EXHIBIT 23

                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

We hereby  consent to the  incorporation  by  reference  in this Form 8-K of our
report  dated July 12,  2000,  except for the contents of Note 45 which is as of
August 18, 2000,  relating to the financial  statements and financial  statement
schedules  of Hyder plc which  appear in Southern  Energy,  Inc.'s  Registration
Statement on Form S-1  (333-35390),  which is  incorporated by reference in this
Form 8-K.


/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers
                          -

PricewaterhouseCoopers
Cardiff, United Kingdom
November 27, 2000