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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000203248-05-000024.txt : 20050107
<SEC-HEADER>0000203248-05-000024.hdr.sgml : 20050107
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050107090020
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000203248-05-000024
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050106
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050107
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050107

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:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE PEI CENTER
		CITY:			WILKES-BARRE
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			18711
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(570) 820-2400

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BRODSKY DAVID L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001183999

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06407
		FILM NUMBER:		05516986

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		259 CLARK AVE
		CITY:			PALM BEACH
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33480
		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>brodsky162005_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-01-06</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001183999</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BRODSKY DAVID L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>259 CLARK AVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PALM BEACH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33480</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>7.55% Noncumulative Preferred Stock, Series A</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-01-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>27.7</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Reporting Person also directly owns 36,750 shares of common stock and may be deemed to own 4,299 shares of common stock
in the David L. Brodsky Retirement Plan, by Van Liew Capital and Trust Company, as Trustee and 5,140 shares through the
Issuer's Directors Deferred Compensation Plan. The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of these indirectly owned
shares and this report should not be deemed an admission that the Reporting Person is the beneficial owner of such shares for
purposes of Section 16 or any other purpose. These holdings have been adjusted to reflect the 5% stock dividend distributed
August 20, 2004.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Dennis K. Morgan for David L. Brodsky</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-01-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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