EXHIBIT 23.3

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

We consent to the use in Amendment No. 2 to this Registration Statement No.
333-106268 and in Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to Registration Statement No.
333-62222 of Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc., on Form S-3 of our report
dated April 7, 2003 (October 24, 2003 as to Notes 2 and 12) relating to the
financial statements of North Carolina Natural Gas Corporation (which expresses
an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph referring to the
Company's change in 2002 in its method of accounting for goodwill and an
explanatory paragraph regarding the restatement described in Note 2) appearing
in the Prospectus, which is part of these Registration Statements. We also
consent to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in such Prospectus.



/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Raleigh, North Carolina
October 24, 2003