PRESS RELEASE

                            THOMAS E. SKAINS ELECTED
                     PIEDMONT NATURAL GAS PRESIDENT AND COO


CHARLOTTE, NC - (December 13, 2001). Ware F. Schiefer, Chief Executive Officer
of Piedmont Natural Gas, has announced that the Company's Board of Directors has
elected Thomas E. Skains (45) to the position of President and Chief Operating
Officer, to become effective at the Company's Annual Meeting of Shareholders
February 22, 2002. Mr. Skains has also been nominated to stand for election to
the Board of the Company at its Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Mr. Schiefer
will remain the Company's Chief Executive Officer.

Prior to joining Piedmont in April 1995, Mr. Skains was employed by
Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation as Senior Vice President,
Transportation and Customer Services. He joined Transco in 1981 as an attorney
and served as corporate and senior attorney before being named Vice President in
1986 and Senior Vice President in 1989.

Mr. Skains currently holds the position of Senior Vice President-Marketing and
Supply Services. In his current position, he has been responsible for directing
Piedmont's commercial natural gas activities, including retail and wholesale gas
sales and marketing, gas supply planning and procurement, retail gas
transportation services and throughput management and non-utility joint-venture
project development and management.

Mr. Skains obtained his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Sam
Houston State University in 1978 and a Doctorate of Jurisprudence degree from
the University of Houston Law School in 1981. He serves on the Board of
Directors of SouthStar Energy Services, Pine Needle LNG Company, Cardinal
Pipeline Company and Greenbrier Pipeline Company. He is also a member of the
Board of Directors of the Southern Gas Association, a former Director of the
Southeastern Gas Association and the Natural Gas Transportation Association, and
is a member of the American Gas Association. In Charlotte, he serves on the
Board of Trustees for Providence Day School and on the Board of the Charlotte
Regional Sports Commission. He is also an inactive member of the State Bar of
Texas.

He and his wife, Sherry, and their three daughters live in Charlotte.


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