supplemental   Deposit   Subaccount  shall  mean  that  portion  of  a
          Participant's Thrift Account which evidences the value of Supplemental
          Deposits  and  Additional  Lump Sum  Deposits  under the Plan,  assets
          transferred  by the  Participant  from  his or her  ESOP  Account  and
          Rollover  Contributions  to the Plan by or on behalf of a Participant,
          including the net worth of the Trust Fund  attributable  thereto,  and
          his   or   her    U.S.    Energy    Partners    Deposit    Subaccount.

     (c)  Employer  Contribution   Subaccount  shall  mean  that  portion  of  a
          Participant's  Thrift  Account  which  evidences the value of Employer
          Contributions  which have been  credited  to a  Participant's  Account
          under  Section 5.1 of the Plan (less any  forfeitures),  including the
          net worth of the Trust Fund attributable  thereto, and his or her U.S.
          Energy Partners Employer Contribution Subaccount.

     Section 2.55 "Trust Agreement" shall mean the agreement between the Company
and the Trustee  which  provides  for the  management  of the Trust Fund and the
investment of Deposits, Employer Contributions and Rollover Contributions to the
Plan and  investment  of the assets of ESOP  Accounts and U.S.  Energy  Partners
Accounts.

     Section  2.56  "Trust   Fund"  shall  mean  the   aggregate  of  Basic  and
Supplemental   Deposits  made  by  or  on  behalf  of   Participants,   Rollover
Contributions and Employer  Contributions,  together with ESOP Accounts and U.S.
Energy  Partners  Accounts,  increased  by any  profits or income  thereon,  and
decreased by any losses thereon and by any payments made therefrom.

     Section  2.57  "Trustee"  shall  mean  any  individual  or  individuals  or
corporation  or  corporations  by whom any assets of the Plan are held under the
Trust Agreement.

     Section  2.58 "U.S.  Energy  Partners  Account"  shall  mean that  separate
portion of an Account which evidences the assets transferred to the Plan for the
Account  of a  Participant,  pursuant  to the  merger of this Plan with the U.S.
Energy  Partners  401(k) Plan,  and which  consists of the sum of the  following
subaccounts of such Participant:

     (a)  U.S. Energy Partners  Deposit  Subaccount  shall mean the portion of a
          Participant's  U.S. Energy Partners  Account which evidences the value
          of "Deferred  Compensation" credited to the Participant under the U.S.
          Energy Partners 401(k) Plan, including the net worth of the Trust Fund
          attributable thereto.

     (b)  U.S. Energy Partners Employer  Contribution  Subaccount shall mean the
          portion  of  a  Participant's   U.S.  Energy  Partners  Account  which
          evidences the value of "Employer's Matching Contributions" credited to
          the Participant under the U.S. Energy Partners 401(k) Plan,  including
          the net worth of the Trust Fund attributable thereto."



<PAGE>


     Section  2.59 "Year of  Service"  shall mean the twelve  consecutive  month
period  beginning  on the first day of the month in which an Employee  commences
employment  with  the  Company  or  an  Affiliate  and  each  succeeding  twelve
consecutive month period beginning on the yearly anniversary of such day, during
which the  Employee  completes  not less than 1,000  Hours of  Service;  and the
determination  of whether an Employee  shall have  completed not less than 1,000
Hours of Service during any such period shall be made by crediting such Employee
with 190 Hours of Service for each  calendar  month  during such period in which
the  Employee is  entitled to be credited  with at least one Hour of Service for
such month.  For the purposes of this Section,  there shall be included  service
with the Company,  U.S.  Energy  Partners or an Affiliate as an Employee or as a
Leased Employee.

                                   ARTICLE III

                                  PARTICIPATION

     Section  3.1  Participation.  Each  Employee  may become a  Participant  by
applying with the Recordkeeper to establish a Thrift Account,  accept a Rollover
Contribution on such Employee's  behalf or when an ESOP Account or a U.S. Energy
Partners  Account was established on his or her behalf.  An Employee who, at the
time he/she becomes  employed by the Company or a  Participating  Affiliate is a
participant in the Employee  Savings Plan, may transfer account balances held in
that plan to this Plan.

     By  contacting  the  Recordkeeper  and using its automatic  voice  response
system,  the Employee can (a) arrange for the payment of an Additional  Lump Sum
Deposit to the Plan,  (b) authorize his or her Employer to withhold an amount in
a  specified   percentage  of  his  or  her  Compensation,   (c)  authorize  the
Recordkeeper and/or Employer to pay such amount to the Trustee for investment in
a Thrift Account under the Plan in accordance  with the Employee's  instructions
and (d)  authorize  his or her Employer to accept a Rollover  Contribution  from
another qualified corporate plan in accordance with Section 4.12 and to pay such
amount to the  Trustee for  investment  under the Plan in  accordance  with such
Employee's instructions.

     Participation in the Plan is entirely voluntary.

     Section 3.2  Effective  Date of  Participation.  Participation  in the Plan
shall be effective for an Employee and payroll  deductions  shall  commence,  as
soon as  practicable  after the  Employee  has applied to the  Recordkeeper  for
participation. Participation in the Plan for an Employee who, at the time he/she
becomes employed by the Company or a Participating  Affiliate,  is a participant
in the Employee  Savings  Plan,  shall be  effective  from the date he/she first
becomes an Employee. Participation in the Plan for an Employee making a Rollover
Contribution  shall be effective as soon as  practicable  after such  Employee's
Rollover  Contribution is accepted for transfer in accordance with Section 4.12.
Participation of an Employee in the Plan with respect to the ESOP Account became
effective upon receipt by the Plan of the assets credited to the account of such
Employee in the Company's TRASOP and/or PAYSOP pursuant to a merger of such plan
or plans with this Plan.  Participation  of an Employee in the Plan with respect
to the U.S. Energy Partners Account became effective  December 16, 1996.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                                    DEPOSITS

     Section 4.1 Basic Deposits. An Eligible Employee may elect:

     (a)  to make Basic  Nondeferred  Deposits to the Plan in an amount equal to
          any integral  multiple of 1% of his or her  Compensation up to a total
          of 6% (8%, effective January 1, 1997) each pay period; or

     (b)  to have Basic Deferred Deposits made to the Plan by an Employer on his
          or her behalf in an amount equal to any integral multiple of 1% of his
          or her  Compensation  up to a total of 6% (8%,  effective  January  1,
          1997) each pay period; or

     (c)  to  make,  or  have  made by an  Employer  on his or her  behalf,  any
          combination of Deposits under (a) or (b) above,  totaling up to 6% (8%
          effective January 1, 1997) of his or her Compensation each pay period;

subject to the limitations of Sections 4.5 and 5.4. Basic Deposits made by or on
behalf of a  Participant  shall be paid over by the  Employer to the Trustee and
deposited in the Trust Fund as soon as practicable  after  deduction and, in any
event,  within 90 days of deduction.  Such Basic  Deposits  shall be credited as
soon as practicable to such Participant's Basic Deposit Subaccount in the Plan.

     Section 4.2  Supplemental  Deposits.  Each  Participant who is electing the
maximum permitted Basic Deposit to the Plan may also elect:

     (a)  to make  Supplemental  Nondeferred  Deposits  to the Plan in an amount
          equal to any integral  multiple of 1% of his or her  Compensation to a
          total  of  19%  (17%,  effective  January  1,  1997)  of  his  or  her
          Compensation each pay period; or

     (b)  to have  Supplemental  Deferred Deposits made by an Employer on his or
          her behalf in an amount equal to any integral multiple of 1% of his or
          her Compensation up to a total of 19% (17%, effective January 1, 1997)
          of his or her Compensation each pay period; or
 
     (c)  to  make,  or  have  made by an  Employer  on his or her  behalf,  any
          combination of the Deposits specified in (a) or (b) above, totaling up
          to 19% (17%,  effective  January 1,  1997) of his or her  Compensation
          each pay  period;  subject to  limitations  of  Sections  4.5 and 5.4.
          Supplemental  Deposits made by or on behalf of a Participant  shall be
          paid over by an Employer to the  Trustee  and  deposited  in the Trust
          Fund as soon as practicable after deduction and, in any event,  within
          90 days of deduction.  Such Supplemental Deposits shall be credited as
          soon  as  practicable  to  such  Participant's   Supplemental  Deposit
          Subaccount in the Plan.

     Section  4.3  Additional  Lump Sum  Deposits.  Within any Plan  Year,  each
Participant  may make one or more  Additional Lump Sum Deposits on a Nondeferred
basis in the minimum  amount of $250.00 and in such total  amounts  which,  when
aggregated with such Participant's Basic Deposits and Supplemental  Deposits, do
not exceed 25% of his or her  Compensation for that Plan Year and subject to the
limitations of Sections 4.5, 4.12 and 5.4.  Additional Lump Sum Deposits made by
a  Participant  shall  be  paid  over by the  Recordkeeper  to the  Trustee  and
deposited in the Trust Fund as soon as  practicable,  but no later than 90 days,
after receipt.  Such  Additional  Lump Sum Deposits shall be credited as soon as
practicable to such Participant's Supplemental Deposit Subaccount in the Plan.

     Section 4.4. Method of Deposits.  Basic Deposits and Supplemental  Deposits
by or on  behalf  of  Active  Participants  shall be made by  means  of  payroll
deduction. For convenience of administration,  if the percentage of Compensation
elected to be contributed to the Plan by an Active Participant is not equal to a
whole  dollar  amount,  such amount will be  increased  to the next whole dollar
amount in establishing  the deduction to be made from such Active  Participant's
pay. In  addition,  if an Active  Participant's  Compensation  is  changed,  the
resulting  change in deduction  shall be made as soon as practicable  after such
change in Compensation.

     Additional  Lump Sum Deposits shall be paid directly by Participants to the
Recordkeeper  who  shall  forward  them to the  Trustee  for  investment  in the
Participant's  Thrift  Account  in  accordance  with  his  or her  then  current
investment direction.

     Section 4.5 Limit on Deferred  Deposits.  In no event may Deferred Deposits
for any  Participant  attributable  to any  taxable  year  of  such  Participant
(presumably  the  calendar  year)  exceed the amount  permitted  by Code section
402(g).  Where a Participant  elects under Section 4.1 to have Deferred Deposits
made by an Employer to the Plan which would  otherwise  exceed the limit of this
Section 4.5, such excessive  Deferred Deposits shall be deemed to be Nondeferred
Deposits  to the Plan  ("Deemed  Nondeferred  Deposits")  rather  than  Deferred
Deposits to the Plan; provided,  however,  that such Deemed Nondeferred Deposits
shall be subject to the limits and rules of Sections  4.1 and 4.2;  and provided
further,  that  such  Deemed  Nondeferred  Deposits  shall be deemed to be Basic
Nondeferred Deposits (and, therefore,  matched by Employer  Contributions as set
forth in Article V) to the extent  possible under the limits of Sections 2.6 and
4.1,  taking into account other Basic Deferred and  Nondeferred  Deposits of the
Participant.

     Section 4.6. Distribution of Excess Deferral Amounts.

     (a)  Notwithstanding  any other  provision of the Plan to the contrary,  an
          Employer  shall  distribute  any Excess  Deferral  Amount (as  defined
          below),  adjusted  according to Section 4.6(d),  to  Participants  who
          claim such allocable Excess Deferral Amounts for a calendar year. Such
          distribution shall be made no later than the April 15th next following
          the end of the calendar year for which such claim is made.

     (b)  For purposes of this Section 4.6,  "Excess Deferral Amount" shall mean
          the  amount  of  Deferred  Deposits  for  a  calendar  year  that  the
          Participant allocates to this Plan and claims pursuant to the election
          procedure set forth in Section 4.6(c) below.

     (c)  A  Participant's  election  to claim an Excess  Deferral  Amount for a
          calendar year shall be in writing, shall be submitted to the Committee
          no later than the March 1st next  following  the end of such  calendar
          year, shall specify the Excess Deferral Amount and shall state that if
          such amount is not  distributed,  such Excess  Deferral  Amount,  when
          added to amounts deferred under other plans or arrangements  described
          in Code sections 401(k),  408(k) or 403(b),  exceeds the limit imposed
          on the  Participant  by  Code  section  402(g)  for the  taxable  year
          (calendar year) in which the deferral occurred.

     (d)  The amount  distributed to a Participant  pursuant to this Section 4.6
          with respect to a calendar  year shall be increased or  decreased,  as
          applicable,  by investment income or losses attributable thereto. If a
          loss  is  allocable  to  the  Excess  Deferral   Amount,   the  amount
          distributed shall not be less than the lesser of (1) the Participant's
          Deferred Deposit Subaccount or (2) the Participant's Deferred Deposits
          for the Plan Year during which the Excess Deferral Amount occurred.

     Section 4.7 Code Section 401(k) Limits on Deferred Deposits.

     (a)  Correction of Excess Nondeferred Deposits and Employer  Contributions.
          If the  Committee  determines  after the end of the Plan Year that the
          nondiscrimination  limitation  of Code  section  401(m)  has not  been
          satisfied,  Nondeferred Deposits and Employer Contributions  (adjusted
          to reflect any income or losses allocable to such excess contributions
          for the Plan Year in which such excess contributions were made) of the
          Highly  Compensated  Employees  shall be  distributed  to such  Highly
          Compensated  Employees to eliminate such excess  Nondeferred  Deposits
          and  Employer  Contributions;  provided,  however,  that the amount of
          excess Nondeferred Deposits and Employer Contributions for a Plan Year
          shall be determined after the excess Nondeferred Deposits and Employer
          Contributions  that  are  treated  as  employee  contributions  due to
          recharacterization      under     Treasury      Regulation     section
          1.401(m)-1(e)(2)(iii).

     (b)  Elimination  of Amount of Excess  Nondeferred  Deposits  and  Employer
          Contributions.  The amount of excess Nondeferred Deposits and Employer
          Contributions for a Highly Compensated  Employee for a Plan Year is to
          be  determined  by the  following  leveling  method,  under  which the
          contribution  percentage  of a Highly  Compensated  Employee  with the
          highest contribution percentage is reduced to the extent required to--

          (1)  enable  the  Plan  to   satisfy   the   contribution   percentage
               limitation, or

          (2)  cause such Highly Compensated Employee's  contribution percentage
               to equal the percentage of the Highly  Compensated  Employee with
               the next highest contribution percentage.

     This  process  must  be  repeated  until  the  Plan  satisfies  the  actual
contribution percentage test.

     (c)  Return of Excess  Nondeferred  Deposits  and  Employer  Contributions.
          Excess  Nondeferred  Deposits  and  Employer  Contributions  which are
          returned to Highly Compensated  Employees pursuant to this section 4.7
          shall be distributed to such Employees as soon as practicable, without
          regard to any limitation otherwise imposed by law or by the provisions
          of this Plan. The amount of excess  Nondeferred  Deposits and Employer
          Contributions for a Highly Compensated Employee is then equal to total
          Nondeferred Deposits and Employer Contributions taken into account for
          the actual  contribution  percentage  test,  minus the  product of the
          Employee's  contribution ratio and the Employee's Compensation used in
          determining such ratio.

     (d)  Family Aggregation Rules. In the case of a Highly Compensated Employee
          whose  actual  contribution  ratio  is  determined  under  the  family
          aggregation rules, the determination of the amount of excess aggregate
          contributions shall be made as follows:

          (1)  the actual  contribution  ratio shall be reduced  pursuant to the
               leveling method described above, and

          (2)  the excess aggregate contributions are allocated among the family
               members in  proportion  to the  contribution  of each such family
               member.

     Section  4.8  Unmatched  Employer  Contributions.  If, as the result of the
operation of Sections  4.5, 4.6 and/or 4.7, and before the  operation of Section
4.9,  the  combined  Deposits of a  Participant  are adjusted in such a way that
Employer  Contributions  previously  made on behalf of a Participant  for a Plan
Year are no  longer  matched  by such  Participant's  Basic  Deposits,  then the
matching Employer Contributions allocated to such Participant's Account for such
Plan Year shall be reduced,  under  nondiscriminatory  rules  established by the
Committee,  to  the  extent  necessary  to  equal  the  percentage  of  Employer
Contributions  (as set forth in  Article V) with  respect  to the  Participant's
remaining  Basic Deposits for such Plan Year. The amount,  if any, of previously
allocated  Employer  Contributions  in  excess  of the  percentage  of  Employer
Contributions (as set forth in Article V) of the  Participant's  remaining Basic
Deposits shall be forfeited and applied to reduce future Employer  Contributions
to the Plan.

     Section 4.9 Code Section 401(m) Limits on Nondeferred Deposits and Employer
Contributions.

     (a)  Limitation.   Nondeferred   Deposits  by,   together   with   Employer
          Contributions on behalf of, Highly Compensated Participants for a Plan
          Year   shall  not  exceed   the   amount   permissible   to  meet  the
          nondiscrimination tests of Code section 401(m).

     (b)  Distribution of Excess  Contributions The Committee shall,  consistent
          with regulations under the Code, establish  nondiscriminatory rules to
          meet the requirements of this Section 4.9.

     Section 4.10 Changing  Deposit  Percentages  The percentage of Compensation
deposited in the Plan by or on behalf of an Active Participant shall continue in
effect until such Active Participant shall change the rate of such Deposits.  An
Active  Participant  may  change  the  rate of  Deposits  to a  higher  or lower
percentage of  Compensation  within the limitations of Sections 4.1, 4.2 and 4.5
by arranging for such change with the Recordkeeper or as otherwise prescribed by
the  Committee.  Any such change shall become  effective as soon as  practicable
after receipt of the notice of change by the Recordkeeper.

     Section 4.11 Suspension of Deposits.

     (a)  An Active Participant may suspend all of the Deposits to the Plan made
          by such  Participant  or on his or her behalf at any time by arranging
          for such suspension with the  Recordkeeper or as otherwise  prescribed
          by the  Committee.  Such  suspension  shall  be  effective  as soon as
          practicable   after  receipt  of  the  notice  of  suspension  by  the
          Recordkeeper, and shall continue until such Participant elects to have
          Deposits resumed by arranging therefor with the Recordkeeper.  Payroll
          deductions  under the Plan shall  begin  again as soon as  practicable
          after such notice is received by the Recordkeeper.

     (b)  If, after other  required  and  authorized  deductions  from an Active
          Participant's  pay, there is not sufficient money available in any pay
          period  to make  the  entire  authorized  payroll  deduction  for such
          Participant's Nondeferred Deposits, no payroll deduction shall be made
          therefor for that pay period.

     (c)  In case of any such total suspension of Deposits,  pursuant to Section
          4.11(a), Employer Contributions on behalf of such Participant shall be
          automatically suspended for a like period.

     Section 4.12 Limit on Additional Lump Sum Deposits.  No Additional Lump Sum
Deposits may be made by any  Participant in any Plan Year in which the aggregate
amount of all of such Participant's  Deposits under the Plan exceeds 25% of such
Participant's  Compensation for that Plan Year. Any Additional Lump Sum Deposits
inadvertently  received  in excess of this  limitation  shall be refunded to the
Participant as soon as practicable following determination of such excess.

     Section 4.13  Elections.  All elections under this Article IV shall be made
at the time, in the manner and subject to the conditions as are specified by the
Committee. Elections of Deferred Deposits shall in all cases be irrevocably made
prior to the  beginning  of the payroll  period for which such  elections  shall
apply.  In any year in which the  Committee  deems it necessary to do so to meet
the requirements of Section 4.5, 4.7, 4.9 or 5.4 or the Code and the regulations
thereunder, the Committee may reduce, for that Plan Year, the permissible amount
of Deposits by or on behalf of any or all Active Participants.

     Section  4.14  Rollover  Contributions.  Subject  to such  rules  as may be
established by the Committee, an Employee may transfer Rollover Contributions to
the Plan,  to be  deposited  in his or her  Supplemental  Deposit  Account.  The
Employee  must  certify  that  such  amount  to  be  transferred  as a  Rollover
Contribution  qualifies  for  such  transfer  under  the  Code  and  regulations
thereunder  and must submit such  information or evidence,  satisfactory  to the
Committee,  that it may require in order to approve such transfer. The Committee
may impose  such  nondiscriminatory  requirements  on such  transfer as it deems
necessary  or  desirable.  In  addition,  Rollover  Contributions  shall then be
subject to all terms and  conditions  of this Plan and the Trust  Agreement  and
shall be treated in the same manner as Supplemental Deposits, unless the context
of the Plan or Trust requires otherwise.

     Section 4.15 Transfers from the Employee Savings Plan. Any Employee who, at
the time he/she becomes employed by the Company or a Participating Affiliate, is
a participant in the Employee Savings Plan,  shall  automatically be enrolled in
the Plan and all balances in the Employee  Savings Plan shall be  transferred to
the Plan  and all  contribution  and  investment  elections  in  effect  for the
Employee Savings Plan shall remain in effect,  subject to change pursuant to the
operation of Sections 4.10, 4.11 and 6.2 hereof.

                                    ARTICLE V

                             EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS

     Section  5.1 Amount and Payment of Employer  Contributions.  Each  Employer
shall  contribute  to the  Plan on  behalf  of  Participants  who  are  Eligible
Employees,  who are its  Employees  and who are making or having their  Employer
make on their  behalf  Basic  Deposits to the Plan an amount equal to 50% of the
aggregate of such Basic Deposits,  except to the extent that such Basic Deposits
are reduced or  distributed  as provided in Sections 4.5 through 4.9, and except
as provided in this Article V and in Section 11.3. Employer  Contributions shall
be allocated as Nondeferred.  Employer Contributions with respect to a Plan Year
shall be paid to the Trustee not later than the due date  (including  extensions
of time) for filing Enterprise's consolidated Federal income tax return for such
year.  All  Employer  Contributions  may be made  without  regard to  current or
accumulated   earnings   of  the   Company  or  any   Participating   Affiliate.
Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  the Plan shall be designated a profit  sharing
plan for purposes of Code sections 401(a), 402, 412 and 417.

     Section 5.2. Employer  Contributions in Enterprise  Common Stock.  Employer
Contributions  with  respect to Basic  Deposits in excess of 6% of  Compensation
shall be made in shares of Enterprise  Common Stock. Any such shares credited to
a Participant's  account shall be acquired in the same manner as shares acquired
for the  Enterprise  Common Stock Fund  established  pursuant to Section 7.2, be
invested in that Fund and shall not be available  for transfer to any other Fund
or withdrawal from the Plan prior to the Participant's termination of employment
by the Company or any Affiliate.

     Section 5.3. Reduction of Employer Contributions by Forfeitures. The amount
of an Employer's Contribution shall be reduced by the amount of the reduction of
an unmatched Employer Contribution allocable to a Highly Compensated Participant
as provided in Sections  4.7, 4.8 and 4.9, by the amount of any  forfeiture as a
result of termination of the employment of an Active  Participant as provided in
Section 11.2 or as a result of the Employer's  inability to locate a Participant
or beneficiary to whom a benefit hereunder is due as provided in Section 11.13.

     Section 5.4.  Maximum Annual  Additions.  The maximum Annual  Addition,  as
defined in Section 12.1, for any Plan Year to any Participant's  Account may not
exceed the amount provided for by Code section  415(c).  The rules governing the
application  of this Section 5.4 and other  limitations  imposed by Code section
415 are more fully set forth in Article XII.


     Section 5.5. Return of Employer Contributions.

     (a)  Notwithstanding  any  provision  of  the  Plan  to the  contrary,  any
          Employer  Contribution  made to the Plan by reason of  mistake of fact
          may be returned to the  Employer  making such  Employer  Contribution,
          provided the return of such Employer  Contribution  is made within one
          year from the date the  mistaken  payment  was made and any  amount so
          returned shall be disposed of as the Committee shall direct.

     (b)  If the Internal Revenue Service determines that any contribution by an
          Employer to the Plan is not  deductible  under Code section 404,  such
          Employer shall have the option,  which it may exercise within one year
          after the date of the  disallowance  of such  deduction,  to have such
          contribution returned to the Employer and any amount so returned shall
          be disposed of as the Committee shall direct.

     Section 5.6 Allocation from Cash Balance Plan. Pursuant to the Cash Balance
Plan and the  Retirement  Choice  Program,  Participants  who so elect  may have
certain service and age points otherwise allocate to them under the Cash Balance
Plan made as an Employer  Contribution  to their  Accounts  under this Plan. All
amounts so elected  shall be accepted by the Trustee and invested in  accordance
with Section 6.1.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                           THRIFT ACCOUNT INVESTMENTS

        Section 6.1 Investment of Deposits,  Rollover Contributions and Employer
Contributions.  Deposits,  Rollover  Contributions and Employer Contributions to
the Plan shall be invested by the Trustee under the Trust Agreement in the Funds
established   pursuant  to  Section  7.1.  Upon  enrolling  in  the  Plan,  each
Participant shall specify, in such form as shall be prescribed by the Committee,
the percentage (which shall be an integral multiple of 1% - including 0% but not
exceeding  100% in the aggregate) of Deposits to his or her Thrift Account which
shall be invested in each of such Funds.  Subject to Section 5.2 with respect to
Employer   Contributions   related  to  Basic   Deposits  in  excess  of  6%  of
Compensation,  Employer  Contributions  shall be invested by the Trustee for the
Account of an Active  Participant in the same Funds and in the same  percentages
as directed by such Participant with respect to the Basic Deposits to his or her
Thrift Account.  Rollover  Contributions may be invested in funds under the Plan
in  such   dollar   amounts  as  shall  be   designated   by  the   Participant.
Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary herein, a Participant who, at the time
he/she becomes an Employee, is a participant in the Employee Savings Plan, shall
continue  the same  investment  elections as he/she  maintained  in the Employee
Savings Plan until a change in investment  direction is made in conformity  with
the Section 6.2 hereof.  Each  Participant  with a U.S. Energy Partners  Account
shall  specify,  in such  form as  shall be  prescribed  by the  Committee,  the
percentage  (which  shall be an  integral  multiple of 1%  including  0% but not
exceeding  100% in the  aggregate) of his or her U.S.  Energy  Partners  Account
which  shall be invested  in each of the Funds  established  pursuant to Section
7.1; provided,  however,  that if the Participant fails to so specify,  the U.S.
Energy Partners Account shall be invested in a "Fixed Income Fund".

     Section 6.2 Change in Investment Direction.  Any investment direction given
by a Participant under Section 6.1 shall continue in effect until changed by the
Participant.  A  Participant  may change any such  direction by giving notice of
such change in the form  prescribed  by the  Committee.  Any such  change  shall
become effective as soon as practicable after receipt of the notice of change by
the Recordkeeper.  A change in investment direction under this Section 6.2 shall
not automatically cause a transfer of investments under Section 6.3.

     Section 6.3 Transfer of Investments. Subject to Section 5.2 with respect to
the  limitation  on the  transfer  of Employer  Contributions  made in shares of
Enterprise  Common  Stock,  a  Participant  may direct  that all or any part (in
integral multiples of 1%) of his or her interest in any one or more of the Funds
be  transferred  to any one or more of the other Funds,  except that no transfer
may be made into a Participant's  ESOP Account.  A Participant may also transfer
his or her ESOP Account assets (in 1% integral  multiples but not exceeding 100%
in the aggregate)  into any one or several of the Funds.  However,  any transfer
from a Fund shall be subject to such contractual limitations regarding transfers
from such Fund as may exist  from  time to time  under the  contracts  governing
investments  held in such Fund.  A direction  to transfer  all or a portion of a
Participant's  interest  in a Fund  shall be made by  giving  notice in the form
prescribed by the Committee.  Subject to any contractual limitations that may be
applicable, any such transfer shall be made as soon as practicable after receipt
of the notice of such transfer by the Recordkeeper.

     Section  6.4 Loans.  Participants  may  receive  loans  from  their  Thrift
Accounts under the provisions of Section 11.12. A loan to a Participant shall be
considered an investment of such Participant's  Thrift Account and the principal
amount of the loan shall be treated as a separate  investment within the various
subaccounts.  Repayments of the  principal  amount of the loan shall reduce such
corresponding  investments of each such  subaccount in the inverse order of such
investment  and  repayments of such  principal  along with any accrued  interest
thereon shall be invested in the Funds in accordance with the Participant's then
current  investment  direction.  Loan amounts shall be taken from subaccounts in
the following order:

     (a)  Deferred Deposits;

     (b)  Unmatured Vested Employer Contributions;

     (c)  Matured Vested Employer Contributions;

     (d)  Rollover Contributions;

     (e)  Unmatured Post-1986 Nondeferred Deposits;

     (f)  Matured Post-1986 Nondeferred Deposits;

     (g)  Pre-1987 Nondeferred Deposits.

     Loan proceeds shall not be taken from a Participant's ESOP Account nor from
that  portion  of  a  Participant's  Thrift  Account  attributable  to  Employer
Contributions made in shares of Enterprise Common Stock.

                                   ARTICLE VII

                              THRIFT ACCOUNT FUNDS

     Section  7.1.   Establishment  of  Funds.  The  following  Funds  shall  be
established  exclusively  for the  collective  investment  of Trust Fund  assets
attributable to Participant Thrift Accounts, as directed by Participants:

     (a)  One or more "Equities Funds", the assets of which shall principally be
          invested,  directly  or  indirectly,  in common  stocks of domestic or
          foreign  corporations.  To the extent  practicable,  no Equities  Fund
          shall invest in Enterprise Common Stock.

     (b)  One or more "Fixed Income Funds" the assets of which shall be (1) held
          by an insurance company, banking institution or other corporate entity
          pursuant to an agreement  containing  provisions  for the repayment in
          full of the amounts  transferred  to the  insurance  company,  banking
          institution or other corporate  entity plus interest at a fixed annual
          rate for a specified period, or (2) invested in direct  obligations of
          the United  States  Government  agencies  thereof,  or in  obligations
          guaranteed  as to the payment of principal  and interest by the United
          States  Government  or  agencies  thereof,  or in fully  insured  bank
          deposits, or fixed income private or public securities or (3) invested
          in  assets  that  meet  the  criteria  in (1)  and (2)  whose  benefit
          responsiveness,  liquidity  and/or  maturity date is provided for by a
          third party, or (4) invested in short-term investments,  including, in
          all cases,  a commingled  fund or common trust and  excluding,  in all
          cases, securities issued by any Employer,  except that this limitation
          shall not apply to securities  held by any  commingled  fund or common
          trust in which any portion of a "Fixed Income Fund" shall be invested.
          The  terms  of such  agreements  and the  identity  of such  insurance
          companies, banking institutions, other corporate entities and/or third
          parties shall be determined by the Committee from time to time.

     (c)  An  "Enterprise   Common  Stock  Fund",  the  assets  of  which  shall
          principally be invested in Enterprise Common Stock.


     (d)  An "Equities  Index Fund",  the assets of which shall  principally  be
          invested,  directly  or  indirectly,  in common  stocks  substantially
          comprising the Standard and Poor's 500 Index.

     (e)  One or more "Government  Obligations Funds", the assets of which shall
          principally be invested,  directly or indirectly,  in debt obligations
          issued  or  guaranteed  by the  U.  S.  Government,  its  agencies  or
          instrumentalities.

     (f)  One or more "Balanced Funds", the assets of which shall be principally
          invested,  directly  or  indirectly,  in a  combination  of the common
          stocks and fixed-income securities of domestic corporations.

     Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  any  or all of  the  above  Funds  may be
temporarily  maintained  in cash,  or may be invested  directly or indirectly in
certain short-term  obligations as permitted by the Trust Agreement.  Dividends,
interest and other income in respect of any Fund shall be reinvested in the same
Fund to the extent not used to pay  expenses  of the Plan.  Except as  otherwise
limited  by  the  provisions  of  this  Plan,  withdrawals,   distributions  and
forfeitures,  except as otherwise  specified  in the Plan,  shall be charged pro
rata  against  the  various  Funds in which  the  subaccounts  from  which  such
withdrawals, distributions or forfeitures are then invested.

     Section 7.2 Enterprise Common Stock Fund.

     (a)  Enterprise Common Stock purchased for the Enterprise Common Stock Fund
          shall be purchased by the Trustee on the open market or directly  from
          Enterprise should Enterprise elect to make such sales.

     (b)  If Enterprise  shall elect to sell shares of  Enterprise  Common Stock
          directly to the Plan, the price to be paid by the Trustee for any such
          purchases  shall be the  average  of the high and low sales  prices of
          Enterprise  Common Stock as reported by the New York Stock Exchange on
          the date of purchase.

     (c)  All voting discretion, including the power to decide whether or not to
          tender Enterprise Common Stock in connection with a tender offer, with
          respect  to the  shares of  Enterprise  Common  Stock  held  under the
          Enterprise Common Stock Fund for the Account of a Participant (whether
          vested or not vested)  shall be vested in the  Trustee.  However,  the
          Trustee shall vote all such shares in accordance  with the  directions
          of such Participant. Within a reasonable time before voting rights are
          to be exercised,  the Company or the Trustee shall cause to be sent to
          each Participant  entitled to give voting instructions all information
          that  Enterprise has or will  distribute to shareholders of Enterprise
          Common Stock regarding the exercise of such voting rights. Shares with
          respect  to which no voting  instructions  are  received  shall not be
          voted by the Trustee.

     (d)  If,  during the  course of the Plan,  Enterprise  should  grant to the
          holders of Enterprise  Common Stock rights to subscribe to an issue or
          issues of securities of Enterprise,  any such rights  attaching to the
          shares  of  Enterprise  Common  Stock  held by the  Trustee  under the
          Enterprise  Common Stock Fund shall be sold by the Trustee and the net
          proceeds  applied by the Trustee to the purchase of Enterprise  Common
          Stock on the open market for such Fund. Stock dividends on shares held
          by the  Enterprise  Common Stock Fund, and stock issued upon any split
          of such  shares,  shall be credited to such  Enterprise  Common  Stock
          Fund.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                 THRIFT ACCOUNTS

     Section 8.1 Establishment of Thrift Accounts.  The Committee shall maintain
or cause to be  maintained  a Thrift  Account for each  Participant  which shall
consist of the following  subaccounts:  Basic Deposit  Subaccount,  Supplemental
Deposit  Subaccount and Employer  Contribution  Subaccount,  the assets of which
shall be invested as provided in Section 5.2 or pursuant to the direction of the
Participant as provided in Article VI. The assets of each such subaccount of the
Thrift Account shall be identified as to Nondeferred or Deferred.

     Section 8.2 Measure of Thrift Accounts.

     (a)  The  interests  of  Participants  in the Funds  shall be  measured  by
          participating  units in the  particular  Fund, the number and value of
          which shall be  determined  as of each business day as provided in the
          next paragraph. Each participating unit shall have an equal beneficial
          interest in the Fund, and none shall have priority or preference  over
          any other.

     (b)  As soon as  practicable  at the end of each  business day, the Trustee
          shall determine the value of each such Fund as of such business day in
          the manner prescribed in Section 8.3. The value so determined shall be
          divided by the total number of  participating  units  allocated to the
          Accounts of Participants participating in such Fund in accordance with
          subsection  (a) as of the prior  business day. The resulting  quotient
          shall be the value of a participating unit as of such business day and
          participating units shall be allocated, as such value, to and from the
          Fund  subaccounts of Participants  for all  transactions by them or on
          their  behalf with respect to the current  business  day. The value of
          all  participating  units allocated to Participants'  Fund subaccounts
          shall be redetermined in a similar manner each succeeding business day
          and participating units shall be allocated to and from the Accounts of
          Participants  participating  in  such  Fund  at  such  value  for  all
          transactions with respect to such business day. Fractional units shall
          be calculated to such number of decimal  places as shall be determined
          by the Committee from time to time.

     (c)  If a Participant  shall direct pursuant to Section 6.3 that his or her
          interest in a Fund or any part thereof shall be transferred to another
          Fund or Funds, or if such Participant's interest in a Fund or any part
          thereof  is  distributed,   withdrawn,  borrowed  or  forfeited  under
          Articles IV or XI, the number of participating units representing such
          interest or portion thereof as of the applicable business day shall be
          cancelled for purposes of any subsequent  determination  of the number
          of and value of the participating units in such Fund.

     Section 8.3 Valuation of Funds.  The value of a Fund as of any business day
shall be the market value of all assets  (including any uninvested cash) held by
the Fund as  determined  by the  Trustee,  reduced by the amount of any  accrued
liabilities  of  the  Fund  on  such  business  day  and by  Deposits,  Rollover
Contributions and Employer  Contributions with respect to such business day. The
Trustee's determination of market value shall be binding and conclusive upon all
parties. 

     Section 8.4  Valuation  of Thrift  Accounts.  The value of a  Participant's
subaccount  for any  Fund as of any  business  day  shall  be the  value  of the
participating  units allocated to the Participant's  subaccount for such Fund as
of such  business day. The value of a  Participant's  Account as of any business
day shall be the  aggregate  of the values of such  subaccounts,  determined  as
provided in the preceding Sections of this Article VIII.

     Section 8.5  Separate  Accounting.  The  amounts of Deferred  Deposits in a
Participant's Thrift Account shall at all times be separately accounted for from
other amounts in such Thrift Account, by allocating  investment gains and losses
on Deferred  Deposit amounts on a reasonable pro rata basis and by adjusting the
Deferred and other portions of the subaccounts of a Participant's Thrift Account
for withdrawals,  distributions,  borrowings and contributions.  Gains,  losses,
withdrawals, distributions, borrowings, forfeitures and other credits or charges
shall be separately  allocated  between such Deferred  Deposit amounts and other
portions of the subaccounts on a reasonable and consistent basis.

                                   ARTICLE IX

                                  ESOP ACCOUNTS

     Section 9.1  Maintenance of Separate  Accounts.  Each ESOP Account shall be
maintained on the basis of shares of Enterprise  Common Stock  allocated to such
ESOP Account,  with each ESOP Account being credited with the number of full and
fractional shares of Enterprise Common Stock so allocated.

     Section 9.2 Allocation of Distributions.  Any distributions received by the
Plan with respect to Enterprise  Common Stock allocated to a Participant's  ESOP
Account shall be allocated to such ESOP Account.

     Section 9.3 Withdrawals or Transfers During Employment.

     (a)  Notwithstanding  any  provision  in  the  Plan  to  the  contrary,   a
          Participant  may withdraw in accordance  with Section 11.3 or transfer
          in accordance with Section 6.3, the shares of Enterprise  Common Stock
          allocated to  Participant's  ESOP  Account or the cash value  thereof.

     (b)  With respect to an election of a  Participant  to withdraw  Enterprise
          Common Stock from Participant's ESOP Account, the shares of Enterprise
          Common  Stock,  or the cash value at the election of the  Participant,
          shall be distributed in accordance with Article XI, provided that such
          Participant  elects  to  withdraw  all full and  fractional  shares of
          Enterprise  Common  Stock  allocated  to such ESOP Account or the cash
          value thereof.  Such distribution shall be made as soon as practicable
          after receipt by the  Recordkeeper  of the  Participant's  election to
          withdraw.

     (c)  With  respect to an election  of a  Participant  to transfer  the cash
          value of all full and  fractional  shares of  Enterprise  Common Stock
          from  the  Participant's  ESOP  Account  to the  Participant's  Thrift
          Account,  such  transfer  shall be made as soon as  practicable  after
          receipt by the Recordkeeper of the Participant's election to transfer,
          shall be  deposited  in the  Participant's  Thrift  Account,  shall be
          invested  in one or more (in  multiples  of 1% up to an  aggregate  of
          100%) of the Thrift Account Funds as such Participant  shall designate
          and  thereafter  shall be deemed a Rollover  Contribution  and treated
          accordingly.  The cash value of each share of Enterprise  Common Stock
          so  transferred  shall be equal to the price of a share of  Enterprise
          Common Stock actually received by the Trustee.

     (d)  A Participant may not borrow from his or her ESOP Account.

     Section  9.4  Dividends  and Other  Income.  Unless  otherwise  directed as
hereinafter  provided,  dividends paid in cash with respect to Enterprise Common
Stock  allocated to a  Participant's  ESOP Account shall be  distributed  to the
Participant as soon thereafter as practicable  and, in any event, not later than
90 days after the close of the Plan Year in which paid.  Enterprise Common Stock
delivered  to  the  Trustee  pursuant  to  a  stock  dividend,  stock  split  or
reorganization,  shall be allocated to the ESOP Account of  Participants in that
proportion  which the shares of each  Participant's  ESOP  Account  bears to the
total shares of all Participants' ESOP Accounts.


     Section 9.5 Voting of ESOP Account Common Stock. As provided in Section 7.2
with respect to the  Enterprise  Common Stock Fund, all voting  discretion  with
respect to stock held in a  Participant's  ESOP Account,  including the power to
decide  whether or not to tender  Enterprise  Common Stock in connection  with a
tender offer, shall be vested in the Trustee. Each Participant shall be entitled
to direct the Trustee as to the manner in which voting  rights  attributable  to
Enterprise  Common Stock (including  fractional  shares or fractional  rights to
shares) allocated to such Participant's ESOP Account are to be exercised. Within
a reasonable  time before voting rights are to be exercised,  the Trustee or the
Company  shall  cause to be sent to each  Participant  entitled  to give  voting
instructions   all  information  that  Enterprise  has  or  will  distribute  to
shareholders  of Enterprise  Common Stock  regarding the exercise of such voting
rights.  Such voting  rights  shall be  exercised by the Trustee but only to the
extent  directed  by a  Participant.  Shares  with  respect  to which no  voting
instructions are received shall not be voted by the Trustee.

                                    ARTICLE X

                                     VESTING

     Section 10.1 Vesting of Employer Contributions.

     (a)  Upon completion of five Years of Service,  a Participant  shall have a
          100% vested  interest  in his or her Thrift  Account  attributable  to
          Employer  Contributions  made on behalf of such Participant during any
          Plan Year. In addition,  if a Participant is eligible for  Retirement,
          suffers a Disability, is Laid Off or dies, such Participant shall have
          a 100% vested  interest in his or her Thrift Account  attributable  to
          Employer Contributions for all Plan Years.

     (b)  A  Participant  will  become  vested  in the  value of his or her U.S.
          Energy  Partners  Employer  Contribution  Subaccount  according to the
          following schedule based on his or her Years of Service:

                      Years of                  Vested
                      Service                Percentage
                      -------                ----------
                      Less than one               0
                      One                        20
                      Two                        40
                      Three                      60
                      Four                       80
                      Five or more              100

                      In the case of a Participant who has received a withdrawal
                      or a  distribution  under Article XI at a time when his or
                      her vested  percentage in his or her U.S.  Energy Partners
                      Employer Contribution Subaccount was at least 20% but less
                      than  100%,  and  who is  employed  by the  Company  or an
                      Affiliated  Company after  receiving  such a withdrawal or
                      distribution,  the amount of the vested  portion of his or
                      her U.S. Energy Partners Employer Contribution  Subaccount
                      shall be determined according to the following formula:

                      Amount of the Vested Portion = P(AB + D) - D

                      P is the vested percentage at the relevant time (e.g., at
                      subsequent  termination of employment).  AB is the U.S.
                      Energy  Partners   Employer   Contribution   Subaccount
                      balance at the  relevant  time.  D is the amount of the
                      prior distribution attributable to U.S. Energy Employer
                      Contribution Subaccount.

               (c)    For   purposes  of   determining   Years  of  Service,   a
                      Participant  shall not be considered  to have  interrupted
                      his or her  continuous  service  as a result of a leave of
                      absence  or as a result of a  termination  of  employment;
                      provided,  however,  that  the  periods  of  absence  from
                      employment  for these reasons shall not be counted  toward
                      Years of Service for vesting purposes.

     Section  10.2  Vesting of  Deposits,  Rollover  Contributions  and the ESOP
Account. A Participant's  interest in his or her Thrift Account  attributable to
Deposits  and Rollover  Contributions  for all Plan Years and in his or her ESOP
Account shall be 100% vested at all times.


                                   ARTICLE XI

                      ACCOUNT DISTRIBUTIONS AND WITHDRAWALS

     Section 11.1 Distribution Upon Retirement, Disability, Lay Off or Death. If
a Participant

     (a)  terminates employment on account of Retirement or Disability;

     (b)  is Laid Off; or

     (c)  dies,  then,  in  that  event,  the   Participant's   Thrift  Account,
          determined as of the business day  coinciding  with or next  following
          the date of the last  Deposit made by or which would have been made on
          behalf  of such  Participant,  together  with the  Participant's  ESOP
          Account, shall:

          (1)  if the value of such Account as so  determined is $3,500 or less,
               be distributed,  subject to the provisions of Section 11.9(c), as
               soon as practicable to the  Participant,  or in the case of death
               of  the  Participant,   to  the   Participant's   beneficiary  as
               determined  in  accordance  with Article XIV or, if none,  to the
               Participant's estate; or

          (2)  if the  value  of such  Account  as so  determined  shall  exceed
               $3,500,  be  distributed  upon the earliest of the  Participant's
               Required  Beginning  Date,  the death of such  Participant or the
               receipt by the Recordkeeper of an application for distribution in
               a form prescribed by the Committee.

     Section  11.2  Distribution  Upon Other  Termination  of  Employment.  Upon
termination of a Participant's  employment with an Employer or for reasons other
than  Retirement,  Disability,  Lay Off or  death,  the  vested  portion  of the
Participant's Account, determined as of the business day coinciding with or next
following  the date of the last Deposit made by or which would have been made on
behalf of such  Participant,  or, if none, the business day  coinciding  with or
next following the date of termination,  shall: 

     (a)  if the value of such Account as so  determined  is $3,500 or less,  be
          distributed,  subject to the provisions of Section 11.9(c), as soon as
          practicable  to the  Participant,  or,  in the  case of  death  of the
          Participant   after  termination  of  employment  but  prior  to  such
          distribution,  to the Participant's  beneficiary,  or, if none, to the
          Participant's estate; or

     (b)  if the value of such Account as so determined shall exceed $3,500,  be
          distributed upon the earliest of the Participant's  Required Beginning
          Date, the death of the Participant or the receipt by the  Recordkeeper
          of an  application  for  distribution  in a  form  prescribed  by  the
          Committee.

     The nonvested  portion of the Participant's  Account,  determined as of the
date of  termination,  shall be  forfeited  and shall be applied  thereafter  to
reduce a subsequent contribution or contributions of the Employer as provided in
Section 5.2. If such former  Participant  is rehired by an Employer on or before
the end of and is  employed  by an  Employer  at the end of the fifth  Plan Year
after the Plan Year in which  such  termination  occurred,  then such  nonvested
portion of the Participant's Account shall be reinstated by the Employer and the
Participant's  right thereto shall be determined as if the  Participant  had not
terminated  employment,  provided  that the  Participant  repays to the Plan the
amount of any  distribution  paid to him or her on account of the termination of
employment.

     The nonvested  portion of the Participant's  account,  determined as of the
date of  termination,  shall be  forfeited as of the earlier of (i) the date the
Participant receives a cash-out distribution as described in Treasury Regulation
section  1.411(a)-7(d)  or (ii)  the time at which  the  terminated  Participant
experiences  five consecutive  one-year breaks in service,  and shall be applied
thereafter to reduce a subsequent  contribution or contributions of the Employer
as provided in Section 5.2.

     Section 11.3 Withdrawal of Nondeferred Deposits and Employer  Contributions
During Employment.

     (a)  A Participant  may, by  application  to the  Recordkeeper  in the form
          prescribed by the Committee,  request to withdraw from the Plan any or
          all of his or her Nondeferred Deposits and earnings thereon,  Rollover
          Contributions  and earnings thereon and Vested Employer  Contributions
          as well as  earnings  thereon;  provided,  however,  that  the  amount
          withdrawn shall be at least $200, unless such withdrawal is of 100% of
          the value of such Participant's Thrift Account.

     (b)  If a  withdrawal  includes  Deposits  that are not  Matured,  Employer
          Contributions  with respect to such Participant shall be suspended for
          a period of three months.

     (c)  Withdrawals   shall  be  taken  from  a   Participant's   Thrift  Plan
          subaccounts in the following order:

          (1)  Pre-1987 Nondeferred Deposits;

          (2)  Matured  Post-1986  Nondeferred  Deposits and  earnings  thereon;

          (3)  Unmatured  Post-1986  Nondeferred  Deposits and earnings thereon;

          (4)  Rollover Contributions and earnings thereon;

          (5)  Earnings on pre-1987 Nondeferred Deposits;

          (6)  Matured Vested Employer  Contributions and earnings thereon; 

          (7)  Unmatured Vested Employer Contributions and earnings thereon.

     (d)  Any  withdrawal  made by a  Participant  pursuant to this Section 11.3
          shall be made  from  all  Funds in  which  the  Nondeferred  Deposits,
          Rollover  Contributions and Employer  Contributions by or on behalf of
          such  Participant  are  invested and shall be charged pro rata against
          such subaccounts in the Participant's Thrift Account.

     (e)  The amount of any  withdrawal  made by a Participant  pursuant to this
          Section 11.3 shall be  determined  as of the close of the business day
          on which the notice of withdrawal is received by the Recordkeeper.

     (f)  Notwithstanding  any of the  foregoing,  no  withdrawals  of  Employer
          Contributions  made in  shares of  Enterprise  Common  Stock  shall be
          permitted prior to the date that the Participant terminates his or her
          employment.

     Section 11.4 Withdrawals of Deferred  Deposits During  Employment After Age
59 1/2. A  Participant  over the age 59 1/2 may withdraw all or a portion of the
value of his or her Thrift Account  attributable to the Deferred  Deposits.  The
value of such  Deferred  Deposits  for the purpose of such  withdrawal  shall be
determined as of the close of the business day in which the notice of withdrawal
is received by the Recordkeeper. The minimum withdrawal permitted shall be $200,
unless such withdrawal is 100% of the current value of the Deferred portion of a
Participant's Thrift Account.

     Section 11.5 Hardship Withdrawals.

     (a)  Upon  the  application  of  any  Participant,  or  his  or  her  legal
          representative,   the   Committee,   in  accordance   with  a  uniform
          nondiscriminatory  policy,  shall permit such  Participant to withdraw
          such  portion  of the value of his or her  vested  Thrift  Account  as
          deemed to be necessary for the purpose of:

          (1)  Expenses  for  medical  care  described  in Code  section  213(d)
               previously incurred by the Participant,  the Participant's spouse
               or any  dependents  (as  defined  in  Code  section  152)  of the
               Participant or necessary for these persons to obtain medical care
               described in Code section 213(d);

          (2)  Costs  directly  related  to  the  purchase  (excluding  mortgage
               payments) of a principal residence of the Participant;

          (3)  Payment of tuition and related  educational  fees for the next 12
               months  of  post-secondary  education  for the  Participant,  the
               Participant's  spouse,  children or any dependents (as defined in
               Code section 152) of the Participant; or

          (4)  Payments  necessary  to prevent the  eviction of the  Participant
               from his principal  residence or  foreclosure  on the mortgage of
               the Participant's principal residence.

     (b)  A Participant or legal  representative  making  application under this
          Section  11.5  shall have the burden of  presenting  to the  Committee
          satisfactory  proof of such  need.  The  Committee  shall  not  permit
          withdrawal under this Section without first receiving such proof as it
          shall deem necessary to demonstrate such hardship.

     (c)  The amount which may be withdrawn shall be withdrawn, as necessary, in
          the following order:

          (1)  Nondeferred Deposits together with vested Employer Contributions,
               in the order  prescribed by Section 11.3,  but without  regard to
               the limitations on withdrawals of Section 11.3;

          (2)  Deferred Supplemental Deposits; and

          (3)  Deferred Basic Deposits.

     (d)  A  withdrawal  will be deemed to be  necessary to satisfy an immediate
          and heavy  financial  need of a  Participant  if all of the  following
          requirements are satisfied:

          (1)  The  withdrawal  is not in excess of the amount of the  immediate
               and heavy financial need of the Participant,

          (2)  The  Participant  has  obtained  all  distributions,  other  than
               hardship   withdrawals,   and  all  nontaxable   loans  currently
               available under all plans maintained by his or her Employer,

          (3)  The  Participant is prohibited  under the terms of the Plan or an
               otherwise  legally  enforceable  agreement  from making  elective
               contributions  and  employee  contributions  to the  Plan and all
               other  plans  maintained  by the Company or an  Affiliate  for at
               least 12 months after receipt of the hardship withdrawal, and

          (4)  The Plan and all other plans maintained by the Employer,  provide
               that the Participant may not make elective  contributions for the
               Participant's taxable year immediately following the taxable year
               of the  hardship  withdrawal  in excess of the  applicable  limit
               under Code  section  402(g) for such next  taxable  year less the
               amount  of  such  Participant's  elective  contributions  for the
               taxable year of the hardship withdrawal.  A Participant shall not
               fail to be treated as an  eligible  Participant  for  purposes of
               paragraph (b) of this Section  merely  because he is suspended in
               accordance with this provision.

     (e)  If a  Participant  shall make a  withdrawal  pursuant to this  Section
          11.5, then

          (1)  the   Participant   shall  not  be  permitted  to  make  Deposits
               (including  Additional  Lump Sum Deposits) to the Plan during the
               one  year  period  beginning  on the  date  of  receipt  of  such
               withdrawal; and

          (2)  a Participant's  Deferred Deposits for the Participant's  taxable
               year next  following the taxable year of the hardship  withdrawal
               may not exceed the limit  established  under Code section  402(g)
               less the amount of Deferred  Deposits made by the  Participant in
               the year of such withdrawal.

     (f)  Amounts  available for hardship  withdrawals  with respect to Deferred
          Deposits  will be limited to the  amount of a  Participant's  Deferred
          Deposits,  plus  earnings  allocable  thereto  which were  credited to
          Participant's Accounts as of December 31, 1988, less the amount of any
          previous hardship withdrawals.

     (g)  A hardship  withdrawal  from the Thrift Account shall not be permitted
          unless and until a Participant has withdrawn, pursuant to Section 9.3,
          all Enterprise Common Stock from his or her ESOP Account.

     (h)  The hardship withdrawal shall be paid to the Participant in the amount
          approved  as soon  as  practicable  after  his or her  application  is
          approved by the Committee.

     (i)  Notwithstanding  any of the  foregoing,  no  withdrawals  of  Employer
          Contributions  made in  shares of  Enterprise  Common  Stock  shall be
          permitted prior to the date that the Participant terminates his or his
          employment.
       
     Section 11.6. Suspension of Participation.  If a Participant shall cease to
be an Eligible  Employee,  Deposits  and  Employer  Contributions  to his or her
Thrift  Account shall be suspended and no Additional  Lump Sum Deposits shall be
permitted to be made during the period of  ineligibility.  Distribution  of such
Participant's Account shall be deferred until such Participant's  termination of
employment with an Employer, whereupon the Participant's Thrift Account shall be
distributed  in accordance  with the  applicable  provisions of this Article XI.
Such  Participant  shall  continue to be deemed a  Participant  for all purposes
other than for Articles IV and V during such period of ineligibility.

     Section 11.7 Transfer of Employment.  If a Participant shall be transferred
to the employ of an  Affiliate  which is not an Employer,  distribution  of such
Participant's  Account shall be deferred  until the  Participant is no longer in
the employ of the Employer or any Affiliate, whereupon the Participant's Account
shall be  distributed  in  accordance  with the  applicable  provisions  of this
Article  XI.  Such  transferred  Participant  shall  continue  to  be  deemed  a
Participant for all purposes other than for Articles IV and V during such period
of deferral of distribution.

     Section 11.8 Form of Distributions.

     (a)  All  distributions  from  the Plan  shall  be made in money by  check,
          except that in the case of a lump sum distribution  only, other than a
          hardship  withdrawal  in  accordance  with Section 11.5, a Participant
          may,  by  notice to the  Recordkeeper  in the form  prescribed  by the
          Committee,  elect to have any whole shares of Enterprise  Common Stock
          held for such  Participant's  Enterprise  Common Stock Fund subaccount
          and/or ESOP Account  distributed in shares of Enterprise Common Stock.
          The value of any  fractional  shares  shall be paid in money by check.
          Such an  election  may be made at any time  prior to the  distribution
          under Section 11.1 and 11.2 or prior to receipt by the Recordkeeper of
          the notice of withdrawal in the case of a  distribution  under Section
          11.3. If no such  election is made,  the entire value of the amount of
          the  Participant's  Account being  distributed shall be distributed in
          money by check.

     (b)  All  distributions  from the Plan shall be made in one lump sum,  with
          the following exceptions:

          (1)  In the case of a  distribution  from a  Participant's  Account on
               account of a Participant's Retirement, such Participant may elect
               to have his or her Account,  including the ESOP Account, which is
               to  be  transferred   into  one  of  the  Thrift  Account  Funds,
               distributed in annual or quarterly  payments in money by check by
               the  Trustee  in  amounts  as  nearly  equal  as  possible  for a
               specified number of years up to ten years.  Each payment shall be
               an amount  equal to the  Participant's  Thrift  Account as of the
               applicable date divided by the number of payments remaining.

          (2)  In the case of a distribution  from a  Participant's  U.S. Energy
               Partners Account which exceeds,  or has ever exceeded at the time
               of any prior  distribution,  $3,500,  if any, the Participant may
               elect to have his or her U.S. Energy Partners Account distributed
               in one of the following forms:

               (A)  in the form of a joint and  survivor  annuity with a benefit
                    following  the   Participant's   death   continuing  to  the
                    Participant's  spouse during the spouse's lifetime at a rate
                    equal to 100% (or, at the  Participant's  election,  50%) of
                    the rate at which benefits were payable to the Participant.

               (B)  in the  form of a single  life  annuity,  provided  that the
                    Participant's spouse consents.

     (c)  If a Participant  shall die prior to complete  distribution  of his or
          her  Thrift  Account  pursuant  to  subsection  (b),  the value of the
          Participant's   Thrift   Account  shall  be  distributed  as  soon  as
          practicable  in a lump sum to the  Participant's  beneficiary,  or, if
          none, to the Participant's  estate.  The amount so distributed after a
          Participant's  death  shall be the  remaining  value of  Participant's
          Thrift Account  determined as of the business day  coinciding  with or
          next following the date of the  Participant's  death.  Notwithstanding
          the foregoing, if a Participant who has a U.S. Energy Partners Account
          which  exceeds,  or has  ever  exceeded  at  the  time  of  any  prior
          distribution,  $3,500 dies before  amounts  have become  distributable
          under subsection (b), his or her surviving  spouse,  if any, may elect
          to have the U.S.  Energy  Partners  Account  paid in the form of a pre
          retirement survivor annuity.  In addition,  if a Participant who has a
          U.S.   Energy   Partners   Account  dies  after  amounts  have  become
          distributable   under  paragraph  (2)  of  subsection  (b),   survivor
          benefits, if any, will be paid in accordance with the annuity elected.

     (d)  If no election is made under  subparagraph (b) above, and the value of
          a Participant's Thrift Account,  when aggregated with the value of any
          ESOP Account and/or U.S. Energy Partners  Account of the  Participant,
          determined  in  accordance   with  Article  IX,  exceeds   $3,500,   a
          distribution  will be made in one lump sum at the time provided for in
          Section 11.1 or Section 11.2, except as otherwise  provided in Section
          11.5.

     (e)  Anything  to  the  contrary   notwithstanding,   any  Thrift   Account
          distribution to be made to a Participant  under  subparagraph  (b) (1)
          above  shall be made in such a manner  that the  present  value of the
          payments  to be  made  to the  Participant  during  his  or  her  life
          expectancy  are calculated to be more than 50% of the present value of
          the  total   payments   to  be  made  to  the   Participant   and  any
          beneficiaries.

     Section 11.9 Time of Distributions.

     (a)  All distributions from the Plan shall commence as soon as practicable,
          and in any  event no later  than 60 days  after  the close of the Plan
          Year in which the Participant  terminates  employment,  reaches his or
          her  Required  Beginning  Date,  dies,  or,  if  applicable,  requests
          distribution  under  Section 11.1 and 11.2, or 60 days after the close
          of the Plan Year in which the  Participant  elects to  withdraw  funds
          from the Plan in the case of  distributions  under  Sections 9.3, 9.4,
          11.3, and 11.4.

     (b)  In  the  case  of  a  distribution   over  a  period  of  years  under
          subparagraph (b) of Section 11.8, the initial payment shall be made at
          a time determined in accordance with  subparagraph (a) of this Section
          11.9.  In the  case of  annual  distributions,  the  remaining  annual
          payments shall be made in successive  calendar years on such date each
          year  as  shall  be  determined  by  the  Committee,  subject  to  the
          provisions  of  subparagraph  (b) of  Section  11.8 in the case of the
          Participant's  death.  In the  case of  quarterly  distributions,  the
          remaining payments shall be made each successive three month period on
          such day  during the period as may be  established  by the  Committee,
          subject to the provisions of  subparagraph  (b) of Section 11.8 in the
          case of the Participant's death.

     (c)  In  the  case  of  a  distribution   on  account  of  a  Participant's
          Retirement,  subject  to  the  provisions  of  subsection  11.10,  the
          Participant may elect to have his or her Account distributed as a lump
          sum  during (1) the Plan Year next  following  the Plan Year of his or
          her Retirement or (2) the next  succeeding Plan Year thereafter or (3)
          if  the  Account  value  exceeds  $3,500,   at  any  time  up  to  the
          Participant's  Required  Beginning  Date. If no such election is made,
          distribution  shall  commence  in  accordance  with  Section  11.1 and
          subparagraph (a) above.

     Section 11.10 Limitation on Post Age 70 1/2 Distributions.

     Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 11.8 and 11.9:

     (a)  the entire interest of a Participant must:

          (1)  be  distributed  not  later  than  the   Participant's   Required
               Beginning Date, or,

          (2)  commence  no  later  than  such  Required  Beginning  Date and be
               payable  in  accordance  with  regulations  under the Code over a
               period  not  extending   beyond  the  life   expectancy  of  such
               Participant.

     (b)  If a  Participant  dies  before  his or her entire  interest  has been
          distributed,  then such entire interest (or the remaining part of such
          interest if distribution  thereof has commenced)  shall be distributed
          within five years after the Participant's  death, and, if distribution
          has commenced prior to death, shall be distributed at least as rapidly
          as the  method  of  distribution  being  used  as of the  date of such
          Participant's death.

     (c)  The amount of the distribution required by this Section 11.10 is to be
          determined by Treasury  Regulations Section 1.72-9,  Table V using the
          attained age of the  Participant  as provided in  regulations  without
          recalculation  of the life  expectancy;  provided,  however,  that the
          amount of the distribution required by this Section 11.10 with respect
          to a  Participant's  U.S. Energy  Partners  Account,  if any, is to be
          determined by Treasury  Regulations Section 1.72-9, using the attained
          age or ages of the Participant  and his or her designated  beneficiary
          as provided in regulations with recalculation of the life expectancies
          as the Participant may elect.  Distribution will be made in accordance
          with the  regulations  under Code  section  401(a)(9),  including  the
          minimum  distribution  incidental death benefit requirement of section
          1.401(a)(9)-2,  and such  regulations  shall override any inconsistent
          Plan provisions.

     Section  11.11  Distribution  in the Case of Certain  Disabilities.  In the
event that the Committee  shall find that any person  entitled to a distribution
under the Plan is unable to care for his or her  affairs  because  of illness or
accident or because the person is a minor or has died,  the Committee may direct
that any  distribution  due such  person,  unless  claim  shall  have  been made
therefor by a duly appointed legal representative,  be paid or applied to or for
the  benefit of such  person,  or his or her  spouse,  any child of such  person
(including an adopted child), any parent or other blood relative of such person,
or a person with whom the person  resides,  or any of them, and any such payment
or application so made shall be a complete  discharge of the  liabilities of the
Plan therefor.

     Section 11.12 Loans.

     (a)  The  Committee   shall  have  complete   authority  to  establish  and
          administer a loan program to provide loans to  Participants.  The loan
          program shall be contained in a separate  written document which shall
          constitute part of the Plan, and shall include the following:

          (1)  A procedure for applying for loans;

          (2)  The basis on which loans will be approved or denied;

          (3)  Limitations (if any) on the types and amounts of loans offered;

          (4)  The procedure under the loan program for determining a reasonable
               rate of interest;

          (5)  The types of collateral which may secure a loan; and

          (6)  The events constituting  default and the steps that will be taken
               to preserve plan assets in the event of such default.

               The  rules and  applicable  limitations  established  by the loan
               program shall be such as to prevent any loan from  constituting a
               prohibited  transaction under Code section 4975 and ERISA section
               406, or a Plan distribution under Code section 72(p).

     (b)  The Trustee shall,  subject to the approval of the General Manager and
          compliance  with the written  loan program and the  provisions  of the
          Code, lend a Participant, who is employed by an Employer, an amount up
          to 50% of the vested portion of his or her Account, including the ESOP
          Account,  but not more than $50,000 in the aggregate as of the date on
          which the loan is  approved  reduced by the highest  outstanding  loan
          balance during the preceding twelve months.  However, no amount may be
          loaned  directly  from any ESOP  Account  nor from any  portion of the
          Enterprise  Common Stock Fund  attributable to Employer  Contributions
          made in  shares  of stock.  The  General  Manager  shall  review  each
          application for a loan in a nondiscriminatory manner and in accordance
          with such  rules as may be  prescribed  by the  Committee.  Loans,  if
          approved, shall be made as soon thereafter as practicable.

     (c)  In addition to such rules and  regulations as the Committee may adopt,
          all loans shall comply with the following terms and conditions:

          (1)  An  application  for a loan by an eligible  Participant  shall be
               made by making  application  therefor to the  Recordkeeper in the
               form prescribed by the Committee.

          (2)  An eligible  Participant  may not apply for more than one loan in
               any calendar year nor for a loan with an initial principal amount
               of less than $1,000 and, in any event, may not have more than two
               (2) loans outstanding at any one time.

          (3)  All loans, including interest thereon, shall be repaid by payroll
               deduction in equal monthly installments over a period of 12 to 60
               months as selected by the Participant.  Nothing herein,  however,
               shall prohibit a Participant from prepaying such loan in whole or
               in part in a lump sum in  accordance  with  such  rules as may be
               established from time to time by the Committee.

          (4)  Each loan shall be secured by an assignment of the  Participant's
               entire right,  title and interest in and to the Trust Fund to the
               extent  of the loan and  accrued  interest  thereon  and shall be
               evidenced by the Participant's  promissory note for the amount of
               the  loan,  including  interest,  payable  to  the  order  of the
               Trustee.

          (5)  Each loan shall bear  interest at a  reasonable  rate (which rate
               may be a variable  rate) to be  established  from time to time by
               the Committee,  not in violation of any applicable usury laws. In
               determining  the interest  rate,  the  Committee  shall take into
               consideration  interest  rates being  charged by other lenders at
               the time of such determination.

     (d)  No  distribution  shall  be made  to any  Participant  or  beneficiary
          thereof unless and until all unpaid loans, including interest thereon,
          have been repaid.

     Section  11.13  Inability  to  Locate  Payee.  Any  benefit  payable  to  a
Participant or beneficiary shall be forfeited if the Employer,  after reasonable
effort,  is unable to locate such  Participant or beneficiary to whom payment is
due.  The amount of any such  forfeited  benefit  shall be applied to reduce the
amount of Employer  Contributions required under the Plan as provided in Section
5.3. However,  any such forfeited benefit shall be reinstated and become payable
if a claim therefor is made by such Participant or beneficiary.

     Section  11.14  Federal  Income  Tax  Withholding  on   Distributions   and
Withdrawals.  Distributions  and withdrawals under this Plan shall be subject to
Federal  income tax  withholding  as  prescribed  by Code  section  3405 and the
regulations thereunder.

     Section 11.15 Direct Rollover to Another Plan or IRA On or after January 1,
1993, at the election of a Participant  or his spouse or former spouse  entitled
to a distribution under Section 22.1 or the foregoing provisions of this Article
XI, the  Committee  shall  direct the  Trustee to make a direct  rollover to the
trustee or other  custodian of an "eligible  retirement  plan" by any reasonable
means  (including  providing the  Participant  or spouse or former spouse with a
check made  payable  only to the  trustee or  custodian)  of all, or a specified
portion,  of an  "eligible  rollover  distribution,"  subject  to the  following
restrictions:

     (a)  An "eligible rollover  distribution" is any distribution of all or any
          portion  of  the  Participant's  Account,  except  that  an  "eligible
          rollover  distribution"  does not include 

          (i)  any distribution  that is one of a series of substantially  equal
               periodic  payments (made not less  frequently than annually) made
               for the life (or life  expectancy)  of the recipient or the joint
               lives (or  joint  life  expectancies)  of the  recipient  and the
               recipient's designated beneficiary,  or for a specified period of
               at least ten years; or 

          (ii) any distribution required under Code section 401(a)(9).

     (b)  An "eligible  retirement  plan" is an  individual  retirement  account
          described in Code section  408(a),  an individual  retirement  annuity
          described in Code section  408(b),  an annuity plan  described in Code
          section 403(a), or a qualified trust described in Code section 401(a),
          that accepts the recipient's "eligible rollover  distribution." If the
          recipient is the Participant's  surviving spouse, but not an alternate
          payee  receiving  a  distribution  pursuant  to a  Qualified  Domestic
          Relations  Order,  an  "eligible  retirement  plan"  is an  individual
          retirement  account  described in Code section 408(a) or an individual
          retirement  annuity  described in Code section 408(b) that accepts the
          surviving  spouse's  "eligible  rollover  distribution,"  but  not  an
          annuity plan  described in Code section  403(a) nor a qualified  trust
          described in Code section 401(a).

     (c)  The Participant or his or her spouse or former spouse must specify, in
          such  form  and at  such  time as the  Committee  may  prescribe,  the
          "eligible retirement plan" to which the distribution is to be paid and
          may specify more than one "eligible retirement plan." 
        
     (d)  The  Participant or his or her spouse or former spouse must provide to
          the Committee in a timely manner  adequate  information  regarding the
          designated "eligible retirement plan."

                                   ARTICLE XII
           LIMITS ON BENEFITS AND CONTRIBUTIONS UNDER QUALIFIED PLANS

     Section 12.1. Definitions.  For purposes of this Article XII, the following
definitions and rules of interpretation shall apply:

     (a)  "Annual Additions" to a participant's  account under a defined benefit
          plan  or a  defined  contribution  plan  is  the  sum,  credited  to a
          participant's account for any Limitation Year, of:

          (1)  Company contributions,

          (2)  Forfeitures, if any,

          (3)  Employee contributions and

          (4)  Amounts, if any, attributable to medical benefits allocated to an
               account  established under Code section 419 A (d)(2) on behalf of
               such Participant.

     (b)  "Annual Benefit"

          (1)  A benefit  which is  payable  annually  in the form of a straight
               life annuity under a defined  benefit plan. Such benefit does not
               include   any   benefits    attributable   to   either   employee
               contributions or rollover  contributions.  If the defined benefit
               plan provides for a benefit which is not payable in the form of a
               straight life annuity, the benefit is adjusted in accordance with
               Section 12.1(b)(5) below.

          (2)  Where a defined  benefit  plan  provides for  mandatory  employee
               contributions  (as  defined in Code  section  411(c)(2)(C)),  the
               Annual Benefit  attributable to such  contributions  is not taken
               into  account.  The  Annual  Benefit  attributable  to  mandatory
               contributions  is  determined  by using the factors  described in
               Code  section   411(c)(2)(B)  and  the  regulations   thereunder.
               However,  mandatory  employee  contributions  and  any  voluntary
               employee  contributions  are all  considered  a separate  defined
               contribution plan maintained by the Company.

          (3)  If rollover contributions are made to a defined benefit plan, the
               Annual Benefit  attributable to these contributions is determined
               on the basis of reasonable actuarial assumptions.

          (4)  When  there is a  transfer  of  assets  or  liabilities  from one
               qualified  defined  benefit plan to another,  the Annual  Benefit
               attributable  to the assets  transferred  shall not be taken into
               account by the  transferee  plan in applying the  limitations  of
               Code section 415.  The Annual  Benefit  payable on account of the
               transfer for any individual  that is  attributable  to the assets
               transferred  will be equal to the Annual  Benefit  transferred on
               behalf of such individual multiplied by a fraction, the numerator
               of which is the total assets  transferred  and the denominator of
               which is the total liabilities transferred.

          (5)  If a defined  benefit plan  provides a retirement  benefit in any
               form other  than a straight  life  annuity,  the plan  benefit is
               adjusted to a straight  life  annuity  beginning  at the same age
               which is the  actuarial  equivalent of such benefit in accordance
               with the  rules  determined  by the  Commissioner.  However,  the
               following values are not taken into account:

               (i)  The value of a  qualified  joint and  survivor  annuity  (as
                    defined in Code section 417 and the regulations  thereunder)
                    provided by the plan to the extent  that such value  exceeds
                    the sum of

                    (A)  the value of a straight  life annuity  beginning on the
                         same date and

                    (B)  the value of any  post-retirement  death benefits which
                         would be  payable  even if the  annuity  was not in the
                         form of a joint and survivor annuity.

               (ii) The  value of  benefits  that are not  directly  related  to
                    retirement  benefits (such as pre-retirement  disability and
                    death benefits and post-retirement medical benefits).

               (iii)The value of  benefits  provided  by the plan which  reflect
                    post-retirement  cost of living increases to the extent that
                    such  increases are in accordance  with Code section  415(d)
                    and the regulations thereunder.

          (6)  Where a  defined  benefit  plan  provides  a  retirement  benefit
               beginning  before a participant  has attained the Social Security
               Retirement  Age, the plan benefit shall, in accordance with rules
               determined  by the  Commissioner,  be adjusted  to the  actuarial
               equivalent  of  a  benefit  commencing  at  the  Social  Security
               Retirement  Age. This adjustment is only for purposes of applying
               the dollar limitation  described in Code section 415(b)(1)(A) and
               Section 12.1(f)(1) to the Annual Benefit of the participant.

          (7)  Where a  participant  has less than 10 Years of Service  with the
               Company at the time the Participant  begins to receive retirement
               benefits under the defined benefit plan, the benefit  limitations
               described in Code sections 415(b)(1)(B) and 415(b)(4) and Section
               12.1(f)(2)  are  to  be  reduced  by  multiplying  the  otherwise
               applicable limitation by a fraction:

               (i)  the numerator  which is the Years of Service (and  fractions
                    thereof)  with the Company as of, and  including the current
                    Limitation Year, and

               (ii) the denominator of which is 10. 

                    The  preceding  sentence  shall also apply for  purposes  of
                    reducing  the benefit  limitation  described in Code section
                    415(b)(1)(A) and Section  12.1(f)(1),  by substituting years
                    of participation for Years of Service wherever it appears in
                    such sentence.

               (iii)If the  retirement  benefit  under a  defined  benefit  plan
                    begins  after  the   Participant  has  attained  the  Social
                    Security Retirement Age, the determination as to whether the
                    Maximum  Permissible  Defined Benefit Amount  limitation has
                    been satisfied shall be made in accordance with  regulations
                    prescribed by the  Commissioner by adjusting such benefit so
                    that  it  is  actuarially   equivalent  to  such  a  benefit
                    beginning  at  the  Social  Security  Retirement  Age.  This
                    adjustment  is only for purposes of applying the  limitation
                    described   in  Code   section   415(b)(1)(A)   and  Section
                    12.1(f)(1) to the Annual Benefit of the participant.

          (8)  The Annual Benefit to which a participant is entitled at any time
               under all defined  benefit plans  maintained by the Company shall
               not, during the Limitation Year,  exceed the Maximum  Permissible
               Defined Benefit Amount.

          (9)  In determining the actuarial equivalency for purposes of Sections
               12.1(b)(5),  12.1(b)(6) and 12.1(b)(8)  above,  the interest rate
               shall be 5%.

     (c)  "Company" shall mean the Company, as described in Section 2.11 and any
          Affiliate as defined in Section 2.4.

     (d)  "Compensation" with respect to a Limitation Year -

          (1)  includes amounts paid to a Participant  (regardless of whether he
               or she was such during the entire Limitation Year);

               (i)  as wages, salaries, fees for professional services and other
                    amounts received (without regard to whether or not an amount
                    is paid in cash) for personal  services actually rendered in
                    the course of employment with any Company  including but not
                    limited to  commissions,  compensation  for  services on the
                    basis  of  a  percentage   of  profits,   fringe   benefits,
                    reimbursements    and   other   expense   allowances   under
                    nonaccountable  plans (as  described in Treasury  Regulation
                    1.b2-2(c)) and bonuses;

               (ii) for purposes of (A) above,  earned  income from sources from
                    outside  the  United  States  (as  defined  in Code  section
                    911(b)),  whether or not excludable  from gross income under
                    Code section 911 or  deductible  under Code sections 931 and
                    933;

               (iii)amounts  described in Code  sections  104(a)(3),  105(a) and
                    105(h)  but  only  to the  extent  that  these  amounts  are
                    includable in the gross income of the Participant;

               (iv) in the  case  of an  employee  within  the  meaning  of Code
                    section  401(c)(1)  and  the  regulations  thereunder,   the
                    Participant's  earned  income (as  described in Code section
                    401(c)(2) and the regulations thereunder);

               (v)  amounts  paid  or  reimbursed  by  the  Company  for  moving
                    expenses incurred by the Participant, but only to the extent
                    that these  amounts are not  deductible  by the  Participant
                    under Code section 217.

               (vi) The  value  of a  nonqualified  stock  option  granted  to a
                    Participant  by a Company,  but only to the extent  that the
                    value of the option is includable in the gross income of the
                    Participant for the taxable year in which granted.

               (vii)The amount  includable  in the gross income of a Participant
                    upon making the election described in Code section 83(b).

          (2)  Compensation does not include -

               (i)  notwithstanding  subsection  (1)(A) of this Section 12.1(d),
                    there   shall  be   excluded   from   Compensation   amounts
                    contributed to a plan qualified  under section 401(k) of the
                    Code   as   salary   reduction    contributions   (and   not
                    recharacterized as employee contributions thereunder);

               (ii) other  contributions  made  by  the  Company  to a  plan  of
                    deferred   compensation  to  the  extent  that,  before  the
                    application of the Code section 415 limitations to the plan,
                    the  contributions are not includable in the gross income of
                    the Participant  for the taxable year in which  contributed.
                    In  addition,  Company  contributions  made on  behalf  of a
                    Participant to a simplified Participant pension described in
                    Code section 408(k) are not considered as  Compensation  for
                    the  taxable  year in which  contributed  to the extent such
                    contributions  are deductible by the Participant  under Code
                    section  219(b)(7).  Additionally,  any distributions from a
                    plan  of  deferred   compensation   are  not  considered  as
                    Compensation,   regardless   of  whether  such  amounts  are
                    includable  in the  gross  income  of the  Participant  when
                    distributed.  However, any amounts received by a Participant
                    pursuant   to  an  unfunded   nonqualified   plan  shall  be
                    considered  as  Compensation  in the year such  amounts  are
                    includable in the gross income of the Participant;

               (iii)amounts  realized from the exercise of a nonqualified  stock
                    option  or when  restricted  stock (or  property)  held by a
                    Participant  either  becomes  freely  transferable  or is no
                    longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture (see Code
                    section 83 and the regulations thereunder);

               (iv) amounts   realized   from  the  sale,   exchange   or  other
                    disposition  of  stock  acquired  under  a  qualified  stock
                    option;

               (v)  other amounts which  receive  special tax benefits,  such as
                    premiums  for  group  term life  insurance  (but only to the
                    extent that the  premiums  are not  includable  in the gross
                    income of the Participant);

     (e)  "Limitation Year" - the Plan Year;

     (f)  "Maximum  Permissible  Defined Benefit Amount" - for a Limitation Year
          the Maximum  Permissible  Defined  Benefit  Amount with respect to any
          Participant shall be the lesser of:

          (1)  $90,000, or,

          (2)  100% of the  Participant's  average  Compensation  for his or her
               high three consecutive Years of Service, subject to the following
               rules:

               (i)  As of January 1 of each  calendar year  commencing  with the
                    calendar  year  1988,  the  dollar  limitation  set forth in
                    Paragraph (1) above shall be adjusted automatically to equal
                    the dollar  limitation as determined by the Commissioner for
                    that  calendar  year under Code section  415(d)(1)(A).  This
                    adjustment dollar limitation applies for the Limitation Year
                    ending with or within the calendar year. It is applicable to
                    Employees who are  Participants in the Plan and to Employees
                    who have retired or otherwise terminated their service under
                    the Plan with a  nonforfeitable  right to accrued  benefits,
                    regardless  of whether they have  actually  begun to receive
                    such benefits.  The Annual  Benefit  payable to a terminated
                    Participant   which  is  otherwise  limited  by  the  dollar
                    limitation  shall be  increased  to take  into  account  the
                    adjustment of the dollar limitation.

               (ii) With regard to Participants  who have separated from service
                    with a  nonforfeitable  right  to an  accrued  benefit,  the
                    compensation  limitation  described in  paragraph  (2) above
                    applicable  to  Limitation  Years  commencing  on and  after
                    January  1, 1976  shall be  adjusted  annually  to take into
                    account increases in the cost of living.  For any Limitation
                    Year beginning after the separation  occurs,  the adjustment
                    of the  compensation  limitation  is  made as  specified  in
                    regulations and rules prescribed by the Commissioner. In the
                    case of a Participant  who  separated  from service prior to
                    January  1,  1976,  the  cost of  living  adjustment  of the
                    compensation   limitation   under  this  paragraph  for  all
                    Limitation  Years  prior  to  January  1,  1976,  is  to  be
                    determined as provided by the Commissioner.

               (iii)Anything  herein  to the  contrary  notwithstanding,  in the
                    case of an  individual  who was a  Participant  in the  Plan
                    before  January  1,  1983,  if such  Participant's  "current
                    accrued benefit" (as defined in section 235(g)(4) of the Tax
                    Equity  and  Fiscal  Responsibility  Act of 1982  ("TEFRA"))
                    under the Plan as of the close of the last  Limitation  Year
                    beginning   before  January  1,  1983  exceeded  the  dollar
                    limitation  with respect to such  Participant  under Section
                    12.1(g)(1) shall be equal to such current accrued benefit.

               (iv) Anything  herein to the  contrary  notwithstanding,  for any
                    individual  who was a Participant  in the Plan on January 1,
                    1987, if such Participant's  "current accrued benefit" under
                    the Plan,  as that term is defined in section  1106(i)(3)(B)
                    of the Tax Reform  Act of 1986,  as of the close of the last
                    Limitation  Year  beginning  before January 1, 1987 exceeded
                    the limitation  described in Section  12.1(f)(1)  above, the
                    dollar  limitation  with respect to such  Participant  under
                    Section  12.1(f)(1)  shall be equal to such current  accrued
                    benefit.

     (g)  "Maximum  Permissible Defined  Contribution Amount" - for a Limitation
          Year the Maximum Permissible Defined  Contribution Amount with respect
          to any Participant shall be the lesser of:

          (1)  $30,000,  or if greater,  one fourth of the  limitation in effect
               under Code  section  415(b)(1)(A)  (as  adjusted by Code  section
               415(d)(1)(A)).

          (2)  25% of the Participant's Compensation for the Limitation year.

          Notwithstanding the foregoing, or anything herein to the contrary, the
          percentage of compensation  limitation of this Section 12.1(g)(2)
          shall not  apply to any  Annual  Additions  pursuant  to  Section
          12.1(a)(4) above.

     (h)  "Projected Annual Benefit" - the Annual Benefit to which a Participant
          would be  entitled  under  the Plan on the  assumption  that he or she
          continues  employment until the normal retirement age (or current age,
          if that is later) thereunder,  that his or her Compensation  continues
          at  the  same  rate  as  in  effect  for  the  Limitation  Year  under
          consideration until such age, and that all other relevant factors used
          to determine benefits under the Plan remain constant as of the current
          Limitation Year for all future Limitation Years;

     (i)  "Social Security  Retirement Age" - the age used as the retirement age
          under  Social  Security  Act section  216(1)  except that such section
          shall be applied:

          (1)  without regard to the age increase factor, and,

          (2)  as if the early  retirement age under Social Security Act section
               216(1)(2) were 62.

     (j)  For purposes of applying the limitations of Code sections 415(b),  (c)
          and  (e)  to a  Participant  for a  particular  Limitation  Year,  all
          qualified  defined benefit plans (without regard to whether a plan has
          been terminated) ever maintained by the Company will be treated as one
          defined  benefit plan and all  qualified  defined  contribution  plans
          (without regard to whether a plan has been terminated) ever maintained
          by the Company will be treated as part of this Plan.

     Section  12.2 Annual  Addition  Limits.  The amount of the Annual  Addition
which may be  credited  under this Plan to any  Participant's  Account as of any
allocation date shall not exceed the Maximum  Permissible  Defined  Contribution
Amount (based upon his or her  Compensation up to such allocation  date) reduced
by the sum of any credits of Annual Additions made to the Participant's  Account
under all defined  contribution plans as of any preceding allocation date within
the  Limitation  Year.  If an  allocation  date of this Plan  coincides  with an
allocation date of any other qualified  defined  contribution plan maintained by
the Company, the amount of the Annual Additions which may be credited under this
Plan to any  Participant's  Account as of such date shall be an amount  equal to
the product of the amount to be credited  under this Plan without regard to this
Section 12.2  multiplied  by the lesser of one or a fraction,  the  numerator of
which is the amount  described in this Section 12.2 during the  Limitation  Year
and the  denominator of which is the amount that would be otherwise  credited on
this allocation date under all defined contribution plans without regard to this
Section 12.2. However, if a security is not allocated to a Participant's Account
under any  qualified tax credit  employee  stock  ownership  plan of the Company
because  of the  operation  of the  limitations  of  Code  section  415  and the
provisions  of this  Section  12.2,  no other  amount  may be  allocated  to the
Participant's  Account  under this Plan after the  allocation  date for such tax
credit employee stock  ownership  plan's plan year,  until all such  unallocated
securities  have been  allocated in accordance  with the  provisions of such tax
credit employee stock ownership plan. If contributions to this Plan on behalf of
a Participant are to be reduced as a result of this Section 12.2, such reduction
shall be effected by reducing contributions in the following order: Supplemental
Nondeferred  Deposits,  Basic Nondeferred  Deposits and  corresponding  matching
Company Contributions, Supplemental Deferred Deposits and finally, if necessary,
Basic  Deferred   Deposits  and   corresponding   remaining   matching   Company
Contributions.   If,  as  a  result  of  a  reasonable  error  in  estimating  a
Participant's  Compensation,  or under the limited facts and circumstances which
the  Commissioner  finds  justify  the  availability  of the  rules set forth in
paragraphs  (a)-(c) of this Section 12.2,  the  allocation  of Annual  Additions
under  the  terms of the Plan  for a  particular  Participant  would  cause  the
limitations  of  Code  section  415  applicable  to  that  Participant  for  the
Limitation  Year to be exceeded,  the excess  amounts  shall not be deemed to be
Annual Additions in that Limitation Year if they are treated as follows:


     (a)  To the  extent  necessary,  Deferred  Deposits  to the  Plan  shall be
          recharacterized   as  Nondeferred   Deposits  and  the   Participant's
          Nondeferred   Deposits  to  the  Plan  (including   Deferred  Deposits
          recharacterized  as  Nondeferred   Deposits  hereunder)  and  earnings
          thereon shall be returned to the Participant.

     (b)  The excess amounts in the Participant's  Account consisting of Company
          Contributions  shall be used to reduce Company  Contributions  for the
          next Limitation Year (and succeeding  Limitation  Years, as necessary)
          for that  Participant if that Participant is covered by the Plan as of
          the end of the Limitation  Year.  However,  if that Participant is not
          covered  by the  Plan as of the end of the  Limitation  Year  then the
          excess amounts must be held  unallocated in a suspense account for the
          Limitation  Year and allocated and  reallocated in the next Limitation
          Year to all of the remaining  Participants  in the Plan. If a suspense
          account is in  existence  at any time during a  particular  Limitation
          Year,  other than the first Limitation Year described in the preceding
          sentence,  all amounts in the suspense  account must be allocated  and
          reallocated to Participants'  Accounts  (subject to the limitations of
          Code section 415) before any Company Contributions, may be made to the
          Plan for that Limitation Year. Furthermore, the excess amounts must be
          used to reduce Company Contributions for the next Limitation Year (and
          succeeding  Limitation  Years,  as necessary) for all of the remaining
          Participants in the Plan. For purposes of this subdivision,  except as
          provided  in (a) of  this  Section  12.2,  excess  amounts  may not be
          distributed to Participants or former Participants.

     (c)  In the  event of a  termination  of the  Plan,  the  suspense  account
          described  in (b) of this  Section 12.2 shall revert to the Company to
          the extent it may not then be allocated to any Participant's Account.

     (d)  Notwithstanding  any other provision in this Section 12.2, the Company
          shall not  contribute any amount that would cause an allocation to the
          suspense account as of the date the contribution is allocated.  If the
          contribution  is  made  prior  to the  date  as of  which  it is to be
          allocated,  then such  contribution  shall not  exceed an amount  that
          would  cause an  allocation  to the  suspense  account  if the date of
          contribution were an allocation date.

     Section 12.3 Overall  Limit.  For any  Participant  of this Plan who at any
time participated in a defined benefit plan maintained by the Company,  the rate
of benefit accrual by such Participant in each defined benefit plan in which the
Participant  participates  during  the  Limitation  Year will be  reduced to the
extent necessary to prevent the sum of the following  fractions,  computed as of
the close of the Limitation Year, from exceeding 1.0:

     (a)  Defined  Benefit  Plan  Fraction.  Projected  Annual  Benefit  of  the
          Participant  under all defined benefit plans divided by: the lesser of
          (1) the product of 1.25, multiplied by the dollar limitation in effect
          under Code section  415(b)(1)(A)  for such Limitation Year, or (2) the
          product  of 1.4  multiplied  by the  amount  which  may be taken  into
          account  under  Code  section   415(b)(1)(B)   with  respect  to  such
          Participant for such Limitation Year. and

     (b)  Defined  Contribution  Plan Fraction.  Sum of Annual Additions to such
          Participant's  Account  under all defined  contribution  plans in such
          Limitation Year and for all prior Limitation Years divided by: the sum
          of the lesser of the following  amounts  determined  for such year and
          for each prior Year of Service  with the  Company:  (1) the product of
          1.25, multiplied by the dollar limitation in effect under Code section
          415(c)(1)(A)  for such Limitation Year, or (2) the product of (a) 1.4,
          multiplied  by (b)  25% of the  Participant's  Compensation  for  such
          Limitation Year.

     Section 12.4 Special Rules.

     (a)  For purposes of applying  the Defined  Contribution  Plan  Fraction in
          Section 12.3 for any Limitation Year beginning after December 31, 1975
          to Limitation Years before January 1, 1976, the aggregate amount taken
          into account in  determining  the numerator of such fraction is deemed
          not to exceed the aggregate  amount taken into account in  determining
          the denominator of the fraction.

     (b)  In any case where the sum of the  fractions in Section 12.3 is greater
          than  1.0,  calculated  as of the  close of the last  Limitation  Year
          beginning before January 1, 1983 for a Participant, in accordance with
          regulations  prescribed by the Commissioner  pursuant to TEFRA section
          235(g)(3),  an amount shall be  subtracted  from the  numerator of the
          defined  contribution  plan fraction so that the sum of such fractions
          does not exceed 1.0 for such Limitation Year.

     (c)  If the  sum  of the  fractions  in  Section  12.3  would  exceed  1.0,
          calculated  as of the  close of the  last  Limitation  Year  beginning
          before  January  1,  1987  for  a  Participant,   in  accordance  with
          regulations   prescribed  by  the  Commissioner  pursuant  to  section
          1106(i)(4)  of the  Tax  Reform  Act  of  1986,  an  amount  shall  be
          subtracted  from  the  numerator  of  the  defined  contribution  plan
          fraction  (not  exceeding  such  numerator)  so  that  the sum of such
          fractions  does not exceed 1.0. This  numerator,  as adjusted  herein,
          will be used for the  calculation  of the  defined  contribution  plan
          fraction for Limitation Years commencing on or after January 1, 1987.


                                  ARTICLE XIII
                             TOP-HEAVY REQUIREMENTS

     Section 13.1 Definitions.  For purposes of this Article XIII, the following
definitions  shall apply, to be interpreted in accordance with the provisions of
Code section 416 and the regulations thereunder:

     (a)  "Aggregation Group" shall mean a plan or group of plans which includes
          all plans  maintained  by the  Employers  in which a Key Employee is a
          Participant  or which  enables  any plan in which a Key  Employee is a
          Participant to meet the requirements of Code section 401(a)(4) or Code
          section  410, as well as all other  plans  selected by the Company for
          permissive  aggregation inclusion of which would not prevent the group
          of  plans  from  continuing  to meet  the  requirements  of such  Code
          sections.

     (b)  "Compensation"  with  respect  to a Plan Year  shall be as  defined in
          Section XII without regard to Section 12.1(d)(2)(A).

     (c)  "Determination Date" shall mean, with respect to any Plan Year,

          (1)  the last day of the preceding Plan Year, or,

          (2)  in the case of the first  Plan Year of any Plan,  the last day of
               such Plan Year.

     (d)  "Employee"  shall mean,  for purposes of this Article XIII, any person
          employed by an Employer and shall also include any beneficiary of such
          person, provided that the requirements of Sections 13.3, 13.4 and 13.5
          shall not apply to any person included in a unit of Employees  covered
          by an agreement  which the Secretary of Labor finds to be a collective
          bargaining agreement between Employee  representatives and one or more
          Employers  if there is  evidence  that  retirement  benefits  were the
          subject of good faith bargaining between such Employee representatives
          and such Employer or Employers.

     (e)  "Employer"  shall  mean,  any  corporation  which  is  a  member  of a
          controlled  group of corporations  (as defined in Code section 414(b))
          which  includes the Company or any trades or business  (whether or not
          incorporated)  which are under  common  control  (as  defined  in Code
          section 414(c)) with the Company, or a member of an affiliated service
          group (as defined in Code section 414(m)) which includes the Company.

     (f)  "Key Employee"  shall mean, any Employee or former Employee who is, at
          any time  during  the Plan  Year,  or was,  during any one of the four
          preceding Plan Years any one or more of the following:

          (1)  An officer of an Employer having an annual  Compensation  greater
               than 50% of the amount in effect under Code section  415(b)(1)(A)
               for any Plan Year unless 50 other such officers (or, if lesser, a
               number of such  officers  equal to the greater of three or 10% of
               the Employees) have higher annual Compensation.

          (2)  One of the 10  persons  employed  by an  Employer  having  annual
               Compensation  greater  than the  limitation  in effect under Code
               section 415(c)(1)(A) for any Plan Year, and owning (or considered
               as owning  within the  meaning of Code  section  318) the largest
               interests in the  Employers.  For purposes of this paragraph (2),
               if two Employees have the same interest, the one with the greater
               Compensation shall be treated as owning the larger interest.

          (3)  Any person owning (or  considered as owning within the meaning of
               Code  section  318) more than 5% of the  outstanding  stock of an
               Employer or stock  possessing  more than 5% of the total combined
               voting power of such stock.

          (4)  A person who would be described  in  paragraph  (3) above if "1%"
               were  substituted for "5%" each place it appears in paragraph (3)
               above, and who has annual Compensation of more than $150,000. For
               purposes of determining  ownership  under this Section  13.11(f),
               Code section  318(a)(2)(C)  shall be applied by substituting "5%"
               for "50%" and the rules of  subsections  (b), (c) and (m) of Code
               section 414 shall not apply.

     (g)  "Year of Service"  shall  mean,  a year which  constitutes  a "Year of
          Service"  under  the  rules  of  paragraphs  (4),  (5) and (6) of Code
          section 411(a) to the extent not  inconsistent  with the provisions of
          this Article XIII.

     Section 13.2 General  Requirements.  For any Plan Year beginning after 1983
in which the Plan is a Top-Heavy  Plan,  the  requirements  of this Article XIII
must be met in accordance with Code section 416 and the regulations  thereunder.
The provisions of this Article XIII shall be  inapplicable  unless and until the
Plan is a Top-Heavy Plan.

     Section 13.3 Maximum Compensation.  Compensation for any Employee shall not
be taken  into  account  under  the Plan in excess of the  amount  provided  for
pursuant to Code section 401(a)(17) and the regulations thereunder.

     Section 13.4 Vesting. A Participant who is credited with an Hour of Service
while the Plan is Top-Heavy,  or in any Plan Year after a Plan Year in which the
Plan is  Top-Heavy,  and who has completed at least three Years of Service shall
have a  nonforfeitable  right to 100% of his or her accrued benefit derived from
Employer  Contributions  and no such amount may become  forfeitable  if the Plan
later  ceases  to be  Top-Heavy  nor may such  amount  be  forfeited  under  the
provisions of Code sections 411(a)(3)(B) or 411 (a)(3)(D).  Such accrued benefit
shall include  benefits  accrued  before the Plan becomes  Top-Heavy,  including
benefits accrued prior to January 1, 1984.  Notwithstanding any other provisions
of this Plan to the contrary, once the vesting requirements of this Section 13.4
become applicable, they shall remain applicable even if the Plan later ceases to
be Top-Heavy.

     Section 13.5 Minimum  Contributions.  Minimum Employer  Contributions for a
Participant  (not including a beneficiary of any  Participant)  who is not a Key
Employee shall be required under the Plan for the Plan Year as follows:

     (a)  The  amount of the  minimum  contribution  shall be the  lesser of the
          following percentages of Compensation:

          (1)  four percent, or,

          (2)  the highest percentage at which such contributions are made under
               the Plan for the Plan Year on behalf of a Key Employee.

               (i)  For purposes of this paragraph (2), all defined contribution
                    plans required to be included in an Aggregation  Group shall
                    be treated as one plan.

               (ii) This  paragraph  (2) shall not apply if the Plan is required
                    to be included in an Aggregation  Group and the Plan enables
                    a  defined  benefit  plan  required  to be  included  in the
                    Aggregation  Group to meet the requirements of Code sections
                    401(a)(4) or 410.

               (iii)For purposes of this paragraph  (2), the  calculation of the
                    percentage at which  Employer  Contributions  are made for a
                    Key Employee shall be based only on his or her  Compensation
                    not in excess of maximum counted compensation as provided in
                    Section 13.3.

     (b)  There  shall  be  disregarded  for  purposes  of  this  Section  13.5,
          contributions  or benefits  under Code section  3111,  Title II of the
          Social  Security  Act or any other  federal or state law, and for Plan
          Years  beginning  before  December  31,  1984,  there  shall  also  be
          disregarded any contributions  attributable to a salary reduction or a
          similar arrangement.

     (c)  For purposes of this Section  13.5,  the term  "Participant"  shall be
          deemed  to refer to all  Participants  who  have  not  separated  from
          service  at the end of the Plan Year  including,  without  limitation,
          individuals who:

          (1)  failed to complete 1000 Hours of Service during the Plan Year, or

          (2)  declined to make mandatory contributions to the Plan, or

          (3)  are excluded  from the Plan because  their  Compensation  is less
               than a stated amount but who must be considered  Participants for
               the Plan to satisfy the  coverage  requirements  of Code  section
               410(b) in accordance with Code section 401(a)(5).

     Section  13.6  Participants  Under  Defined  Benefit  Plans.  If  any  Plan
Participant  other than a Key  Employee  is also a  Participant  under a defined
benefit  plan of an  Employer,  then  Section  13.5(a)  shall  not apply and the
required  minimum  annual  Employer   Contribution  for  such  Participant  (not
including a  beneficiary  of a  Participant)  under this Plan shall be 7 1/2% of
Compensation,  or  such  lesser  amount  as  may  be  required  to  satisfy  the
requirements of the Code related to Top-Heavy Plans. Such Employer  Contribution
shall be made without regard to the amount of contributions, if any, made to the
Plan on behalf of Key Employees.

     Section 13.7 Super Top-Heavy  Plans. If for any Plan Year in which the Plan
is a Top-Heavy Plan it is also a Super  Top-Heavy Plan, then for purposes of the
limitations on Employer Contributions and benefits provided in Code section 415,
and Section  5.3.  and Article XII of the Plan,  the dollar  limitations  in the
defined benefit plan fraction and the defined  contribution  plan fraction shall
be  multiplied  by 1.0 rather  than 1.25.  However,  if the  application  of the
provisions  of this  Section  13.7  would  cause any  Participant  to exceed the
combined Code section 415  limitations on Employer  Contributions  and benefits,
then the  application  of the provisions of this Section 13.7 shall be suspended
as to such  Participant  until  such  time as he or she no longer  exceeds  such
limitations  as  modified  by this  Section  13.7.  During  the  period  of such
suspension,   there  shall  be  no  Employer   Contributions,   forfeitures   or
Non-Deferred  Supplemental  Deposits allocated to such Participant under this or
any other  defined  contribution  plan of the  Employers  and there  shall be no
accruals for such Participant under any defined benefit plan of the Employers.

     Section 13.8  Determination of Top-Heaviness.  The determination of whether
this Plan is Top-Heavy shall be made as follows:

     (a)  If the Plan is not  required to be included  in an  Aggregation  Group
          with other plans,  then it shall be Top-Heavy only if when  considered
          by  itself  it is a  Top-Heavy  Plan  and  it  is  not  included  in a
          permissive Aggregation Group that is not a Top-Heavy Group.

     (b)  If the Plan is required to be  included in an  Aggregation  Group with
          other plans,  it shall be  Top-Heavy  only if the  Aggregation  Group,
          including any permissively aggregated plans is Top-Heavy.

     (c)  If a plan is not a Top-Heavy  Plan and is not  required to be included
          in an Aggregation  Group, then it shall not be Top-Heavy even if it is
          permissively  aggregated in an Aggregation  Group which is a Top-Heavy
          Group.

     Section 13.9  Determination  of Super  Top-Heaviness.  This Plan shall be a
Super  Top-Heavy  Plan if it would be a Top-Heavy  Plan under the  provisions of
Section  13.8,  but  substituting  "90%" for "60%" in the ratio  test of Section
13.10.

     Section 13.10  Calculation of Top-Heavy  Ratios.  A Plan shall be Top-Heavy
and an  Aggregation  Group shall be a Top-Heavy  Group with  respect to any Plan
Year as of the Determination Date if the sum as of the Determination Date of the
Cumulative Accrued Benefits and the Cumulative Accounts of Employees who are Key
Employees  for the Plan Year  exceeds  60% of a similar sum  determined  for all
Employees, excluding former Key Employees.

     Section 13.11  Cumulative  Accounts and Cumulative  Accrued  Benefits.  The
Cumulative  Accounts and Cumulative  Accrued  Benefits for any Employee shall be
determined as follows:

     (a)  "Cumulative Account" shall mean the sum of the amount of an Employee's
          Account under a defined  contribution plan (for an unaggregated  Plan)
          or under all defined  contribution  plans  included in an  Aggregation
          Group (for  aggregated  plans)  determined  as of the most recent plan
          valuation  date within a 12-month  period ending on the  Determination
          Date, increased by any contributions due after such valuation date and
          before Determination Date.

     (b)  "Cumulative  Accrued  Benefit" shall mean the sum of the present value
          of an Employee's accrued benefits under a defined benefit plan (for an
          unaggregated  plan) or under all defined  benefit plans included in an
          Aggregation  Group  (for  aggregated  plans),   determined  under  the
          actuarial  assumptions set forth in such Plan or Plans, as of the most
          recent  plan  valuation  date  used by the  Plan  actuary  within  the
          12-month  period ending on the  Determination  Date as if the Employee
          voluntarily  terminated service as of such valuation date. The accrued
          benefit of any Employee who is not a Key Employee  shall be determined
          under  the  method  used for  accrual  purposes  for all  plans in the
          Aggregation  Group or, if there is no such method,  as if such benefit
          accrued not more rapidly than the slowest accrual rate permitted under
          Code section 411(b)(1)(c).

     (c)  Accounts  and  benefits  shall be  calculated  to include  all amounts
          attributable to both Employer and Employee contributions but excluding
          amounts attributable to voluntary deductible Employee contributions.

     (d)  Accounts   and  benefits   shall  be   increased   by  the   aggregate
          distributions  during the five-year period ending on the Determination
          Date made with  respect to an Employee  under the Plan or Plans as the
          case  may be or  under a  terminated  plan  which,  if it had not been
          terminated, would have been required to be included in the Aggregation
          Group.

     (e)  Rollover  Contributions  and direct  plan to plan  transfers  shall be
          handled as follows: 

          (1)  If the transfer is initiated by the Employee and made from a plan
               maintained  by one  employer  to a  plan  maintained  by  another
               employer,  the  transferring  plan  continues to count the amount
               transferred  under  the  rules for  counting  distributions.  The
               receiving  plan  does not  count the  amount  if  accepted  after
               December  31,  1983,  but  does  count  it if  accepted  prior to
               December 31, 1983.

          (2)  If the  transfer  is not  initiated  by the  Employee  or is made
               between plans maintained by the Employers,  the transferring plan
               shall no longer count the amount  transferred  and the  receiving
               plan shall count the amount transferred.

          (3)  For purposes of this  subsection  (e), all  Employers  aggregated
               under the  rules of Code  sections  414(b),  (c) and (m) shall be
               considered a single employer.

     (f)  For plan years beginning after December 31, 1984, the accrued benefits
          and accounts of any Employee  who has not  performed  services for any
          Employer  at any  time  during  the  five-year  period  ending  on the
          Determination Date shall not be taken into account.


                                   ARTICLE XIV
                          BENEFICIARY IN EVENT OF DEATH

     Section 14.1  Designation  and Change of  Beneficiary.  Upon the death of a
married  Participant,  the  spouse  of  the  Participant  shall  be  deemed  the
designated beneficiary of the Participant,  unless such spouse has consented, in
writing, to the designation of another  beneficiary or beneficiaries  (which may
include  the estate of the  Participant)  or any change  thereof.  If such other
designated beneficiary or beneficiaries  predecease a married Participant,  such
Participant's  spouse  shall  be  deemed  the  designated   beneficiary  of  the
Participant. If, in such case, the Participant's spouse has also predeceased the
Participant,  the value of the Participant's Account shall be paid to his or her
estate.

     Each unmarried  Participant shall have the right to designate a beneficiary
or beneficiaries  to receive any  distributions to be made under Article XI upon
the death of such Participant.  An unmarried  Participant may from time to time,
without the consent of any beneficiary,  change or cancel any such  designation.
If no beneficiary  has been named by a deceased  unmarried  Participant,  or the
designated  beneficiary  has  predeceased  such  Participant,  the  value of the
Participant's Account shall be paid to his or her estate as beneficiary.

     Any spousal consent,  beneficiary  designation and any change therein shall
be made in the form and manner  prescribed  by the  Committee and shall be filed
with the General Manager.  Any distribution  made to a beneficiary of a deceased
Participant  under  the  Plan  shall  be  made  to the  beneficiary  as  soon as
practicable  after such  Participant's  death and shall be in the form of a lump
sum  payment,  regardless  of the  form  of  benefit  selected  by the  deceased
Participant.  The  beneficiary  may elect to have such  payment made in money by
check, or may elect to have any whole shares of Enterprise Common Stock held for
the deceased  Participant's  Enterprise  Common Stock Fund  subaccount  and ESOP
Account  distributed in shares of Enterprise Common Stock and the balance of the
deceased  Participant's Account (including the value of any fractional shares of
Enterprise  Common  Stock) paid in money by check.  If no election is made,  the
entire distribution to the beneficiary shall be made in money by check.



<PAGE>


                                   ARTICLE XV
                                 ADMINISTRATION

     Section  15.1  Named  Fiduciary.  The  Committee  (and  each  member of the
Committee  acting  as  such)  shall be the  named  fiduciary  of the  Plan  with
authority to control and manage the operation and administration of the Plan.


     Section 15.2 Administration.

     (a)  The Committee shall have full discretionary authority to interpret the
          Plan  and  to  answer  all  questions   which  arise   concerning  the
          application,  administration  and  interpretation  of  the  Plan.  The
          Committee  shall adopt such rules and procedures as in its opinion are
          necessary  and  advisable to  administer  the Plan and to transact its
          business.  Subject to the other  requirements  of this Article XV, the
          Committee may --

          (1)  Employ agents to carry out non-fiduciary responsibilities;

          (2)  Employ agents to carry out fiduciary responsibilities (other than
               trustee responsibilities as defined in ERISA Section 405(c)(3));

          (3)  Consult with counsel,  who may be of counsel to an Employer or an
               Affiliate; and

          (4)  Provide for the allocation of fiduciary  responsibilities  (other
               than  trustee   responsibilities  as  defined  in  ERISA  Section
               405(c)(3))  among its members.  However,  any action described in
               subparagraphs  (2)  or (4)  of  this  subparagraph  (a)  and  any
               modification or rescission of any such action, may be effected by
               the Committee only by a resolution  approved by a majority of the
               Committee.

     (b)  The Committee shall keep written minutes of all its proceedings, which
          shall be open to inspection by the Board of Directors.  In the case of
          any  decision by the  Committee  with  respect to a claim for benefits
          under the Plan,  the  Committee  shall  include in its minutes a brief
          explanation of the grounds upon which such decision was based.

     (c)  In  performing  their duties,  the members of the Committee  shall act
          solely  in the  interest  of the  Participants  in the Plan and  their
          beneficiaries and:

          (1)  for  the   exclusive   purpose  of  providing   benefits  to  the
               Participants and their beneficiaries;

          (2)  with  the  care,   skill,   prudence  and  diligence   under  the
               circumstances  then prevailing that a prudent man or woman acting
               in like  capacity and familiar with such matters would use in the
               conduct of an enterprise of a like  character and with like aims;
               and

          (3)  in accordance  with the documents and  instruments  governing the
               Plan insofar as such  documents and  instruments  are  consistent
               with the provisions of Title I of ERISA. In addition to any other
               duties the Committee may have, the Committee  shall  periodically
               review the performance of the Trustee and any Investment Managers
               and the performance of all other persons to whom fiduciary duties
               have been  delegated or allocated  pursuant to the  provisions of
               this Article XV.

     (d)  The Company agrees to indemnify and  reimburse,  to the fullest extent
          permitted by law, members of the Committee, directors and Employees of
          an Employer and all such former members,  directors and Employees, for
          any and all expenses,  liabilities or losses arising out of any act or
          omission  relating to the rendition of services for or the  management
          and administration of the Plan.

     (e)  No  member  of  the  Committee  nor  any  of its  delegates  shall  be
          personally  liable  by  virtue  of any  contract,  agreement  or other
          instrument  made or  executed by him or her or on his or her behalf in
          such capacity.

     Section 15.3 Control and Management of Assets. The assets of the Plan shall
be held by the Trustee, in trust, and shall be managed by the Trustee and/or one
or more  Investment  Managers  appointed  from  time  to time by the  Committee;
provided,  however,  that the Committee  shall have  investment  authority  with
respect to loans approved pursuant to Section 11.12, and may, from time to time,
determine  that the Trustee  shall be subject to the  direction of the Committee
with respect to certain  other  investments,  in which case the Trustee shall be
subject to proper  directions of the Committee  which are in accordance with the
terms of the Plan and which are not contrary to applicable law.

     Section 15.4 Benefits to be Paid from Trust.  Benefits under the Plan shall
be payable  only from the Trust Fund and only to the extent that such Trust Fund
shall suffice therefore and each Participant assumes all risk connected with any
decrease in market price of any securities in the respective Funds.  Neither the
Company nor any Affiliate  shall have any liability to make or continue from its
own funds the payment of any benefits under the Plan.

     Section 15.5 Expenses. There shall be paid from the Trust Fund all expenses
incurred in connection with the  administration  of the Plan,  including but not
limited to the compensation of the Trustee,  record keeping fees, the reasonable
fees of counsel for the Trustee for legal  services  rendered to the Trustee and
the fees of Investment  Managers  appointed  with respect to the  investment and
reinvestment of the Trust Fund, except to the extent that such expenses and fees
are paid by the  Employer.  There shall be paid from the Trust Fund all taxes of
any and all kinds  whatsoever  that may be levied or assessed  under existing or
future  laws upon or in respect of the Trust  Fund or any  property  of any kind
forming a part thereof,  and all expenses including brokerage costs and transfer
taxes incurred in connection  with the investment and  reinvestment of the Trust
Fund.

                                   ARTICLE XVI
                                CLAIMS PROCEDURE

     Section 16.1 Filing of Claims.  Claims for benefits under the Plan shall be
filed in writing  on such form or forms as may be  prescribed  by the  Committee
with the General Manager.

     Section  16.2  Appeal  of  Claims.  Written  notice  shall  be given to the
claiming  Participant or beneficiary of the  disposition of such claim,  setting
forth  specific  reasons for any denial of such claim in whole or in part.  If a
claim  is  denied  in whole  or in  part,  the  notice  shall  state  that  such
Participant or beneficiary may, within sixty days of the receipt of such denial,
request  in writing  that the  decision  denying  the claim be  reviewed  by the
Committee and provide the Committee  with  information  in support of his or her
position by  submitting  such  information  in writing to the  Secretary  of the
Committee.

     Section 16.3 Review of Appeals.  The Committee  shall review each claim for
benefits which has been denied in whole or in part and for which such review has
been  requested  and shall  notify,  in writing,  the  affected  Participant  or
beneficiary  of its decision and of the reasons  therefor.  All decisions of the
Committee shall be final and binding upon all of the parties involved.

                                  ARTICLE XVII
                             MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION

     Section  17.1  Merger  or  Consolidation.  In the  case  of any  merger  or
consolidation  of the Plan with,  or transfer of assets or  liabilities  to, any
other  plan,  each  Participant  or  beneficiary  shall be entitled to receive a
benefit immediately after the merger, consolidation or transfer (if the Plan had
been  terminated)  which is equal to or greater than the benefit he or she would
have been entitled to receive  immediately  before the merger,  consolidation or
transfer (if the Plan had then  terminated).  A merger or  consolidation  of the
Plan with, or transfer of assets or liabilities  to, any other plan shall not be
deemed to be a  termination  or  discontinuance  of deposits  and  contributions
having the effect of such termination of the Plan.

                                  ARTICLE XVIII
                           NON-ALIENATION OF BENEFITS

     Section 18.1 Non-Alienation of Benefits.  Except as provided under Sections
11.12 and 22.1, no benefit or right under the Plan shall in any manner or to any
extent be assigned,  alienated or transferred by any  Participant or beneficiary
under the Plan or be subject to attachment,  garnishment or other legal process.

                                  ARTICLE XIX

                                   AMENDMENTS

     Section 19.1 Amendment  Process.  The Company reserves the right, by action
of the Board of Directors,  but subject to applicable  law, at any time and from
time to time, to modify,  suspend or amend in whole or in part any or all of the
provisions of the Plan,  provided that no modification,  suspension or amendment
shall make it possible to deprive any Participant or beneficiary of a previously
acquired right;  and provided further that no such  modification,  suspension or
amendment  shall make it  possible  for any part of the assets of the Plan to be
used for or  diverted  to  purposes  other  than for the  exclusive  benefit  of
Participants  and  their  beneficiaries  under the Plan and for the  payment  of
expenses of the Plan.


                                   ARTICLE XX
                                   TERMINATION

     Section 20.1 Authority to Terminate. The Plan may be terminated in whole or
in part at any time by the Board of Directors, but only upon condition that such
action is taken as shall  render  it  impossible  for any part of the  corpus or
income of the Trust Fund to be used for or diverted  to purposes  other than for
the exclusive  benefit of the  Participants or their  beneficiaries  and for the
payment of expenses of the Plan.

     Section 20.2  Distribution  Upon  Termination.  Upon termination or partial
termination  of the Plan or upon the  complete  discontinuance  of Deposits  and
Employer  Contributions  under the Plan,  the  assets of the Trust Fund shall be
administered and distributed to the Participants or their  beneficiaries at such
time or times  and in such  nondiscriminatory  manner  as is  determined  by the
Committee.  Upon  termination  or  partial  termination  of the Plan or upon the
complete  discontinuance of Deposits and Employer  Contributions under the Plan,
the  rights of all  affected  Participants  as of the date of such  termination,
partial  termination or  discontinuance  of Deposits and Employer  Contributions
shall be nonforfeitable.

                                   ARTICLE XXI
                       PLAN CONFERS NO RIGHT TO EMPLOYMENT

     Section 21.1 No Right to Employment. Nothing contained in the Plan shall be
construed as conferring any legal rights upon any Employee for a continuation of
employment or shall  interfere with the rights of an Employer or an Affiliate to
discharge  any Employee or  otherwise to treat him or her without  regard to the
effect which such  treatment  might have upon such  Employee with respect to the
Plan, except as may be limited by applicable law.



<PAGE>



                                  ARTICLE XXII
                                ALTERNATE PAYEES

     Section 22.1  Alternate  Payees  Under QDROs.  In the event that a domestic
relations  order of any State is received by the Plan and thereafter  determined
to be a Qualified  Domestic  Relations  Order (QDRO)  within the meaning of Code
section 414p, the vested portion of the Account of the Participant to which such
QDRO is directed shall be  apportioned  as specified in such QDRO,  valued as of
the business day preceding the date  specified in such QDRO.  Upon notice to the
Committee that a QDRO is being sought with respect to a  Participant's  Account,
no  distribution  or loan shall be made to a Participant  until such time as the
status  of the QDRO is  determined.  The  alternate  payee of the  Participant's
Account shall  thereafter  participate in the Plan in accordance with its terms,
except such person shall not have the rights or benefits provided in Article IV,
Article V and in Section  11.12.  If a QDRO is issued and the amount awarded the
alternate  payee  exceeds  the  value  of the  Participant's  Account  less  the
outstanding  loan  balance,  such loan shall be deemed to be in default  and the
Participant shall immediately repay the loan.  Notwithstanding the provisions of
this Article, the Plan may, without the consent of any such alternate payee, pay
to  such  alternate  payee  the  value  of his or her  respective  share  of the
apportioned Account of the Participant, if the value thereof as so determined is
$3,500.00 or less.  If a QDRO so provides,  benefits may be paid to an alternate
payee before they would otherwise be  distributable  under the Plan, and no such
distribution  to an  alternate  payee  shall be treated as a  withdrawal  by the
Participant for purposes of Article XI.

                                  ARTICLE XXIII
                                  CONSTRUCTION

     Section 23.1 Governing Law. The Plan shall be governed by and construed and
administered  under the laws of the State of New  Jersey,  except to the  extent
superseded by ERISA.

     Section 23.2 Headings. The headings are for reference only. In the event of
a conflict  between a heading  and the  content of an  Article or  Section,  the
content shall control.





                                                                       EXHIBIT 2



INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

We consent to the  incorporation  by reference in  Registration  Statements Nos.
33-4780  and  33-44581  on  Forms  S-8  of  Public  Service   Enterprise   Group
Incorporated  of our report dated June 25, 1997  appearing in this Annual Report
on  Form  11-K  of the  Public  Service  Electric  and Gas  Company  Thrift  and
Tax-Deferred Savings Plan for the year ended December 31, 1996.



DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Parsippany, New Jersey
June 30, 1997




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