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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 L2KI6WipE3puEYL3sg4Z9vFK7S3/gHYw852yOUp8XTU3eK1XlrmIWCklrUdPWlr3
 Mlsw2ii59uWZjQKWanuayw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001005477-03-002635.txt : 20030730
<SEC-HEADER>0001005477-03-002635.hdr.sgml : 20030730
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030730195441
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001005477-03-002635
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030728
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030730

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:			BRENNAN JOHN E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001183995

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06407
		FILM NUMBER:		03812854

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O FLEISCHMAN & WALSH LLP
		STREET 2:		1400 16TH ST NW #600
		CITY:			WASHINGTON
		STATE:			DC
		ZIP:			20036
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2029397900
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar123.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-07-28</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000203248</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SOUTHERN UNION CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SUG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>

        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001183995</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BRENNAN JOHN E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>39 O'CONNORS LANE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>OLD TAPPAN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07675</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
        <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
        <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
        <isOther>0</isOther>
        <officerTitle>Vice Chairman</officerTitle>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>

        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-07-28</value>
        </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>

            <transactionShares>
                <value>249.9129</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionShares>

            <transactionPricePerShare>
                <value>15.39</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionPricePerShare>

            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>23068.7165</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 15, 2002.

</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Reporting Person also holds directly 309,659 shares of common stock and holds directly an additional 588 shares of common stock in an Individual Retirement
Account and holds indirectly 5,504 by his spouse, 116,757 in a trust fund for the benefit of his son, 116,757 in a trust for the benefit
of his daughter, 12,854.4230 through the Issuer's 401(K) Plan and 61,751.1904 through the Issuer's Executive Stock Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">This information concerns shares held under the Issuer's Supplemental Deferred Compensation Plan.
This report 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>Stephen A. Bouchard for John E. Brennan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-07-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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