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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 TMx1Da1yJSO1WCZEhlPaG6QRE+4SCk7vLlZhVtkJLIqf0dVlK3ZBoiA7TJgdsV8J
 rE1JXAA6rO0TLau4ShBwdA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000203248-04-000394.txt : 20040803
<SEC-HEADER>0000203248-04-000394.hdr.sgml : 20040803
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040803145356
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000203248-04-000394
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040730
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040803

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

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:		04948065

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5708202400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SOUTHERN UNION CO
		STREET 2:		ONE PEI CENTER
		CITY:			WILKES-BARRE
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			18711-0601
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>decesaris73004_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-07-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</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>C/O SOUTHERN UNION CO</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE PEI CENTER</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WILKES BARRE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>18711</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive VP</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-07-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>103.4352</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>19.9995</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1699.93</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 indirectly owns 3,258.4129 shares of common stock through the Issuer's 401 (K) Plan.</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. The purchase price, as reported, is exclusive of an $.08 per share
brokerage commission.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Dennis K. Morgan for Mark J. Decesaris</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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