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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 DTbtZt34HlQLq4+aQ5ZEvn4Wgea6I5i8Rdcy/GJTDz6J+f9ILRFEaHN2flr1Xq40
 k7GWVBk2ZrrBaGLyHOE05Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000203248-04-000272.txt : 20040526
<SEC-HEADER>0000203248-04-000272.hdr.sgml : 20040526
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040526172343
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000203248-04-000272
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040525
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040526

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KARAM THOMAS F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001183996

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06407
		FILM NUMBER:		04833013

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O FLEISCHMAN & WALSH LLP
		STREET 2:		1919 PENNSYLVANIA AVE., NW #600
		CITY:			WASHINGTON
		STATE:			DC
		ZIP:			20006
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2029397900

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>karam5252004_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-05-25</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000203248</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SOUTHERN UNION CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SUG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001183996</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KARAM THOMAS F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O FLEISCHMAN &amp; WALSH LLP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1919 PENNSYLVANIA AVE., NW #600</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WASHINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>DC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20006</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President &amp; COO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>343.0664</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.18</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>44803.71</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Suppl. Plan</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">All shares reported hereon, have been adjusted to reflect the 5% stock dividend distributed on July 31, 2003.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Reporting Person also holds indirectly 9,214.1412 shares through the Issuer's 401(K) Plan, indirectly holds 25,123 shares
 by corporation in which the Reporting Person's spouse has an interest and 104,166 shares by entities with respect to which
 the Reporting Person has or shares voting and/or investment power, and may have some pecuniary interests, although any such
 pecuniary interest is disclaimed and holds directly 81,246 shares of common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">This information concerns shares held under the Issuer's Supplemental Deferred Compensation Plan.  This report also reflects
 shares purchased for the plan by the plan trustee, at the sole discretion of the trustee, at such prices as were available
 in the open market at the time of such purchases.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Dennis K. Morgan for Thomas F. Karam</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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