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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1


                                                                    
                                      AMOS & JEFFRIES, L.L.P.
                                ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELLORS AT LAW
 TELEPHONE: (910) 273-5569           1230 RENAISSANCE PLAZA               FACSIMILE: (910) 273-2435
                                      230 NORTH ELM STREET
                                      POST OFFICE BOX 787
                                GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA 27402





                                 May 16, 1995


Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc.
1915 Rexford Road
Charlotte, North Carolina 28211

         Re:     Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed on May 16, 1995
                 with respect to $130,000,000 Aggregate Principal Amount of
                 Debt Securities

Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel to Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc. (the
"Corporation") in connection with the registration by the Corporation of 
$130,000,000 aggregate principal amount of additional unsecured notes, 
debentures and other evidences of indebtedness (the "Debt Securities") as set 
forth in the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") 
which is being filed on the date hereof with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission ("SEC") by the Corporation pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, 
as amended.

         The Debt Securities are to be issued in one or more series in amounts,
at prices and on terms to be determined when an agreement to sell is made or at
the time of sale, as the case may be, and are to be sold from time to time as 
set forth in the Registration Statement, the prospectus contained therein (the
"Prospectus") and any amendments or supplements thereto.

         We are generally familiar with the corporate proceedings and actions
undertaken by the Corporation in connection with the proposed offering of the
Debt Securities, and we have examined such agreements and certificates of public
officials and of officers of the Corporation and such instruments and documents
as we have deemed necessary to form a basis for the opinion hereinafter
expressed.

         Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that: when (1) the
Registration Statement shall have been declared effective by order of the SEC,
(2) the terms of any series of the Debt Securities have been authorized by
appropriate corporate action of the Corporation, and (3) the





                                       
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Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc.
May 16, 1995
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Debt Securities have been issued and sold upon the terms and conditions set
forth in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the applicable
supplement to the Prospectus, the Debt Securities will be validly authorized, 
legally issued and binding obligations of the Corporation, subject, as to 
enforcement, to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization, 
arrangement or similar laws, now or hereafter in effect, affecting the rights 
of creditors generally and general principles of equity and rules of law 
governing and limiting the availability of specific performance, injunctive 
relief and other equitable remedies (regardless of whether such enforceability 
is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

        We hereby consent to be named in the Registration Statement and in the
Prospectus as the attorneys who passed upon the legality of the Debt Securities
and to the filing of a copy of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration
Statement.  By giving the foregoing consent, we do not admit that we are within
the category of persons required to give consents pursuant to Section 7 of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.


                                      Very truly yours,

                                      Amos & Jeffries, L.L.P.

                                      /s/ Jerry W. Amos
                                      -----------------
                                      Jerry W. Amos