EXHIBIT 5.3



                                November 13, 2003



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

Re:      Amendment No. 3 to Registration Statement No. 333-106268 filed on
         August 29, 2003 with respect to $500,000,000 Aggregate Principal Amount
         of Securities and Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 to Registration
         Statement No. 333-62222 with respect to $190,000,000 Principal Amount
         of Securities.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel to Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc., a North
Carolina corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the registration by the
Company of $690,000,000 aggregate principal amount of one or more series of debt
and equity securities, including the $225,000,000 of notes referred to in the
prospectus supplement included in the Registration Statements (the "Notes"). All
capitalized terms which are not defined here shall have the meanings assigned to
them in Registration Statement 333-106268 and the Post-Effective Amendment No. 4
to Registration Statement No. 333-62222 on Form S-3 which are being filed on the
date hereof with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") by the Company
pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"). As amended,
Amendment No. 3 to Registration Statement No. 333-106268 and the Post-Effective
Amendment No. 4 to Registration Statement No. 333-62222 are collectively
referred as the "Registration Statements."

         In connection with our examination of documents as hereinafter
described, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures on, and the
authenticity of, all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity
to original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies. With respect
to agreements and instruments executed by natural persons, we have assumed the
legal competency of such persons.

         For the purpose of rendering this opinion, we have made such factual
and legal examination as we deemed necessary under the circumstances, and in
that connection we have examined, among other things, originals or copies of the
following:

                  (1) The Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended
         to date;

                  (2) The By-Laws of the Company, as amended to date;

                  (3) The Indenture filed as an exhibit to the Registration
         Statements (as amended or supplemented in accordance with the terms
         hereof, the "Indenture");



Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc.
November 13, 2003
Page 2

                  (4) Such records of the corporate proceedings of the Company,
         and such other documents that we considered necessary or appropriate
         for the purpose of rendering this opinion; and

                  (5) Such other certificates and assurances from public
         officials, officers and representatives of the Company that we
         considered necessary or appropriate for the purpose of rendering this
         opinion.

         On the basis of the foregoing examination, and in reliance thereon, we
are of the opinion that:

                  1. When the Notes shall have been authorized, executed and
         authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the
         Notes shall have been issued and sold as described in the prospectus
         supplement in accordance with the terms and conditions of the agency
         agreement and the purchase agreement referred to in the prospectus
         supplement, and in the manner contemplated in the prospectus
         supplement, and in accordance with any applicable order of a regulatory
         agency having jurisdiction over the issuance of the Notes, the Notes
         will be duly authorized and valid and binding obligations of the
         Company, subject to the effect of any bankruptcy, insolvency,
         reorganization, moratorium, arrangement, or similar laws affecting the
         enforcement of creditors' rights generally (including, without
         limitation, the effect of statutory or other laws regarding fraudulent
         transfers or preferential transfers) and general principles of equity,
         regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in
         equity or at law.

         In connection with the opinion expressed above, we have assumed that,
at or prior to the time of the delivery of any such security, the Registration
Statements have been declared effective, that the authorization of such
securities will not have been modified or rescinded and there will not have
occurred any change in the law affecting the validity or enforceability of such
securities.

         This opinion is limited to the present laws of the State of North
Carolina, the present federal laws of the United States, and to the present
judicial interpretations thereof and to the facts as they presently exist. We
undertake no obligation to advise you as a result of developments occurring
after the date hereof or as a result of facts or circumstances brought to our
attention after the date hereof.

         This opinion may be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statements.
Consent is also given to the reference to this firm in the Registration
Statements, the prospectus supplement, and in any amendment or supplement
thereto. In giving this consent, we do not admit we are included in the category
of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and
regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

                                         Very truly yours,

                                         Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP

                                         /s/ Jerry W. Amos