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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 A3He6dGeM3xek+iPPQEsGzhxcOeGukPEJ3kpDb3Av8tNcFibE+bqyS+NFSmlyvCn
 seneiqXt6G+/r0ibB7Vv0A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000203248-03-000107.txt : 20030710
<SEC-HEADER>0000203248-03-000107.hdr.sgml : 20030710
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030709175839
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000203248-03-000107
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030708
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030710

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DECESARIS MARK J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001251829

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06407
		FILM NUMBER:		03780811

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE PEI CENTER
		CITY:			WILKES-BARRE
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			18711-0601

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SOUTHERN UNION CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000203248
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION [4924]
		IRS NUMBER:				750571592
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE PEI CENTER
		CITY:			WILKES-BARRE
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			18711
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(570) 820-2400
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>decesaris_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   04/22/03  TZ    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2003-07-08</periodOfReport>
   <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000203248</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SOUTHERN UNION CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SUG</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
      <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001251829</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DECESARIS MARK J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>0</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
         <officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle>
       </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
   <nonDerivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-07-08</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
         <value>2003-07-08</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>950</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionValue>
           <value>16.95</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
         </transactionValue>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>A</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
     <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>950</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeSecurity>
   <nonDerivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-07-08</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
         <value>2003-07-08</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>1900</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionValue>
           <value>16.98</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
         </transactionValue>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>A</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
     <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>2850</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeSecurity>
   <footnotes>
<footnote id="F1"> All shares reported hereon, have been adjusted to reflect the 5% stock dividend distributed on July 15, 2002.</footnote>
   </footnotes>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>Stephen A. Bouchard for Mark J. Decesaris</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-07-09</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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