-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 SWqI7XOn0nJpwQD6U0ynVAOro6aL1xp9/ywzrtWHswp7y4iKUh59rLjP/2Tlu0te
 TER0LflU1bHL+zn2QJYpFw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001202263-04-000001.txt : 20040106
<SEC-HEADER>0001202263-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040106
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040106114403
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001202263-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040102
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040106

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TECO ENERGY INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000350563
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911]
		IRS NUMBER:				592052286
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			FL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		702 N FRANKLIN ST
		STREET 2:		TECO PLAZA
		CITY:			TAMPA
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33602
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8132284111

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		702 N FRANKLIN ST
		STREET 2:		TECO PLAZA
		CITY:			TAMPA
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33602

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FERMAN JAMES L JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001202245

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08180
		FILM NUMBER:		04508461

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O TECO ENERGY INC
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 111
		CITY:			TAMPA
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			336010111
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8132281431

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O TECO ENERGY INC
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 111
		CITY:			TAMPA
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			336010111
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001202245d20040106f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-02</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000350563</issuerCik><issuerName>TECO ENERGY INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>TE</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001202245</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>FERMAN JAMES L JR</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>C/O TECO ENERGY, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>P.O. BOX 111</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>TAMPA</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>33601</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTabl
e></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock  Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-02</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>833.044</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>14.405</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>833.044</value></underl
yingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>27890.374</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">1-for-1.</footnote><footnote id="F2">The Phantom Stock Units were accrued under the TECO Energy, Inc. Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan and are to be settled in cash following the reporting person's retirement.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>David E. Schwartz, by Power of Attorney</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-06</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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