Exhibit 23.1

                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS



To Southern Union Company:


As independent  public  accountants,  we hereby consent to the  incorporation by
reference  of our report dated  November  12,  1999,  included in Fall River Gas
Company Form 10-K for the year ended  September 30, 1999,  and to all references
to our firm  included  in this  Form 8-K.  It  should be noted  that we have not
audited  any  financial  statements  of Fall  River Gas  Company  subsequent  to
September 30, 1999, or performed any audit procedures  subsequent to the date of
our report.



                                                     ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
                                                     Arthur Andersen LLP



Boston, Massachusetts
October 5, 2000