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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 NPMbOcMWP1vnNuGYD9R0YNwelID8QDQeuNgg8beiwDtehGJB68aqjvqt29VwyqZC
 M3eSzqpjlzdwXNbFd6cLkw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001005477-03-002640.txt : 20030730
<SEC-HEADER>0001005477-03-002640.hdr.sgml : 20030730
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030730195851
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001005477-03-002640
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:			KVAPIL DAVID J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001184008

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06407
		FILM NUMBER:		03812869

	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>0001184008</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KVAPIL DAVID J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1106 TENNYSON CLOSE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MOOSIC</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10857</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
        <isDirector>0</isDirector>
        <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
        <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
        <isOther>0</isOther>
        <officerTitle>EVP &amp; CFO</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>137.4516</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionShares>

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

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

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>30002.2258</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 10,879 shares of common stock and holds indirectly 6,219.18 shares of common stock through the Issuer's
401(K) Plan and 4,155.9223 shares of common stock through the Issuer's Employee Stock Purchase 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 David J. Kvapil</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-07-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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