Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc.

The information in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is not complete and may be changed. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities and are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

The shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, under the symbol “PNY.” On January , 2004, the last sale price of the shares as reported on the NYSE was $ per share. Subject to the terms and conditions described in a purchase agreement, between us and the underwriters, the underwriters have agreed to purchase all of the shares under the purchase agreement if any of the shares are purchased. See “UNDERWRITING.”

Investing in our common stock involves risks that are described in the “Risk Factors” section beginning on page 4 of the accompanying prospectus.

The underwriters may also purchase up to 637,500 additional shares from us at the public offering price, less the underwriting discount, within 30 days from the date of this prospectus supplement to cover overallotments.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

Merrill Lynch & Co.


	SunTrust Robinson Humphrey


	BB&T Capital Markets


	Davenport & Company LLC


	Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P.


	Janney Montgomery Scott LLC

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY

This section is a summary which does not contain all the information that may be important to you. You should read the more detailed information, including “Risk Factors,” and the financial statements included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.


Company		Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc.

Business		Distribution of natural gas and participation in energy-related businesses.

Service Area		The Piedmont and eastern regions of North Carolina; the Piedmont region of South Carolina; the metropolitan Nashville, Tennessee area.

Recent Developments		Effective at the close of business on September 30, 2003, we added approximately 180,000 customers in eastern North Carolina through the acquisition of North Carolina Natural Gas Corporation (NCNG) and an equity interest in Eastern North Carolina Natural Gas Company (EasternNC).

		On September 22, 2003, the Tennessee Regulatory Authority voted to authorize us to increase the rates for our Nashville Gas Company division by an amount designed to permit us to increase our margin (revenues less cost of gas) from the distribution of natural gas to our Tennessee customers by approximately $10.3 million annually.

		By order dated October 30, 2003, the North Carolina Utilities Commission authorized us to increase our rates by an amount designed to permit us to increase our margin from the distribution of natural gas to the customers of our NCNG division by approximately $29.4 million annually.

		On November 6, 2003, we announced that we had sold our 33% equity interest in Greenbrier Pipeline Company, LLC (Greenbrier), for $9.2 million, which equates to our book value investment.

		On November 7, 2003, we announced that we and our three utility partners had agreed to sell our interests in the propane business for $130 million, of which our portion is $26.9 million. This transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and certain financial conditions. If completed, we expect to realize a one-time gain of approximately $.03 to $.05 per diluted share in fiscal 2004.

Shares of Common Stock Being Offered		4,250,000.*

Shares of Common Stock to be Outstanding After Offering		Approximately 38,050,000.*

New York Stock Exchange Listing Symbol		PNY.

Use of Proceeds		The net proceeds from the sale of the common stock offered hereby are estimated to be $ , or $ if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is


		exercised in full. These proceeds will be applied toward the repayment of our outstanding commercial paper (estimated to be $243 million). We issued $445.3 million of commercial paper on September 29, 2003, to partially finance the purchase of NCNG and an equity interest in EasternNC. On December 19, 2003, we used the net proceeds from the sale of medium-term notes to reduce the amount of commercial paper then outstanding.

* The number of shares of common stock offered does not include 637,500 shares of common stock that the underwriters have an option to purchase from us within 30 days of the date of this prospectus supplement.

We refer you to “Risk Factors” in the accompanying prospectus for a description of certain risks that are associated with an investment in our common stock.

We have made statements in this prospectus supplement and the documents that we incorporate by reference that constitute forward-looking statements concerning, among others, plans, objectives, strategy, proposed capital expenditures and future events or performance. Our statements reflect our current expectations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Although we believe that our expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, actual results may differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ are set forth under “Forward-Looking Statements” in the accompanying prospectus.

All of these factors are difficult to predict and many are beyond our control. Accordingly, while we believe the assumptions underlying these forward-looking statements to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will approximate actual experience or that the expectations derived from them will be realized. When used in our documents or oral presentations, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “seek,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “expect,” “objective,” “projection,” “budget,” “forecast,” “goal” or similar words or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could” or “may” are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements reflect our current expectations only as of the date they are made. We assume no duty to update these statements should expectations change or actual results differ from current expectations except as required by applicable laws and regulations.

This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of this common stock offering. The second part, the accompanying prospectus, gives more general information, some of which may not apply to this offering.

If the description of the offering varies between this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement.

Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc., is an energy services company primarily engaged in the distribution of natural gas to 940,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, including 60,000 customers served by municipalities who are our wholesale customers. Our subsidiaries are invested in joint venture, energy-related businesses, including unregulated retail natural gas and propane marketing, interstate natural gas storage, intrastate transportation and regulated natural gas distribution. We also sell residential and commercial gas appliances in Tennessee. As described under “Recent Developments” in the accompanying prospectus, we have entered into an agreement to sell our equity interest in our propane marketing business.

As a result of the acquisitions of NCNG and an equity interest in EasternNC, we estimate our gross utility plant investment (utility plant in service plus construction work in progress) at the end of fiscal 2004 will be 70% in North Carolina, 18% in Tennessee and 12% in South Carolina. As a result of the acquisitions and the rate increases noted in “Recent Developments” in the accompanying prospectus, we estimate our throughput (volumes of gas delivered to customers) by customer class for fiscal 2004 will be 28% to residential customers, 20% to commercial customers and 52% to industrial, power generation, wholesale municipality customers and others. Additionally, we estimate our margin contribution by

Our overall strategy is to continue to grow and manage our utility operations and joint venture investments as we have done in the past.

We believe we have run our operations efficiently by leveraging our technology to achieve more efficient operations; focusing on regulatory rate proceedings to fully recover our cost of service; and mitigating weather-related risks through weather normalized rates and the recovery of costs through the fixed component of our rates.

We have grown our non-utility operations by investing in ventures that are closely related to our core utility business in the southeastern United States. We have grown our utility business by acquiring natural gas operations in the Southeast, such as our acquisition of NCNG in September 2003.

We believe that we have developed strengths to position us to successfully execute our strategy. These strengths include:

A Complementary Business Model. We are primarily a natural gas utility, and we expect to continue to focus on our core regulated natural gas distribution business. However, as described in “The Company” in the accompanying prospectus, we also invest in various energy-related joint ventures.

A Growing Service Area. We serve growing, economically diverse areas of North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. The number of customers billed by us has increased by at least 3% over each of the past five years.

Dividend Growth. As indicated in our published financial statements, the annual per share dividends received by our shareholders has increased in each of the past 25 consecutive years, and we have paid a dividend every year since 1956.

Experienced Management Team. Our senior management team has an average of twenty-five years of experience in the utility industry or the individual’s area of responsibility.

On December 19, 2003, we sold $200 million of medium-term notes, and used the net proceeds of $198.3 million to repay a portion of the commercial paper that we issued on September 29, 2003. We refer you to “Recent Developments” in the accompanying prospectus for a description of recent developments relating to our acquisition of NCNG and an equity interest in EasternNC, regulatory actions authorizing us to increase rates for our Nashville Gas Company division in Tennessee and our NCNG division in North Carolina, the sale of our equity interest in Greenbrier and our agreement to sell our interests in the propane business.

The net proceeds from the sale of the common stock offered hereby are estimated to be $ , or $ if the Underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full. These proceeds will be applied toward the repayment of our outstanding commercial paper (estimated to be $ million). We issued $445.3 million of commercial paper on September 29, 2003, to partially finance the purchase of NCNG and an equity interest in EasternNC. On December 19, 2003, we used the net proceeds from the sale of medium-term notes to reduce the amount of commercial paper then outstanding. As of January 5, 2004, the $243.3 million of commercial paper outstanding had a weighted-average maturity of approximately 7 days and a weighted-average interest rate of approximately 1.16%.

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PNY.” The following table indicates the high and low sales prices of our common stock, as reported by the New York Stock Exchange, and the dividends that we paid per share during the periods indicated.

The last reported sale price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange is set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement. As of January 1, 2004, there were approximately 65,000 holders of our common stock.

The quarterly dividend of $0.415 per share paid during the quarter ended October 31, 2003, if continued in the future would indicate an annual dividend of $1.66. Additional dividends have not been declared and dividends on our shares of Common Stock are payable at the discretion of our board of directors out of legally available funds. Future payments of dividends, and the amounts of these dividends, will depend on our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements and other factors.

The amount of cash dividends that may be paid on common stock is restricted by provisions contained in our articles of incorporation and in note agreements under which long-term debt was issued. At October 31, 2003, all retained earnings were free of such restrictions. We refer you to “Description of Common Stock” in the accompanying prospectus for a description of the restrictions on the amount of dividends that may be paid on our common stock.

We have a dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan that enables holders of our common stock to automatically reinvest their common stock dividends in shares of our common stock. Holders who become participants in the plan may also make optional cash investments in our common stock of not less than $25 per payment or more than $120,000 per calendar year. For information concerning the Piedmont Natural Gas Company Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan, please send your request to us at Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc., P.O. Box 33068, Charlotte, North Carolina 28233-3068, attention Vice President, Corporate Counsel and Secretary, or telephone us at (704) 731-4202.

We refer you to “Description of Common Stock” in the accompanying prospectus for a description of our common stock, including the shares offered by this prospectus supplement.

The following table presents our short-term debt and capitalization as of October 31, 2003, on an actual basis and as adjusted as if all transactions detailed in the footnotes to the table occurred on October 31, 2003. For more information, please see “Use of Proceeds.” You should read this table in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

This section summarizes the material U.S. federal income and estate tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our common stock by a non-U.S. holder. You are a non-U.S. holder if, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, you are not a U.S. person — that is, are not:


	•	a citizen or resident the United States;

	•	a corporation organized or created in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

	•	an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or

	•	a trust if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust. (Also, to the extent provided in Treasury Regulations, U.S. persons include certain trusts that were in existence on August 20, 1996, that were treated as U.S. persons prior to such date and that properly elected to continue to be so treated.)

This discussion does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income and estate taxation that may be relevant in light of any non-U.S. holder’s particular facts and circumstances (such as U.S. expatriates, brokers, security dealers, traders in securities that elect to mark to market, banks, life insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations, persons who hold the common stock in the ordinary course or as integral party of their trade or business or as part of a hedging, straddle, integrated or conversion transaction or persons whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar) and does not address any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction. Moreover, this section does not discuss the tax consequences that may be relevant to a partnership organized in or under the laws of a foreign jurisdiction or other pass-through entity or to the partners or members in such an entity. Furthermore, the following discussion is based on current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and administrative and judicial interpretations, all as in effect on the date of this prospectus supplement, and all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. Prospective investors are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal, state and local and non-U.S. income, estate and other tax consequences of acquiring, owning and disposing of our common stock.

If we pay a dividend (that is, make a distribution out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits) to a non-U.S. holder of our common stock whose income with respect to the stock is not effectively connected with the holder’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business, the non-U.S. holder will generally be subject to a U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30% of such dividend, or such lower rate as is specified by an applicable tax treaty. In order to obtain treaty relief, a non-U.S. holder will be required to submit an IRS Form W-8BEN or other permitted documentation to the withholding agent, certifying its entitlement to treaty relief. For this purpose, a withholding agent means the last U.S. payor (or a non-U.S. payor who is a qualified intermediary, U.S. branch of a foreign person or withholding foreign partnership) in the chain of payment prior to payment to a non-U.S. holder (unless such holder is itself a withholding agent). If you are eligible for a reduced rate of U.S. withholding tax under a tax treaty, you may obtain a refund of any amounts withheld in excess of that rate by filing a claim for refund with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

Dividends received by a non-U.S. holder that are effectively connected to a U.S. trade or business conducted by such holder are exempt from withholding tax, provided the non-U.S. holder has provided the withholding agent with IRS Form W-8ECI (or other acceptable substitute form). However, such effectively connected dividends will generally constitute ordinary income and will be subject to tax in the United States at the same rates applicable to U.S. persons. (In this regard, and subject to the satisfaction of certain holding period requirements, dividends paid to U.S. persons who are individuals are taxable through 2008 at the rates applicable to long-term capital gains).

In addition to the tax described above, dividends received by a corporate non-U.S. holder that are effectively connected with the holder’s U.S. trade or business may be subject to a “branch profits tax” at the rate of 30% (or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable tax treaty).

If you are a non-U.S. holder, you generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gain that you recognize on a sale or other disposition of our common stock unless:


	•	the gain is “effectively connected” with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States;

	•	you are an individual who holds the common stock as a capital asset and who is present in the United States for 183 or more days in the taxable year of the sale or other disposition; or

	•	we are or have been a “United States real property holding corporation” for federal income tax purposes and you held, directly or indirectly, at any time during the shorter of the five-year


		period ending on the date of the disposition of your stock or your holding period for the stock, more than 5% of our common stock.

Although we believe we are not and are unlikely to become a U.S. real property holding corporation, we may be one, or we may become one, because of our ownership of substantial real estate assets in the United States.

If you are a corporate non-U.S. holder, “effectively connected” gains that you recognize may also, under certain circumstances, be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate (or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable tax treaty).

Generally, we must report to the IRS the amount of dividends paid, the name and address of the recipient and the amount, if any, of tax withheld. A similar report is sent to the holder. Pursuant to tax treaties or other agreements, the IRS may make its reports available to tax authorities in the recipient’s country of residence.

Backup withholding tax (at the rate or 28%) may apply to dividends paid on our common stock to non-U.S. holders who are not exempt recipients. Generally, individuals are not exempt recipients whereas corporations are. However, backup withholding tax will not apply to dividends that we pay on our common stock to a non-U.S. holder if the holder provides a Form W-8BEN or provides certain documentary evidence establishing that it is a non-U.S. holder. In addition, upon your sale of the common stock to (or through) a broker, backup withholding tax must be withheld by the broker at the rate of 28% (and report the payment to the Internal Revenue Service) unless (i) the broker determines that the seller is a corporation or other exempt recipient or (ii) the seller provides certain identifying information and certifies its non-U.S. status (and certain other conditions are met). Certification of the holder’s non-U.S. status would typically be made on Form W-8BEN. The term “broker” generally includes all persons who, in the ordinary course of a trade or business, stand ready to effect sales made by others, as well as brokers and dealers registered as such under the laws of the United States or any State. The backup withholding requirements will generally apply to a United States office of a broker, while the information reporting requirements will generally apply not only to a United States office of a broker, but also to a foreign office of a broker if the broker is (i) a U.S. person, (ii) a controlled foreign corporation within the meaning of Section 957 of the Internal Revenue Code, (iii) a foreign person 50% or more of whose gross income from all sources for the three-year period ending with the close of its taxable year preceding the payment (or for such part of the period that the foreign broker was in existence) was effectively connected with the conduct of trade or business within the United States, or (iv) a foreign partnership if it is engaged in a trade or business in the United States or if 50% or more of its income or capital interest are held by U.S. persons.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, the tax liability of persons subject to backup withholding will be reduced by the amount of tax withheld. If withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund may be obtained (provided that the required information is furnished to the Internal Revenue Service).

Individual non-U.S. holders who own common stock at the time of their deaths or made certain lifetime transfers of interests in common stock will be required to include the value of such common stock in their gross estates for U.S. federal estate tax purposes, unless an applicable tax treaty provides otherwise.

Each investor is urged to consult its own tax advisor with respect to the federal income and estate tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of common stock, including the application and effect of the laws of any state, local, foreign or other taxing jurisdiction.

We intend to offer the shares through the underwriters. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated is acting as representative of the underwriters named below. Subject to the terms and conditions described in a purchase agreement between us and the underwriters, we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, and the underwriters severally have agreed to purchase from us, the number of shares listed opposite their names below.

The underwriters have agreed to purchase all of the shares sold under the purchase agreement if any of these shares are purchased. If an underwriter defaults, the purchase agreement provides that the purchase commitments of the nondefaulting underwriters may be increased or the purchase agreement may be terminated.

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.

The underwriters are offering the shares, subject to prior sale, when, as and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to approval of legal matters by their counsel, including the validity of the shares, and other conditions contained in the purchase agreement, such as the receipt by the underwriters of officer’s certificates and legal opinions. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part.

The representative has advised us that the underwriters propose initially to offer the shares to the public at the initial public offering price on the cover page of this prospectus supplement and to dealers at that price less a concession not in excess of $. per share. The underwriters may allow, and the dealers may reallow, a discount not in excess of $. per share to other dealers. After the initial public offering, the public offering price, concession and discount may be changed.

The following table shows the public offering price, underwriting discount and proceeds before expenses to us. The information assumes either no exercise or full exercise by the underwriters of their overallotment options.

The expenses of the offering, including printing and legal fees, but not including the underwriting discount, are estimated at $350,000 and are payable by us.

We have granted an option to the underwriters to purchase up to 637,500 additional shares at the public offering price less the underwriting discount. The underwriters may exercise this option for 30 days from the date of this prospectus supplement solely to cover any overallotments. If the underwriters exercise this option, each will be obligated, subject to conditions contained in the purchase agreement, to purchase a number of additional shares proportionate to that underwriter’s initial amount reflected in the above table.

The shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PNY.”

Until the distribution of the shares is completed, SEC rules may limit the underwriters from bidding for or purchasing our common stock. However, the underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize the price of our common stock, such as bids or purchases that peg, fix or maintain that price.

If the underwriters create a short position in our common stock in connection with the offering, i.e., if they sell more shares than are listed on the cover of this prospectus supplement, the underwriters may reduce the short position by purchasing shares in the open market. The underwriters may also elect to reduce any short position by exercising all or part of the over-allotment option described above. Purchases of our common stock to stabilize the price or to reduce a short position may cause the price of our common stock to be higher than it might be in the absence of such purchases.

Neither we nor any of the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of the common stock. In addition, neither we nor any of the underwriters make any representation that the underwriters or the lead managers will engage in these transactions or that these transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.

Some of the underwriters and their affiliates have engaged in, and may in the future engage in, investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with us. For example, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated has acted as investment advisor in connection with our acquisitions of NCNG and an equity interest in EasternNC. They have received customary fees and commissions for these transactions.

The validity of the common stock will be passed upon for us by Nelson, Mullins, Riley & Scarborough, LLP, Charlotte, North Carolina. Jerry W. Amos, a partner in that law firm and a director of the Company, beneficially owned 75,125 shares of our common stock as of January 7, 2004. Certain legal matters relating to the issuance and sale of the common stock to extent relating to New York law will be passed upon for any underwriters by Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, New York, New York.

The consolidated financial statements of Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc., as of October 31, 2003 and 2002, and for each of the three years in the period ended October 31, 2003, incorporated in this prospectus by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 9, 2004, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference, and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm, given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

The consolidated financial statements of NCNG as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2002, included in this prospectus have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their report appearing herein (which expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph referring to the change in 2002 in the method of accounting for goodwill and an explanatory paragraph regarding the restatement of the financial statements described in Note 2), and have been so included in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

Our Common Stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, under the symbol “PNY.” Each prospectus supplement will list the exchanges, if any, on which any Debt Securities issued thereunder will be listed.

WE WILL PROVIDE SPECIFIC TERMS OF THESE SECURITIES IN SUPPLEMENTS TO THIS PROSPECTUS. THIS PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE USED TO SELL SECURITIES UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY A PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT. YOU SHOULD READ THIS PROSPECTUS AND THE PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENTS CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU INVEST.

We may offer our securities at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Our securities may be offered through underwriters, agents or dealers. The supplements to this prospectus will describe the terms of any particular plan of distribution, including any underwriting arrangements. The “Plan of Distribution” section of this prospectus also provides more information on this topic.

Our principal executive offices are maintained at 1915 Rexford Road, Post Office Box 33068, Charlotte, North Carolina 28233, and our telephone number is (704) 364-3120.

Investing in our securities involves risks that are described in the “Risk Factors” section beginning on page 4 of this prospectus. Additional risks relating to a particular security may appear in the accompanying prospectus supplement.

NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

This Prospectus Summary calls your attention to selected information in this document but may not contain all the information that is important to you. To better understand the offering and for a more complete description of the offering, you should read this entire document carefully, including particularly the “Risk Factors” section, as well as the documents we have referred you to in the section called “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.”

Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc., is an energy services company primarily engaged in the distribution of natural gas to 920,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, including 56,000 customers served by municipalities who are wholesale customers. Our subsidiaries are invested in joint venture, energy-related businesses, including unregulated retail natural gas and propane marketing, interstate natural gas storage, intrastate transportation and regulated natural gas distribution. We also sell residential and commercial gas appliances in Tennessee. As discussed in more detail under the heading “Recent Developments,” we recently purchased additional natural gas properties that expanded our service area into eastern North Carolina and we have entered into an agreement to sell our equity interests in our propane marketing business.

On November 6, 2003, we announced that we had sold our 33% equity interest in Greenbrier Pipeline Company, LLC (Greenbrier), for $9.2 million, which equates to our book value investment.

On November 7, 2003, we announced that we and our three utility partners had agreed to sell our interests in US Propane, L.P., for $130 million, of which our portion is $26.9 million. This transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and certain financial conditions. If completed, we expect to realize a one-time gain of approximately $.03 to $.05 per diluted share in fiscal 2004.

On September 22, 2003, the Tennessee Regulatory Authority voted to authorize us to increase the rates for our Nashville Gas Company division by an amount designed to permit us to increase our margin (revenues less cost of gas) from the distribution of natural gas to our Tennessee customers by approximately $10.3 million annually.

By order dated October 30, 2003, the North Carolina Utilities Commission authorized us to increase our rates by an amount designed to permit us to increase our margin from the distribution of natural gas to the customers of our NCNG division by approximately $29.4 million annually.

We may use this prospectus from time to time to sell up to $690,000,000 of debt securities, common stock, or a combination of debt securities and common stock. This prospectus is a part of a “shelf” registration process, under which we may, over a period not expected to exceed two years, sell these securities in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus.

A decrease in the availability of adequate pipeline transportation capacity could reduce our revenues and profits. Our gas supply depends upon the availability of adequate pipeline transportation capacity. We purchase a substantial portion of our gas supply from interstate sources. Interstate pipeline companies transport the gas to our system. A decrease in interstate pipeline capacity available to us or an increase in competition for interstate pipeline transportation service could reduce our normal interstate supply of gas.

Changes in federal regulations could reduce the availability or increase the cost of our interstate gas supply and thereby result in lower revenues and profits. We purchase our gas supply from interstate sources. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regulates the transmission of the natural gas we receive from interstate sources, and it could increase our transportation costs or decrease our available pipeline capacity by changing its regulatory policies. Such regulatory actions could result in lower revenues and profits.

Abnormal weather conditions may cause our revenues and profits to vary from year to year. Our revenues vary from year to year, depending in part on weather conditions. We estimate that approximately 50% to 60% of our annual gas sales are to temperature-sensitive customers. As a result, mild winter temperatures can cause a decrease in the amount of gas we sell in any year.

The protection against abnormal weather conditions afforded by our Weather Normalization Adjustment (WNA) mechanism depends upon continued regulatory approval, the loss of which could reduce our revenues and profits. We have a WNA mechanism in all three states in which we distribute natural gas that partially offsets the impact that unusually cold or warm weather has on residential and commercial customer billings and margin. The WNA is most effective in a reasonable temperature range relative to normal weather using 30 years of history. The WNA generated revenues from customers of $19.8 million in 2002, refunds to customers of $8.5 million in 2001 and revenues of $19.3 million in 2000. Weather 15% warmer than normal was experienced in 2002, compared with 8% colder than normal in 2001 and 13% warmer than normal in 2000. The protection afforded by the WNA depends upon continued regulatory approval. The loss of this continued regulatory approval could reduce our revenues and profits.

The potential that our customers may be able to acquire natural gas without using our distribution system could result in lower revenues and profits. Our larger customers can obtain their natural gas supplies by purchasing natural gas directly from interstate suppliers, local producers or marketers and arranging for alternate transportation of the gas to their plants or facilities. Customers may undertake such a bypass of our distribution system in order to achieve lower prices for their gas service. Our larger customers who are in close proximity to alternative supplies would be most likely to consider taking this action. This potential to bypass our distribution system creates a risk of the loss of large customers and thus could result in lower revenues and profits.

Regulatory actions at the state level could result in lower revenues and profits. Our natural gas distribution operations are regulated by the North Carolina Utilities Commission, the Public Service Commission of South Carolina and the Tennessee Regulatory Authority. Our operating revenues are generated by our regulated segment. We face the risk that one or more of these regulatory commissions may fail to grant us adequate and timely rate increases or may take other actions that would cause a reduction in our operating income, such as limiting our ability to pass on to our customers our increased costs of natural gas. Such regulatory actions could result in lower revenues and profits.

Volatility in the price of natural gas could reduce our revenues and profits. Significant increases in the price of natural gas would likely cause our retail customers to conserve or switch to alternate

Our ability to remain competitive with alternate fuels is subject to continued regulatory approval, the loss of which could adversely affect our revenues and profits. Our three state regulatory commissions have authorized us to negotiate lower rates to industrial customers when necessary to remain competitive. We are generally permitted to recover margin losses resulting from these negotiated transactions. The ability to recover such negotiated margin reductions is subject to continuing regulatory approvals. Higher prices could also make it more difficult to add new customers.

We do not generate sufficient cash flows to meet all our cash needs. Historically, we have made large capital expenditures in order to finance the expansion and upgrading of our distribution system. As a result, we have funded a portion of our cash needs through borrowings and by offering new securities into the market. For example, by sales of common stock through our Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan, we generated cash in the amount of $18.5 million in 2002, $15.4 million in 2001 and $15.5 million in 2000. During those same three years, our outstanding short-term borrowings under committed bank lines of credit ranged from $0 to $57 million, $0 to $148.5 million and $0 to $156 million, respectively. In 2001, we sold $60 million of medium-term notes. Our cash needs vary from year to year, and, as a result of our recent acquisitions (see “Recent Developments”), our cash needs will likely increase in the future. Our dependency on external sources of financing creates the risks that our profits could decrease as a result of high capital costs and that lenders could impose onerous and unfavorable terms on us as a condition to granting us loans. We also risk the possibility that we may not be able to secure external sources of cash necessary to fund our operations.

As a result of cross-default provisions in our borrowing arrangements, we may be unable to satisfy all of our outstanding obligations in the event of a default on our part. The indenture under which our outstanding medium-term notes were issued, the loan agreements under which we issued our outstanding senior notes and the loan agreements for our short-term bank lines of credit contain cross-default provisions which provide that we will be in default under the indenture or loan agreements in the event of certain defaults under the indenture or other loan agreements. Accordingly, should an event of default occur under one of our debt agreements, we face the prospect of being in default under all of our debt agreements, obliged in such instance to satisfy all of our outstanding indebtedness, and unable to satisfy all of our outstanding obligations simultaneously.

Our ability to pay dividends on our common stock is limited. We cannot assure you that we will continue to pay dividends at our current annual dividend rate or at all. In particular, our ability to pay dividends in the future will depend upon, among other things, our future earnings, cash requirements and covenants under our debt instruments.

Any offering of common stock under these registration statements could have the effect of reducing our earnings per share. A future offering of common stock would likely increase the number of shares of common stock outstanding considered in computing our earnings per share. We may be unable to generate additional earnings sufficient to offset the additional shares to be outstanding as a result of any such offering and, if so, the effect of any such offering may be to reduce our earnings per share from the amount we would have reported if we did not effect such offering.

Terrorist attacks and threats, escalation of military activity in response to such attacks or acts of war may negatively affect our earnings and financial condition. Terrorist attacks, such as the attacks that occurred in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., on September 11, 2001, and future wars or risk of wars may adversely impact our results of operations, our ability to raise capital and our future growth. The impact that possible terrorist attacks may have on our industry in general,

and on us in particular, is not known at this time but could likely lead to increased volatility in gas prices. Uncertainty surrounding the current situation in Iraq, future military strikes or sustained military campaigns may impact our operations in unpredictable ways, including disruptions of fuel or gas supplies and markets, and the possibility that infrastructure facilities, including pipelines, processing plants and storage facilities, could be direct targets of, or indirect casualties of, an act of terror. Terrorist activity may also hinder our ability to transport gas if transportation facilities or pipelines become damaged as a result of an attack. In addition, war or risk of war may have an adverse effect on the economy in our service areas. A lower level of economic activity could result in a decline in energy consumption which could adversely affect our revenues or restrict our future growth. Instability in the financial markets as a result of terrorism or war also could affect our ability to raise capital.

There is a limited trading market for our common stock and you may not be able to resell your shares at or above the price you pay for them. The price of our common stock that you purchase in this offering may decrease significantly. Our common stock is quoted on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PNY.” A public trading market having the desired characteristics of liquidity and order depends on the presence in the market of willing buyers and sellers at any given time. While certain of the underwriters are currently market makers in our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange, none of them is obligated to remain a market maker. The presence of willing buyers and sellers depends on the individual decisions of investors and general economic conditions, all of which are beyond our control.

Future sales of shares of our common stock in the market, or the perception that such sales may occur, may depress our common stock price. If our existing shareholders sell our common stock in the market following this offering, or if there is a perception that these sales may occur, the market price of our common stock could decline. In addition, our board of directors has the authority to issue additional shares of authorized but unissued common stock without the vote of our shareholders. Additional issuances of common stock would dilute the ownership percentage of existing shareholders and may dilute the earnings per share of common stock.

Provisions of our Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws could deter takeover attempts that some shareholders may consider desirable. Provisions contained in our Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws may hinder an acquisition of our company. For example, our Articles of Incorporation require that certain acquisitions be approved by holders of 66 2/3% or more of our outstanding shares of common stock. Also, our Articles of Incorporation allow our board of directors to authorize preferred stock with designations and rights that the board may determine at its discretion. Our board of directors may be able to use this authority in a manner that could delay, defer or prevent a change in control. Our Articles of Incorporation establish a board with staggered, three-year terms for our directors. The existence of these provisions may deprive you of any opportunity to sell your shares at a premium over the prevailing market price for our common stock. The potential inability of our shareholders to obtain a control premium could reduce the market price of our common stock.

The future market price of our common stock could be volatile. The trading price of our common stock could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to variations in operating results caused by weather, changes in gas prices, operating costs or uninsured losses, financial results that are different from securities analysts’ forecasts, interest rates and other events or factors, many of which we do not control. In addition, fluctuations in the market prices for shares of comparable companies or broad market fluctuations may reduce the market price of our common stock.

Increases in our leverage could adversely affect our ability to service our debt obligations and to pay dividends on our common stock and our ability to access capital on favorable terms. An increase in our leverage could adversely affect us by:


	•	increasing the cost of future debt financing;

	•	prohibiting the payment of dividends on common stock or adversely impacting our ability to pay such dividends at the current rate;

	•	making it more difficult for us to satisfy our existing financial obligations;

	•	limiting our ability to obtain additional financing, if we need it, for working capital, acquisitions, debt service requirements or other purposes;

	•	increasing our vulnerability to adverse economic and industry conditions;

	•	requiring us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flows from operations to payments on our debt, which would reduce funds available for operations, future business opportunities or other purposes; and

	•	limiting our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry in which we compete.

This prospectus is part of two registration statements that we have previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, we may, over a period not expected to exceed two years, sell the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $690,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

We may use this prospectus to offer from time to time up to $690,000,000 of our debt securities and our common stock.

For more detailed information about the securities, you can read the exhibits to the registration statements. Those exhibits have been either filed with the registration statements or incorporated by reference to earlier SEC filings listed in the registration statements. We believe that all of those exhibits are important to a full understanding of the securities. The Indenture, as supplemented (Exhibits 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3), any form of Debt Security (Exhibit 4.4), the Master Global Note (Exhibit 4.5) and the Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 (Exhibit 25.1) are particularly important for a better understanding of the Debt Securities. Our Articles of Incorporation, as amended (Exhibits 4.6 and 4.7), By-Laws (Exhibit 4.8), Rights Agreement (Exhibit 4.9) and Specimen Common Stock Certificate (Exhibit 4.10) are particularly important for a full understanding of the Common Stock.

We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act. You may read and copy this information at, and you may also obtain copies of this information by mail from, the Public Reference Room of the SEC, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at (800) SEC-0330.

The SEC also maintains an Internet world wide web site that contains reports, proxy statements and other information about issuers, like us, who file electronically with the SEC. The address of that site is http://www.sec.gov. You can also obtain additional information about us at our web site: http://www.piedmontng.com. Information on our website is not part of this prospectus.

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and you can inspect reports, proxy statements and other information about us at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.

We have filed with the SEC two registration statements on Form S-3 that cumulatively register the securities we are offering. The registration statements, including the attached exhibits and schedules, contain additional relevant information about us and the securities offered. The rules and regulations of the SEC allow us to omit certain information included in the registration statements from this prospectus. The excluded information includes (a) the cover page to the registration statements, (b) information regarding the estimated expenses of issuing and distributing the securities, (c) information regarding certain indemnification of directors and officers permitted by North Carolina law and set forth in our Articles of Incorporation, as amended, our By-Laws, as

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus that we have filed with it. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, except for any information that is superseded by information that is included directly in this document or is included in a subsequently filed document which is also incorporated by reference.

This prospectus includes by reference the following documents that we have previously filed with the SEC and that we have not included or delivered with this document:


	•	our Annual Report on Form 10-K (as amended) (SEC File No. 001-06196) for the year ended October 31, 2002,

	•	our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q (SEC File No. 001-06196) for the quarters ended January 31, 2003, April 30, 2003 and July 31, 2003, and

	•	our Current Reports on Form 8-K (SEC File No. 001-06196) filed with the SEC on November 6, 2002, December 23, 2002, January 8, 2003, February 28, 2003, May 30, 2003, June 13, 2003, June 27, 2003, August 22, 2003, September 5, 2003, October 9, 2003, October 31, 2003, November 6, 2003 and November 7, 2003.

These documents contain important information about us, our common stock, our debt securities and our financial condition.

We incorporate by reference additional documents that we may file with the SEC between the date of this prospectus and the date of the closing of each offering. These documents include periodic reports, such as Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and proxy statements.

You can obtain any of the documents incorporated by reference in this document from us without charge, excluding any exhibits to those documents unless the exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference as an exhibit to this prospectus. You can obtain documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus by requesting them in writing or by telephone from us at the following address or telephone number:

By incorporating the foregoing documents, we do not intend to incorporate any exhibit or other information that, in accordance with applicable law or SEC rule or regulation, was “furnished” but not filed.

We have made statements in this prospectus and the documents that we incorporate by reference that constitute forward-looking statements concerning, among others, plans, objectives, strategy


	•	Regulatory issues, including those that affect allowed rates of return, terms and conditions of service, rate structures and financings. We are impacted by regulation of the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC), the Public Service Commission of South Carolina (PSCSC) and the Tennessee Regulatory Authority (TRA). In addition, we purchase natural gas transportation and storage services from interstate and intrastate pipeline companies whose rates and services are regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the NCUC, respectively.

	•	Residential, commercial and industrial growth in our service areas. The ability to grow our customer base and the pace of that growth are impacted by general business and economic conditions such as interest rates, inflation, fluctuations in the capital markets and the overall strength of the economy in our service areas and the country.

	•	Deregulation, unanticipated impacts of restructuring and competition in the energy industry. We face competition from electric companies and energy marketing and trading companies. As a result of deregulation, we expect this highly competitive environment to continue.

	•	The potential loss of large-volume industrial customers due to alternate fuels or to bypass or the shift by such customers to special competitive contracts at lower per-unit margins.

	•	Regulatory issues, customer growth, deregulation, economic and capital market conditions, the costs and availability of natural gas and weather conditions can impact our ability to meet internal performance goals.

	•	The capital-intensive nature of our business. In order to maintain our historic growth, we must construct additions to our natural gas distribution system each year. The cost of this construction may be affected by the cost of obtaining governmental approvals, development project delays or changes in project costs. Weather, general economic conditions and the cost of funds to finance our capital projects can materially alter the cost of a project. Our cash flows are not adequate to finance the cost of this construction. As a result, we must fund a portion of our cash needs through borrowings and the issuance of common stock.

	•	Changes in the availability and cost of natural gas. To meet firm customer requirements, we must acquire sufficient gas supplies and pipeline capacity to ensure delivery to our distribution system while also ensuring that our supply and capacity contracts will allow us to remain competitive. Natural gas is an unregulated commodity subject to market supply and demand and price volatility. We have a diversified portfolio of local peaking facilities, transportation and storage contracts with interstate pipelines and supply contracts with major producers and marketers to satisfy the supply and delivery requirements of our customers. Because these producers, marketers and pipelines are subject to operating and financial risks associated with exploring, drilling, producing, gathering, marketing and transporting natural gas, their risks also increase our exposure to supply and price fluctuations. We engage in hedging activity to reduce price volatility for our customers.

	•	Changes in weather conditions. Weather conditions and other natural phenomena can have a large impact on our earnings. Severe weather conditions can impact our suppliers and the pipelines that deliver gas to our distribution system. Extended mild or severe weather, either


		during the winter period or the summer period, can have a significant impact on the demand for and the cost of natural gas.

	•	Changes in environmental regulations and cost of compliance.

	•	Earnings from our equity investments. We have investments in unregulated retail energy marketing services, interstate liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage operations, intrastate and interstate pipeline operations and unregulated retail propane operations. These companies have risks that are inherent to their industries and, as an equity investor, we assume such risks.

All of these factors are difficult to predict and many are beyond our control. Accordingly, while we believe the assumptions underlying these forward-looking statements to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that these statements will approximate actual experience or that the expectations derived from them will be realized. When used in our documents or oral presentations, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “seeks,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “expect,” “objective,” “projection,” “budget,” “forecast,” “goal” or similar words or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could” or “may” are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc., is an energy services company primarily engaged in the distribution of natural gas to 920,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, including 56,000 customers served by four municipalities who are our wholesale customers. Our subsidiaries are invested in joint venture, energy-related businesses, including unregulated retail natural gas and propane marketing, interstate natural gas storage, intrastate transportation and regulated natural gas distribution. We also sell residential and commercial gas appliances in Tennessee. In the Carolinas, our service area is comprised of numerous cities, towns and communities including Anderson, Greenville, Spartanburg and Gaffney in South Carolina and Charlotte, Salisbury, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point, Burlington, Hickory, Spruce Pine, Reidsville, Fayetteville, New Bern, Wilmington, Tarboro, Elizabeth City, Indian Trail, Rockingham and Goldsboro in North Carolina. In Tennessee, our service area is the metropolitan area of Nashville. In North Carolina, we also provide wholesale natural gas service to Greenville, Monroe, Rocky Mount and Wilson.

In 1994, our predecessor, which was incorporated in 1950 under the same name, was merged into a newly formed North Carolina corporation for the purpose of changing our state of incorporation to North Carolina.

We have two reportable business segments, domestic natural gas distribution and retail energy marketing services. The domestic natural gas business is conducted by us and two wholly owned subsidiaries of our subsidiary, Piedmont Energy Partners — Piedmont Intrastate Pipeline Company and Piedmont Interstate Pipeline Company — and by our subsidiary, Piedmont Greenbrier Pipeline Company, LLC through their investments in ventures accounted for under the equity method. Piedmont Intrastate owns 21.48% of the membership interests of Cardinal Pipeline Company, L.L.C., a North Carolina limited liability company (Cardinal). Cardinal owns and operates a 104-mile intrastate natural gas pipeline in North Carolina. Piedmont Interstate owns 40.0587% of the membership interests of Pine Needle LNG Company, L.L.C., a North Carolina limited liability company (Pine Needle). Pine Needle owns an interstate liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage facility in North Carolina. Piedmont Greenbrier owns 33% of the membership interest of Greenbrier Pipeline Company, LLC (Greenbrier). Greenbrier proposes to build a 280-mile interstate gas pipeline originating in West Virginia and extending through Virginia to North Carolina. Our membership interests in Cardinal, Pine Needle and Greenbrier entitle us to participate in the profits and losses of these entities in proportion to our membership interests. The retail energy marketing services business is conducted by a subsidiary of Piedmont Energy Partners — Piedmont Energy Company. Piedmont Energy owns 30% of the membership interests of SouthStar Energy Services LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (SouthStar). SouthStar sells natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial customers in the southeastern United States. SouthStar conducts most of its business in the state of Georgia. Our membership interest in SouthStar entitles us to share in 30% of the profits and losses of SouthStar until SouthStar’s cumulative return equals 17% on contributed capital, and various percentages thereafter based on actual margin (revenues less cost of gas) generated in four defined geographic service areas. On November 6, 2003, we announced that we had sold our equity interest in Greenbrier for $9.2 million, which equates to our book value investment. See “Recent Developments.”

Piedmont Propane Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Piedmont Energy Partners, owns 20.69% of the membership interest in US Propane, L.P., which owns all of the general partnership interest and approximately 26% of the limited partnership interest in Heritage Propane Partners, L.P. (NYSE:HPG). Heritage is a marketer of propane through a nationwide retail distribution network. On November 7, 2003, we announced that we and our three utility partners had agreed to sell our

Our utility operations are subject to regulation by the NCUC, the PSCSC and the TRA as to rates, service area, adequacy of service, safety standards, extensions and abandonment of facilities, accounting and depreciation. We are also subject to regulation by the NCUC as to the issuance of securities. We are also subject to or affected by various federal regulations. These federal regulations include regulations that are particular to the natural gas industry, such as regulations of the FERC that affect the availability of and the prices paid for the interstate transportation of natural gas, regulations of the Department of Transportation that affect the construction, operation and maintenance of natural gas distribution systems and regulations of the Environmental Protection Agency relating to the use and release into the environment of hazardous wastes. In addition, we are subject to numerous regulations, such as those relating to employment practices, that are generally applicable to companies doing business in the United States.

Our principal executive offices are maintained at 1915 Rexford Road, Post Office Box 33068, Charlotte North Carolina 28233, and our telephone number is (704) 364-3120. Our web site is http:/www.piedmontng.com. Information on our web site is not part of this prospectus.

Effective at the close of business on September 30, 2003, we purchased for $417.5 million in cash 100% of the common stock of North Carolina Natural Gas Corporation (NCNG). NCNG, previously a natural gas distribution subsidiary of Progress Energy, Inc. (Progress), served approximately 180,000 customers in eastern North Carolina, including 56,000 customers served by four municipalities who were wholesale customers of NCNG. The purchase price for the NCNG common stock will be increased by the amount of NCNG’s working capital on the closing date. Based on a preliminary working capital schedule, the closing date working capital was approximately $32.4 million. This amount may be increased or decreased when NCNG’s final balance sheet at the closing date (the close of business on September 30, 2003) is known. NCNG was merged into Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc., immediately following the closing. The purchase price of $417.5 million is approximately 1.08 times NCNG’s net plant as of June 30, 2003. Net plant is the sum of utility plant in service and construction work in progress less accumulated depreciation. We also purchased for $7.5 million in cash Progress’ equity interest in Eastern North Carolina Natural Gas Company (EasternNC). EasternNC is a regulated utility that has a certificate of public convenience and necessity to provide natural gas service to 14 counties in eastern North Carolina. Progress’ equity interest in EasternNC consisted of 50% of EasternNC’s outstanding common stock and 100% of EasternNC’s outstanding preferred stock. We are obligated to purchase additional authorized but unissued shares of such preferred stock for $14.4 million. As a result of our acquisition of an equity interest in EasternNC and pursuant to an order of the SEC, we became an exempt holding company under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended.

On November 6, 2003, we announced that we had sold our 33% interest in Greenbrier for $9.2 million, which equates to our book value investment.

On November 7, 2003, we announced that we and our three utility partners had agreed to sell our interests in US Propane, L.P., for $130 million, of which our portion is $26.9 million. This transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and certain conditions, including (a) the representations and warranties of the parties being true and correct on the closing date of the transaction, (b) the parties having complied with all covenants that are required to be complied with prior to closing, (c) there being no legal proceedings to enjoin the transactions or to deprive the purchaser of the material benefits of the transaction, and (d) there being no event that would be a material adverse

On September 22, 2003, the Tennessee Regulatory Authority voted to authorize us to increase the rates for our Nashville Gas Company division by an amount designed to permit us to increase our margin from the distribution of natural gas to our Tennessee customers by approximately $10.3 million annually.

By order dated October 30, 2003, the North Carolina Utilities Commission authorized us to increase our rates by an amount designed to permit us to increase our margin from the distribution of natural gas to customers of our NCNG division by approximately $29.4 million annually.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities to repay $445.3 million of commercial paper issued on September 29, 2003, to partially initially finance the purchase of NCNG and Progress’ equity interest in EasternNC. The remainder of the proceeds is expected to be used from time to time for general corporate purposes, including construction of additional facilities, the repayment of other short-term debt and working capital needs. As of July 31, 2003, we had $45 million of short-term borrowings outstanding at an average interest rate of 1.56%. Pending such use, we may temporarily invest the net proceeds in investment grade securities. We may, from time to time, engage in additional capital financing of a character and in amounts to be determined by us in light of our needs at such time or times and in light of prevailing market conditions. If we elect at the time of an issuance of the securities to make different or more specific use of proceeds other than as stated above, we will describe such use in the prospectus supplement.

The following are the consolidated ratios of earnings to fixed charges for the twelve-month period ended July 31, 2003, and each of our fiscal years in the five-year period ended October 31, 2002:

The ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the most recent fiscal year (2002) on a pro forma basis giving effect to the purchase of NCNG and Progress’ interest in EasternNC and the assumed increase in the long-term debt used to finance a portion of the purchase is 2.60.


(1)	For purposes of computing the consolidated ratios, “earnings” represent our net income from continuing operations plus applicable income taxes and fixed charges, and “fixed charges” represent interest expense, amortization of debt discount, premium and expense, and a portion of lease payments considered to represent an interest factor.

Set forth below is our selected historical consolidated financial information as of the dates and for the periods indicated. We derived the consolidated income statement data for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, and the consolidated balance sheet data at October 31, 2002 and 2001, from audited financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus and contained in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. The remaining data is derived from financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus and contained in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended July 31, 2003. These quarterly financial statements have not been audited, but, in the opinion of management, contain all adjustments, including normal recurring accruals, necessary to present fairly our financial position and results of operations and cash flows for the applicable periods. See “Where You Can Find More Information” in this prospectus.

Set forth below is the selected historical consolidated financial information of NCNG. Effective at the close of business on September 30, 2003, we purchased 100% of the common stock of NCNG and Progress’ equity interest in Eastern North Carolina Natural Gas Company (EasternNC). Progress’ equity interest in EasternNC consists of 50% of EasternNC’s outstanding common stock and 100% of EasternNC’s outstanding preferred stock. We derived the income statement data for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, and the balance sheet data at December 31, 2002 and 2001, from the audited financial statements of NCNG as restated which are set forth in Appendix A to this prospectus. The remaining data is derived from financial statements of NCNG


(1)	Includes an impairment charge of $126.3 million to goodwill attributable to Progress’ original acquisition of NCNG in 1999.

(2)	Includes the cumulative effective of an accounting change to reduce the carrying value of goodwill by $52.3 million upon the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.”

Set forth below is selected unaudited pro forma combined condensed consolidated financial data after accounting for the acquisitions of NCNG and Progress’ equity interest in EasternNC and the issuance of securities for the repayment of short-term debt used to initially finance the acquisitions. The pro forma adjustments are based upon available information and certain assumptions that we believe are identifiable and objectively measurable. The selected unaudited pro forma combined condensed consolidated financial data is presented for illustrative purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the operating results or financial condition of the combined company that would have occurred had the acquisitions occurred at the beginning of the period presented, nor is the selected unaudited pro forma combined condensed consolidated financial data necessarily indicative of future operating results or the financial position of the combined company. The selected unaudited pro forma combined condensed consolidated financial data was derived from and should be read in conjunction with the unaudited pro forma combined condensed consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in “Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements” in this prospectus and should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus and those of NCNG provided elsewhere in this prospectus.

The unaudited pro forma information reflects the historical combined condensed consolidated financial data of Piedmont and NCNG after accounting for the acquisitions of NCNG and Progress’ equity interest in EasternNC and the issuance of securities for the repayment of short-term debt used to initially finance these acquisitions.

Prior to its acquisition by us, NCNG was a public service company primarily engaged in transporting and distributing natural gas to customers in portions of North Carolina. NCNG was a wholly owned subsidiary of Progress. The consolidated financial statements of NCNG include the activities of NCNG and its majority-owned subsidiaries, NCNG Pineneedle Investment Corporation, NCNG Cardinal Pipeline Investment Corporation and Cape Fear Energy Corporation.

The acquisitions of NCNG and Progress’ equity interest in EasternNC are reported as a purchase business combination, as more fully explained under “Accounting Treatment” below. The following information together with the historical consolidated financial statements of Piedmont, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and the historical consolidated financial statements and related notes of NCNG included in this prospectus should be read together to obtain a more complete understanding of the two companies.

The Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income assume the acquisitions became effective on November 1, 2001. The Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet assumes the acquisitions became effective on July 31, 2003.

The unaudited pro forma information is not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that might have occurred had the acquisitions actually closed on November 1, 2001, or the actual financial position that might have resulted had the acquisitions actually closed on July 31, 2003. This information is also not necessarily indicative of the future results of operations or financial position of Piedmont.

Effective at the close of business on September 30, 2003, we purchased for $417.5 million in cash 100% of the common stock of NCNG. NCNG, previously a natural gas distribution subsidiary of Progress, served approximately 180,000 customers in eastern North Carolina, including 56,000 customers served by four municipalities who were wholesale customers of NCNG. The purchase price for the NCNG common stock will be increased by the amount of NCNG’s working capital on the closing date. Based on a preliminary working capital schedule, the closing date working capital was approximately $32.4 million. NCNG was merged into Piedmont immediately following the closing. The purchase price of $417.5 million is approximately 1.08 times NCNG’s net plant as of June 30, 2003. We also purchased for $7.5 million in cash Progress’ equity interest in EasternNC. EasternNC is a regulated utility that has a certificate of public convenience and necessity to provide natural gas service to 14 counties in eastern North Carolina. Progress’ equity interest in EasternNC consisted of 50% of EasternNC’s outstanding common stock and 100% of EasternNC’s outstanding preferred stock. We are obligated to purchase additional authorized but unissued shares of such preferred stock for $14.4 million.

The acquisitions will be accounted for by the purchase method of accounting. Under the purchase method, certain identifiable assets will be recorded at their book values in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 71, “Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation.” The remaining difference, if any, between the purchase price, including direct costs of the acquisitions, and the book values will be recorded as goodwill. Allocations included in the unaudited pro forma information are based on preliminary analysis of the purchase price allocation.

See Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

The Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed Consolidated Financial Data is based on the following assumptions (in thousands except per share amounts):


	A. Certain revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities of NCNG have been reclassified to conform with Piedmont’s presentation. The income tax effects of such reclassifications, if any, are computed at NCNG’s composite income tax rate of 39.485%.

	B. Decrease in cash of $33,375 is the deficit of the proceeds from securities issued to finance the acquisitions less the stated purchase price.

	C. The purchase of working capital is in addition to the stated purchase price. At the date of this pro forma balance sheet, the excess of current assets over current liabilities results in a cash payment by Piedmont to Progress of $4,628.

	D. The purchase price for the interest in EasternNC is $7,500.

	E. NCNG’s other assets of $50,205, primarily consisting of goodwill, unamortized debt costs, deferred environmental costs and investment in Cape Fear Energy Corporation, are excluded as they will not be acquired by Piedmont.

	F. The proceeds from the issuance of common stock and long-term debt will be used to repay the short-term debt used to initially finance the acquisitions. Based on our assumptions, the following is a summary of the calculation of the proceeds from the issuance of common stock and long-term debt and the allocation of the purchase price to the fair value of the net assets acquired.


	Piedmont and NCNG expect to record direct costs of the acquisition (including fees of financial advisors, legal counsel, independent auditors and others). The estimated direct costs are $4,000 and are added to goodwill and reflected in accounts payable. The estimated charges and nature of costs included therein are subject to change as more accurate estimates become available. The pro forma statements of income do not reflect the costs and expenses associated with integrating the operations of the two companies, nor any of the anticipated recurring expense savings arising from the integration.

	Goodwill of $44,950 is recognized, representing the excess of the purchase price plus transaction costs over the net assets acquired. The final allocation of the purchase price will be based on the values of identified assets and liabilities as of the closing date of September 30, 2003.


	G. The application of the purchase method of accounting eliminates the preexisting balances of NCNG’s common stock, capital in excess of par value, retained earnings and accumulated other comprehensive loss.

	H. NCNG’s other liabilities of $31,449, consisting of accumulated deferred income taxes, unamortized investment tax credits and a regulatory liability for income taxes, are excluded as they will not be assumed by Piedmont.

	I. NCNG’s interest charges on notes payables are eliminated, net of income taxes at NCNG’s composite income tax rate of 39.485%, as the debt generating such charges will not be assumed by Piedmont.

	J. In its third quarter ended September 30, 2002, NCNG performed the annual impairment test of goodwill and recognized an impairment of $126.7 million based on the expected proceeds from the sale of NCNG to Piedmont. Because of the non-recurring nature of this charge, the goodwill impairment was eliminated from the pro forma statement of income. Because NCNG considered this charge to be a permanent book/tax difference, no income tax effect was recorded by NCNG.

	K. The income tax effect, if any, on the pro forma adjustments, except for the reclassifications discussed in Note A and the elimination of NCNG’s interest charges discussed in Note I, are computed at the statutory rates of 35% for federal and 7% for state, for a composite rate of 39.55%.

We may use this prospectus to offer from time to time up to $690,000,000 of our debt securities and our common stock.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of the offering. The prospectus supplement may also add to or change information contained in this prospectus. If so, the prospectus supplement should be read as superseding this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

For more details on the terms of the securities, you should read the exhibits filed with our registration statements. We believe that all of those exhibits are important to a full understanding of the securities. The Indenture, as supplemented (Exhibits 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3), any form of Debt Security (Exhibit 4.4), the form of Master Global Note (Exhibit 4.5) and the Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 (Exhibit 25.1) are particularly important for a better understanding of the Debt Securities. Our Articles of Incorporation, as amended (Exhibits 4.6 and 4.7), By-Laws (Exhibit 4.8), Rights Agreement (Exhibit 4.9) and Specimen Common Stock Certificate (Exhibit 4.10) are particularly important for a full understanding of the Common Stock.

We may issue debt securities from time to time in one or more distinct series. This section summarizes the material terms of the debt securities that we anticipate will be common to all series. Most of the financial and other terms of any series of debt securities that we offer and any differences from the common terms will be described in the prospectus supplement to be attached to the front of this prospectus.

As required by U.S. federal law for all bonds and notes of companies that are publicly offered, a document called an “indenture” will govern any debt securities that we issue. An indenture is a contract between us and a financial institution acting as trustee on your behalf. We have entered into an indenture with Citibank, N.A., who will act as trustee. The indenture will be subject to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. The trustee has the following two main roles:


	•	the trustee can enforce your rights against us if we default under the indenture subject to some limitations on the extent to which the trustee acts on your behalf, described later in this prospectus (see “Concerning the Trustee”); and

	•	the trustee will perform certain administrative duties for us, which include sending you interest payments and notices.

Because this section is a summary of the material terms of the indenture, it does not describe every aspect of the debt securities. We urge you to read the indenture because it, and not this description, will define your rights as a holder of debt securities. We have filed or will file the indenture and any supplements to it as exhibits to the registration statements that we have filed with the SEC. See “Where You Can Find More Information” for information on how to obtain copies of the indenture and any supplements. References to the “Indenture” in this prospectus mean the indenture we have filed as an exhibit to the registration statements relating to this offering that we have filed with the SEC. References to the “Trustee” means Citibank, N.A., or any successor trustee

Among the Debt Securities that we may issue under the indenture are medium-term notes with various terms, including (unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement or a pricing supplement) the following:


	•	Stated maturities 9 months or more from date of issue

	•	Redemption and repurchase at our option or at the option of the holder

	•	Denominated in U.S. dollars

	•	Issued in fully registered form in denominations of $100,000 and integral multiples at $1,000 in excess thereof

	•	Interest at fixed or floating rates

	•	Interest paid on fixed rate notes semi-annually

	•	Interest paid on floating rate notes monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually

	•	Interest rate formula for floating rate notes based on one or more of the following:


	•	Commercial paper rate

	•	CD rate

	•	Prime rate

	•	Federal funds effective rate

	•	LIBOR

	•	Treasury rate


	•	Such other interest rate formula as may be specified in the applicable pricing supplement

	•	Book entry (through The Depository Trust Company) or certificated form

The specific terms of any medium-term notes that we may issue under the indenture will be described in a prospectus supplement or a pricing supplement.

The Debt Securities may be issued from time to time in one or more series. Although the amount of securities offered by this prospectus will be limited to $690,000,000, the indenture does not contain any limitations on the amount of Debt Securities that may be issued under it at any time or from time to time in one or more series.

The Debt Securities will be our unsecured obligations and will rank equally and ratably with all of our other unsecured indebtedness. As of July 31, 2003, we had issued and outstanding long-term debt with an aggregate principal amount of $462,000,000. The Debt Securities will be issued only in fully registered form.

You should read the prospectus supplement for the following terms of the series of Debt Securities offered by the prospectus supplement. Our Board of Directors will establish the following terms before issuance of the series:


	•	the specific title of the offered Debt Securities;

	•	any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the offered Debt Securities;


	•	the person to whom any interest on the offered Debt Securities will be payable, if other than the person in whose name that offered Debt Security is registered at the close of business on the record date for such interest;

	•	the date or dates on which the principal of the offered Debt Securities is payable;

	•	the rate or rates at which the offered Debt Securities will bear interest, if any, or the formula that will be used to determine which such rate or rates, and the date or dates from which any such interest will accrue, and the date or dates for any interest payable;

	•	the place or places where the principal, premium (if any) and interest on the offered Debt Securities will be payable, and the method of such payment;

	•	the period or periods within which the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which the offered Debt Securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at our option;

	•	our obligations, if any, to purchase or redeem the offered Debt Securities under any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the option of holders of such securities and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which the offered Debt Securities will be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

	•	the denominations in which the offered Debt Securities will be issuable, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof;

	•	if the amount of payments of principal, premium (if any) or interest on the offered Debt Securities may be determined with reference to an index, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

	•	whether the offered Debt Securities will be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities (as defined under “Global Securities”) and, if so, the securities depository or depositories for such global security or securities and the circumstances under which any such global security or securities may be registered for transfer or exchange, or authenticated and delivered, in the name of a person other than such depository or its nominee, other than as set forth in the Indenture;

	•	if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the offered Debt Securities which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof;

	•	any modification, amendment or addition to our covenants;

	•	whether the offered Debt Securities will be subject to defeasance or covenant defeasance, or such other means of satisfaction and discharge as may be specified in the prospectus supplement;

	•	whether the offered Debt Securities will be subject to conversion into shares of our common stock and, if so, the date or dates upon which the Debt Securities are or may be so converted;

	•	any additional events of default; and

	•	any other terms or provisions of the offered Debt Securities not inconsistent with the provisions of the Indenture.

The Indenture does not limit the amount of Debt Securities that we are authorized to issue from time to time. We may issue Debt Securities with terms different from those of Debt Securities already issued. Without the consent of the holders of outstanding Debt Securities, we may reopen a

There is no requirement that we issue Debt Securities in the future under the Indenture, and we may use other indentures or documentation, containing different provisions, in connection with future issues of other Debt Securities.

We may issue the Debt Securities as “Original Issue Discount Securities,” which are Debt Securities, including any zero-coupon Debt Securities, where the stated redemption price at maturity of the Debt Securities is in excess of their issue price. If we issue Original Issue Discount Securities, the following federal income tax consequences will result:


	•	You will need to include in income the total amount of original issue discount (“OID”) as ordinary income over the life of the Original Issue Debt Security as it accrues, even if you are on the cash method of tax accounting.

	•	OID will accrue on an Original Issue Debt Security on a “constant yield” method. This method takes into account the compounding of interest, with the result that accruals of OID will generally be less in the early years and more in the later years.

	•	Your tax basis in the Original Issue Debt Security will increase by any OID includible in your income and will decrease by any payments you receive on the Debt Security (other than certain stated interest not taken into account in the calculation of OID).

We will further describe the U.S. federal income tax consequences and other considerations applicable to Original Issue Discount Securities, with respect to a particular security, in the applicable prospectus supplement.

We will issue each Debt Security under the indenture in book-entry form only, unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement. A global security represents one or any other number of individual Debt Securities. Generally, all Debt Securities represented by the same global securities will have the same terms. We may, however, issue a global security that represents multiple Debt Securities that have different terms and are issued at different times. We call this kind of global security a master global security.

Each Debt Security issued in book-entry form will be represented by a global security that we deposit with and register in the name of a financial institution or its nominee that we select. The financial institution that we select for this purpose is called the depositary. Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, known as DTC, will be the depositary for all Debt Securities issued in book-entry form. We will describe the specific terms of the depository arrangements with respect to any Debt Securities represented by a global security in the applicable prospectus supplement.

A global security may not be transferred to or registered in the name of anyone other than the depositary or its nominee, unless special termination situations arise. We describe those situations below under “Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated.” As a result of these arrangements, the depositary, or its nominee, will be the sole registered owner and holder of all Debt Securities represented by a global security, and investors will be permitted to own only beneficial interests in a global security. Beneficial interests must be held by means of an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account with the depositary or with another institution that does. Thus, if your Debt Security is represented by a global security, you will not be a holder of the Debt Security, but only an indirect holder of a beneficial interest in the global security.

Special Considerations for Global Securities. As an indirect holder, your rights relating to a global security will be governed by the account rules of your financial institution and of the depositary, as well as general laws relating to securities transfers. We do not recognize an indirect holder as a holder of Debt Securities and instead deal only with the depositary that holds the global security.

If we issue Debt Securities only in the form of a global security, you should be aware of the following:


	•	you cannot cause the Debt Securities to be registered in your name, and cannot obtain non-global certificates for your interest in the Debt Securities, except in the special situations that we describe below;

	•	you will be an indirect holder and must look to your own bank or broker for payments on the Debt Securities and protection of your legal rights relating to the Debt Securities;

	•	you may not be able to sell interests in the Debt Securities to some insurance companies and to other institutions that are required by law to own their securities in non-book-entry form;

	•	you may not be able to pledge your interest in a global security in circumstances where certificates representing the Debt Securities must be delivered to the lender or other beneficiary of the pledge in order for the pledge to be effective;

	•	the depositary’s policies, which may change from time to time, will govern payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to your interest in a global security. We and the Trustee have no responsibility for any aspect of the depositary’s actions or for its records of ownership interests in a global security. We and the Trustee also do not supervise the depositary in any way; and

	•	DTC requires that those who purchase and sell interests in a global security within its book-entry system use immediately available funds and your broker or bank may require you to do so as well, and financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system, and through which you hold your interest in a global security, may also have their own policies affecting payments, notices and other matters relating to the debt security. Your chain of ownership may contain more than one financial intermediary. We do not monitor and are not responsible for the actions of any of those intermediaries.

Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated. In a few special situations described below, a global security will be terminated and interests in it will be exchanged for certificates in non-global form representing the Debt Securities it represented. After that exchange, the choice of whether to hold the Debt Securities directly or in street name will be up to you. You must consult your own bank or broker to find out how to have your interests in a global security transferred on termination to your own name, so that you will be a holder.


	•	if the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling, unable or no longer qualified to continue as depositary for that global security and we do not appoint another institution to act as depositary within 60 days; and

	•	if we notify the Trustee that we wish to terminate that global security, or if an event of default has occurred with regard to Debt Securities represented by that global security and has not been cured or waived; we discuss defaults later under “Defaults and Rights of Acceleration.”

If a global security is terminated, only the depositary, and not we or the Trustee, is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions in whose names the Debt Securities represented by the global security will be registered and, therefore, who will be the holders of those Debt Securities.

We will not be required to exchange or register a transfer of (i) any series of Debt Securities for a period of 15 days after the mailing of the notice of any redemption of such series, or (ii) any such series selected, called or being called for redemption except, in the case of any such series to be redeemed in part, that portion not being redeemed.


	•	only in fully registered form;

	•	without interest coupons; and

	•	unless we indicate otherwise in the prospectus supplement, in denominations of $1,000 and amounts that are multiples of $1,000.

Holders may exchange their Debt Securities that are not in global form for Debt Securities of smaller denominations or combined into fewer Debt Securities of larger denominations, as long as the total principal amount is not changed.

Holders may exchange or transfer their Debt Securities at the office of the Trustee. We will appoint the Trustee to act as our agent for registering Debt Securities in the names of holders transferring Debt Securities. We may appoint another entity to perform these functions or perform them ourselves.

Holders will not be required to pay a service charge to transfer or exchange their Debt Securities, but they may be required to pay for any tax or other governmental charge associated with the transfer or exchange. The transfer or exchange will be made only if our transfer agent is satisfied with the holder’s proof of legal ownership.

If we have designated additional transfer agents for your Debt Security, they will be named in your prospectus supplement. We may appoint additional transfer agents or cancel the appointment of any particular transfer agent. We may also approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts.

If a Debt Security is issued as a global security, only the depositary will be entitled to transfer and exchange the Debt Security as described in this subsection, since it will be the sole holder of the Debt Security.

Any terms for the optional or mandatory redemption of the Debt Securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Except as shall otherwise be provided with respect to the Debt Securities redeemable at the option of the holder, such Debt Securities will be redeemable only upon notice, by mail, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption and, if less than all of a series of Debt Securities are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the particular Debt Securities to be redeemed in such manner as it deems fair and appropriate. If less than all of the Debt Securities represented by a global security are to be redeemed, the beneficial interest to be redeemed will be selected by the Depository as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The Indenture contains the covenants summarized below, which are applicable so long as any of the Debt Securities are outstanding.

Property. To the extent necessary for our business to be properly conducted, we will cause (or, with respect to property owned in common with others, make reasonable effort to cause) all of our properties used or useful in the conduct of our business to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order. We will also cause (or, with respect to property owned in common with others, make reasonable effort to cause) all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements to be made to such properties. This covenant does not prevent us from discontinuing, or causing the discontinuance of, the operation and maintenance of any of our properties if such discontinuance is, in our judgment, desirable in the conduct of our business.

Limitation on Liens. We will not create, assume or suffer to exist, and will not permit any subsidiary to create, assume or suffer to exist, except in our favor, any mortgage, pledge or other lien or encumbrance of or upon any of our properties or assets (including stock and other securities of subsidiaries) without making effective provisions to secure equally and ratably the Debt Securities then outstanding and other indebtedness entitled to be so secured, except that we or a subsidiary, without so securing the Debt Securities, may create, assume or suffer to exist:


	•	certain purchase money and existing liens in connection with property acquisitions and the extension, renewal or refunding of the same,

	•	pledges of current assets, in the ordinary course of business to secure current liabilities,

	•	liens on property to secure obligations to pay all or a part of the purchase price of such property only out of or measured by oil or gas production or the proceeds thereof, or liens upon production from oil and gas property or the proceeds of such production, to secure obligations to pay all or part of the expenses of exploration, drilling or development of such property only out of such production or proceeds,

	•	mechanics’ or materialman’s liens, good faith deposits in connection with tenders, leases of real estate, bids or contracts (other than contracts for the payments of money), deposits to secure public or statutory obligations, deposits to secure, or in lieu of, surety, stay or appeal bonds, and deposits as security for payment of taxes, assessments or similar charges and liens or security interests created in connection with bid or completion bonds,

	•	liens arising by reason of deposits with, or the giving of security to, a governmental agency as a condition to the transaction of business or the exercise of a privilege or license, or to enable us or a subsidiary to maintain self-insurance or participate in any funds established to cover any insurance risks in connection with workmen’s compensation, unemployment insurance, old age pension or other social security,

	•	pledges or assignments of accounts receivable, including customers’ installment paper, to banks or others (including to or by any subsidiary which is principally engaged in the business of financing our business and the business of our subsidiaries) made in the ordinary course of business,

	•	liens of taxes or assessments for the current year or not due or being contested in good faith and against which an adequate reserve has been established,

	•	judgments or liens the finality of which is being contested and execution on which is stayed,

	•	assessments or similar encumbrances the existence of which does not impair the use of the property subject thereto for the purposes for which it was acquired,

	•	certain landlords’ liens so long as the rent secured thereby is not in default,

	•	liens on the assets of any limited liability company organized under a limited liability company act of any state which limited liability company is treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, and


	•	with respect to Debt Securities issued after June 15, 2003, liens, in addition to liens set forth above, securing indebtedness not at any time exceeding in the aggregate 5% of the consolidated stockholders’ equity of the Company and its subsidiaries as of such time.

Subject to the provisions described under “Consolidation, Merger or Sale,” we will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect our corporate existence, rights (charter and statutory), our franchises or franchises of our subsidiaries. We will not be required to preserve, or cause any subsidiary to preserve, any such right or franchise or to keep in full force and effect the corporate existence of any subsidiary if, in our judgment, preservation is no longer desirable in the conduct of our business and the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the holders of any series of Debt Securities.

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the covenants contained in the Indenture and the Debt Securities would not necessarily afford holders protection in the event of a highly leveraged or other transaction involving us that may adversely affect holders. For example, the Indenture covenants may not protect against a sudden and dramatic decline in credit quality resulting from a takeover, a recapitalization or similar restructuring of our business. Any such decline in credit quality could, among other things, increase our vulnerability to adverse economic and industry conditions and make it more difficult for us to satisfy our financial obligations, including the payment of principal and interest on the Debt Securities.

We will not consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or sell or convey all or substantially all of our assets to any person, firm or corporation unless:


	•	either we shall be the continuing corporation, or the successor corporation (if other than us) shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or a state thereof or the District of Columbia and such corporation shall expressly assume, by supplemental indenture, the due and punctual payment of the principal, premium (if any) and interest on all the Debt Securities and the performance of all of our covenants under the Indenture;

	•	we or such successor corporation, as the case may be, shall not, immediately after such merger or consolidation, or such sale or conveyance, be in default in the performance of any such covenant or condition; and

	•	we will have delivered to the Trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel as provided in the Indenture.

Because there is no definitive standard under the laws of the State of New York that clearly defines the threshold for the sale or conveyance of substantially all of our assets, it may be difficult for the holders of our Debt Securities to: (a) determine whether our covenant (relating to consolidation, merger, and sale of assets) has been breached, (b) declare an event of default and (c) exercise their acceleration rights. In addition, there can be a difference in understanding between us and the holders of our Debt Securities regarding whether a specific asset sale or sales triggers a sale of “substantially all” of our assets. Lastly, in the event that the holders of our Debt Securities elect to exercise their rights under the Indenture and we contest such election, there could be no assurance as to how a court interpreting New York law would interpret the phrase “substantially all.”

The principal, premium (if any) and interest (if any) on Debt Securities not represented by a global security will be payable in New York Clearing House Funds at the office or agency of the paying agent or paying agents as we may designate from time to time, provided that, at our option,

interest may be paid by check mailed to the holders entitled thereto at their last addresses as they appear in the Debt Security Register. The Trustee is initially designated as our sole paying agent and the principal corporate trust office of Citibank, N.A., in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, is initially designated as the office where the Debt Securities may be presented for payment, for the registration of transfer and for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon us in respect of the Debt Securities or of the Indenture may be served. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, interest payments shall be made to the person in whose name any debt security is registered at the close of business on the record date with respect to an interest payment date. All moneys paid by us to a paying agent for the payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest on any Debt Security of any series which remain unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest shall have become due and payable will be repaid to us, and the holder of such Debt Security will thereafter look only to us for payment thereof.

The following are Events of Default under the Indenture with respect to a particular series of Debt Securities:


	(a) default in the payment of the principal or premium (if any) on any of the Debt Securities of such series when due and payable;

	(b) default in the payment of any installment of interest upon any of the Debt Securities of such series when due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;

	(c) default in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund payment or analogous obligation when due and payable;

	(d) failure to observe or perform any other of our covenants or agreements for a period of 90 days after written notice of such failure has been given as provided in the Indenture;

	(e) a default under any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness for money borrowed by us (including a default with respect to Debt Securities of any series other than that series) or under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any indebtedness for money borrowed by us (including the Indenture) whether such indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be created, which default shall constitute a failure to pay in excess of $50,000,000 principal amount of such indebtedness when due and payable after the expiration of any applicable grace period with respect thereto or shall have resulted in an excess of $50,000,000 of principal amount of such indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable, without such indebtedness having been discharged, or such acceleration having been rescinded or annulled, within a period of 10 days after there shall have been given, by registered or certified mail, to us by the Trustee or to us and the Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default and requiring us to cause such indebtedness to be discharged or cause such acceleration to be rescinded or annulled and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” thereunder; or

	(f) certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar occurrences.

The Indenture provides that if an event of default described in clause (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) shall have occurred and is continuing, and in each and every such case, unless the principal amount of all the Debt Securities of such series shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of all series affected thereby then outstanding, by notice in writing to us (and to the Trustee if given by securityholders) may declare the principal amount of all the Debt Securities (or, with respect to discount Debt Securities, as defined below, such lesser amount as may be specified in the terms of

such Debt Securities) affected thereby to be due and payable immediately, or, if an event of default described in clause (f) shall have occurred and is continuing, and unless the principal of all the Debt Securities of such series shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of all the Debt Securities then outstanding, by notice in writing to us (and to the Trustee if given by securityholders), may declare the principal of all the Debt Securities (or, with respect to discount Debt Securities, such lesser amount as may be specified in the terms of such Debt Securities) to be due and payable immediately. Upon certain conditions, such declarations may be annulled and certain past defaults may be waived by the holders of a majority of the principal amount of outstanding Debt Securities of such series. For information as to waiver of defaults, see “Meetings; Modification of the Indenture; Waiver.”

We will be required to furnish to the Trustee annually a statement as to our performance of certain of our obligations under the Indenture and as to any default in such performance.

Under the Indenture, the Trustee must give to the holders of each series of Debt Securities notice of all uncured defaults with respect to such series within 90 days after the occurrence of such a default; provided that, except in the case of default in the payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest on any of the Debt Securities, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if it in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the holders of the Debt Securities of such series.

The Indenture contains provisions permitting us and the Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than 66 2/3% in aggregate principal amount of all series of the Debt Securities to be affected at the time outstanding under the Indenture (voting as one class), to enter into indentures supplemental to or modifying the Indenture or the rights of the holders of such Debt Securities, except that no such modification shall (a) extend the fixed maturity, reduce the principal amount or redemption premium (if any) or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest on any Debt Security without the consent of the holder of each Debt Security so affected; or (b) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities, the consent of whose holders is required for any such modification, without the consent of the holders of all Debt Securities then outstanding.

Without the consent of any holders of Debt Securities, we and the Trustee may enter into one or more supplemental indentures (which shall conform to the effective provisions of the Trust Indenture Act) for any of the following purposes:


	•	to evidence the succession of another corporation to us, or successive successions and the assumption by the successor corporation of our covenants, agreements and obligations pursuant to Article Eleven of the Indenture;

	•	to add to our covenants for the protection of the holders of the Debt Securities and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence or continuance, of a default in any of such additions, an event of default permitting the enforcement of all remedies provided in the Indenture, with such period of grace, if any, and subject to such conditions as such supplemental indenture may provide;

	•	to provide for the issuance under the Indenture of Debt Securities, whether or not then outstanding, in coupon form (including Debt Securities registrable as to principal only) and to provide for exchangeability of such Debt Securities with Debt Securities issued under the Indenture in fully registered form and to make all appropriate changes for such purpose;

	•	to modify, eliminate or add to the provisions of the Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to effect the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, or under


		any similar federal statute hereafter enacted, and to add to the Indenture such other provisions as may be expressly permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, excluding, however, the provisions referred to in Section 316(a)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act or any corresponding provision in any similar federal statute hereafter enacted;

	•	to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge any property to or with the Trustee;

	•	to evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment hereunder of a successor trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of one or more series and to add or change any provisions of the Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts by more than one trustee;

	•	to change or eliminate any provision of the Indenture or to add any new provision to the Indenture; provided that if such change, elimination or addition will adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Debt Securities of any series in any material respect, such change, elimination or addition will become effective with respect to such series only when there is no debt security of such series remaining outstanding under the Indenture;

	•	to provide collateral security for the Debt Securities;

	•	to change any place where (1) the principal, premium (if any) and interest on Debt Securities of any series shall be payable; (2) any Debt Securities of any series may be surrendered for registration of transfer; (3) Debt Securities of any series may be surrendered for exchange; and (4) notices and demands to or upon us in respect of the Debt Securities of any series and the Indenture may be served; and

	•	to establish the form or terms of Debt Securities of any series as permitted by the Indenture.

The Trustee is authorized by the Indenture to join with us in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations which may be contained in any such supplemental indenture and to accept the conveyance, transfer, assignment, mortgage or pledge of any property under such supplemental indenture. The Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any such supplemental indenture which adversely affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Indenture or otherwise. No supplemental indenture shall be effective as against the Trustee unless and until it has been duly executed and delivered by the Trustee.

The Indenture contains provisions for convening meetings of the holders of Debt Securities of a series. A meeting may be called at any time by the Trustee, and also by us or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of any series if the Trustee fails to call the meeting upon our request or upon the request of such holders. Notice of every meeting of securityholders shall set forth the time and place in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed, and shall be mailed to all holders of Debt Securities of the applicable series as the names and addresses of such holders appear on the debt security register maintained by the Trustee.

Each holder of Debt Securities of a series with respect to which a meeting is being held (or such holder’s proxy) shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 outstanding principal amount of Debt Securities held (or represented) by the holder. The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of securityholders shall be by written ballot. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of all series affected thereby (voting as one class) may waive our compliance of covenants or conditions provided for in the Indenture. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of each series may, on behalf of the holders of all the Debt Securities of such series, waive any past default under the Indenture, except a default (1) in the payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest on any debt security of such series, or

The Indenture also provides that if we fail to make payment of principal, premium, interest, or any mandatory sinking fund requirements on the Debt Securities (and in the case of payment of interest or any mandatory sinking fund payment, such failure to pay shall have continued for 30 days) we will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the holders of the Debt Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on the Debt Securities for principal or premium (if any) and interest, with interest on the overdue principal and, to the extent payment of interest shall be legally enforceable, upon overdue installments of interest at the rate borne by the Debt Securities. The Indenture further provides that if we fail to pay such amount forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee may, among other things, institute a judicial proceeding for the collection thereof. However, the Indenture provides that notwithstanding any other provision of the Indenture, the holder of any Debt Security shall have the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment of principal and interest on such Debt Security on the respective stated maturities expressed in such Debt Security and that such right shall not be impaired without the consent of such holder. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the Debt Securities of each series then outstanding under the Indenture shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee; provided, that the holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity against expenses and liabilities.

We may satisfy and discharge our obligations under the Indenture if, at any time, (1) we shall have delivered to the Trustee for cancellation all Debt Securities of any series theretofore authenticated or (2) all such Debt Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and we shall deposit or cause to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds (a) an amount of money which will be sufficient, or (b) Government Obligations, the principal and interest on which when due, without any regard to reinvestment thereof, will provide monies which will be sufficient, or (c) a combination of (a) and (b) which will be sufficient, to pay at maturity or upon redemption all Debt Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal, premium (if any) and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or date fixed for redemption, as the case may be.

If the conditions of either (1) or (2) above are satisfied, we must also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable by us under the Indenture with respect to such series, and then the Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to the Debt Securities of such series, and the Trustee, on demand of and at our cost and expense, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging the Indenture with respect to the Debt Securities of such series. We agree to reimburse the Trustee for any costs or expenses thereafter reasonably and properly incurred by the Trustee in connection with the Indenture or the Debt Securities of such series.

In addition, under the Indenture we will be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the Debt Securities of any series (except in each case for certain obligations to register the transfer or exchange of Debt Securities, replace stolen, lost or mutilated Debt Securities, maintain paying agencies and hold moneys for payment in trust) if we deposit with the Trustee, in trust, money, Government Obligations, or a combination thereof, in an amount sufficient to pay all the principal (including any mandatory sinking fund payments) of, and interest on, Debt Securities of such series

on the dates such payments are due in accordance with the terms of such Debt Securities. Such defeasance and discharge will become effective after we have, among other things, delivered to the Trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the deposit and related defeasance would not cause the holders of the Debt Securities of such series to recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes, or a copy of a ruling or other formal statement or action to such effect received from or published by the United States Internal Revenue Service.

Any notice or demand required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the holders of Debt Securities to or on us may be given or served by postage prepaid first class mail addressed (until another address is filed by us with the Trustee) as follows: Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc., 1915 Rexford Road, Post Office Box 33068, Charlotte, North Carolina 28233, Attention: Robert O. Pritchard, Treasurer.

Any notice, direction, request or demand by any holder of the Debt Securities to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, if given or made in writing at the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York.

Any notice to be given to the holders of the Debt Securities will be given by mail to the addresses of such holders as they appear in the Debt Security Register.

We, the Trustee and any of our agents may deem the person in whose name such Debt Security shall be registered upon our books (which, in the case of Debt Securities represented by a global security, shall be the Depositary or its nominee) to be the absolute owner of such Debt Security (whether or not such Debt Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing thereon), for the purpose of receiving payment and for all other purposes.

In case any Debt Security shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, we, in the case of a mutilated Debt Security shall, and in the case of a lost, stolen or destroyed Debt Security may, in our discretion, provide a new Debt Security of the same series. The applicant for a substituted Debt Security shall furnish to us and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of us harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish evidence of the destruction, loss or theft of such Debt Security and of the ownership thereof. We may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, governmental charge or other charges that may be imposed in relation to the issuance of a substituted Debt Security and in addition a further sum not exceeding $2.00 for each Debt Security so issued in substitution.

The Indenture is and the Debt Securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

Subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to its duties, the Trustee will be under no obligation to expend or risk its own funds or to incur any personal financial liability in the performance of its duties under the Indenture, or to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture, if there are reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. Subject to such provisions, the

Our Articles of Incorporation authorize 100,000,000 shares of common stock without par value and 175,000 shares of preferred stock without par value. Our Board of Directors has the authority to establish one or more series of preferred stock with such terms and rights as it may determine. No shares of preferred stock are presently outstanding.

Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders. Under North Carolina law, the election of directors requires a plurality of the votes cast in the election. Shareholders do not have cumulative voting rights.

Our Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws contain certain provisions that could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control. These provisions include:


	•	Classified Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors is divided into three classes with staggered terms, which means that, as a general matter, only one-third of the Board must stand for re-election at any annual meeting of shareholders. The classification of directors could have the effect of making it more difficult for shareholders, including those holding a majority of the outstanding shares, to force an immediate change in the composition of our Board. Two shareholder meetings, instead of one, generally will be required to effect a change in the control of our Board. The provision for the classification of directors may be amended, altered, changed or repealed only upon the affirmative vote of 80% of the outstanding shares entitled to vote in the election of directors.

	•	Fixing and Changing Number of Directors. Our By-laws and Articles of Incorporation authorize the Board of Directors to fix the number of directors and provide that the number may be changed only by (a) the affirmative vote of 80% of the outstanding shares entitled to vote in the election of Directors or (b) a majority of the entire Board of Directors.

	•	Nominations to the Board. With certain exceptions, nominations to the Board must be made at least 60 days prior to the date of a meeting of shareholders.

	•	Removal of Directors. Directors may be removed for cause only by the affirmative vote of 80% of the outstanding shares entitled to vote in the election of directors.

	•	Fair Price Provisions. Our Articles of Incorporation require the affirmative vote of a super majority of the outstanding shares of voting stock to approve certain transactions such as actions in connection with any “Business Combination.” A Business Combination is defined to include any merger, consolidation, lease, sale or disposition of assets or certain other business transactions by us or our subsidiaries involving an “interested shareholder.” An interested shareholder is defined as any person who is or has announced an intention to become the beneficial owner of 10% or more of our voting stock (and certain defined affiliates) or an affiliate or associate of an interested shareholder and that, together with all such other arrangements, has an aggregate fair market value and/or involves aggregate commitments of $10,000,000 or more or more than 5% of our total assets or shareholders’ equity as reflected on our most recent fiscal year-end consolidated balance sheet. Our Articles of Incorporation require the affirmative vote of not less than 66 2/3% of our voting stock, voting together as a single class, excluding any voting stock held by an interested shareholder, with respect to all


		Business Combinations involving the interested shareholder unless (1) the transaction is approved by our Board of Directors prior to the date on which directors not affiliated with the interested shareholder and who were directors prior to the time the interested shareholder acquired such status (“Continuing Directors”) comprise less than a majority of our Board of Directors, and (2) if the Business Combination involves payment of consideration to shareholders, certain minimum price and disclosure requirements are satisfied as to all shareholders, and there has been no major change in our business or equity capital structure or any change or reduction in the payment of dividends since the date the interested shareholder acquired such status. To meet the minimum price criteria, the shareholders must receive consideration or retain value per share after the transaction that is not less than the highest price per share paid by the interested shareholder in the transaction or within two years preceding the announcement date of the transaction, or the fair market value per share of our common stock on the date the transaction is announced or the date on which the interested shareholder acquired such status, whichever is higher. The minimum price provisions must be met with respect to every class or series of our outstanding capital stock, whether or not the interested shareholder has previously acquired shares of any particular class or series. Our Articles of Incorporation require the same 66 2/3% shareholder approval to amend or repeal the foregoing provisions or to adopt any provision inconsistent with such provisions unless the change is proposed by the Board of Directors prior to the date on which Continuing Directors comprise less than a majority of the Board.

	•	Shareholder Rights Plan. Our shareholder rights plan generally provides the Board of Directors and shareholders the right to act to substantially dilute the share ownership position of any person who acquires 15% or more of our common stock. These provisions could discourage bids for the common stock at a premium and might adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

	•	Amendment to our By-Laws. Our By-Laws may be amended only by (a) the affirmative vote of 80% of the outstanding shares entitled to vote in the election of directors or by the Board of Directors or (b) a majority of the entire Board of Directors at a meeting at which a quorum is present.

	•	Opt out of North Carolina Anti-Takeover Statutes. Our Articles of Incorporation contain language to “opt out” of the provisions of two North Carolina anti-takeover statutes which, under the North Carolina Business Corporation Act, would otherwise apply to us. The first of these statutes, called the “North Carolina Shareholder Protection Act,” requires that any business combination (as defined therein) between a corporation and any 20% shareholder be approved by 95% of the corporation’s voting shares. Under the second statute, called the “North Carolina Control Share Acquisition Act,” control shares of a corporation that are acquired in a “control share acquisition” (as defined in the statute) have no voting rights unless such rights are granted by resolution adopted by a majority of the corporation’s shareholders, and in the event such voting rights were to be granted, all other shareholders would have the right to have their shares in the corporation redeemed at their fair value, subject to certain restrictions. Because application of these statutes to us would create material conflicts with existing provisions of our Articles of Incorporation regarding Business Combinations, our Articles of Incorporation include provisions stating that neither of these statutes will apply to us.

	•	Issuance of preferred stock. Our Articles of Incorporation allow our board of directors to authorize and issue preferred stock with designations and rights that the board may determine at its discretion. Our board of directors may be able to use this authority in a manner that could delay, defer or prevent a change in control.

Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends that may be declared from time to time by the Board of Directors subject to any preferences that may be applicable to any share of our preferred stock then outstanding. The note agreements under which our long-term debt in the form of senior notes was issued contain provisions that restrict the amount of cash dividends that may be paid on our common stock. Under the most restrictive of these provisions, we cannot pay or declare any dividends or make any other distribution on any class of stock or make any investments in subsidiaries or permit any subsidiary to do any of the above (all of the foregoing being “Restricted Payments”) except out of “Net Earnings Available for Restricted Payments.” “Net Earnings Available for Restricted Payments” is defined as the sum of (a) $50 million plus (b) net earnings (defined as consolidated gross revenues, including subsidiaries other than gas and oil subsidiaries, less charges, but not including gains from the sale, conversion of other disposition of capital assets, gains from the write-up of assets and equity in the un-remitted earnings of any corporation which is not a subsidiary) for the period commencing on January 1, 1991, plus (c) the aggregate cash dividends paid by oil and gas subsidiaries for the same period, plus (d) the net cash consideration received upon the sale subsequent to December 31, 1990, of additional stock of any class, plus (d) the amount by which any investment in subsidiaries of the character of loans, advances or guarantees has been repaid or eliminated subsequent to December 31, 1990, less the sum of (a) the amount of all dividends and other distributions and other Restricted Payments made, paid or declared on any of our stock after December 31, 1990, and (b) the aggregate amount expended, after December 31, 1990, for the redemption, purchase or other acquisition of our stock or the stock of any subsidiary. As of July 31, 2003, Net Earnings Available for Restricted Payments were $369.8 million. Retained earnings at this date were $278.4 million; therefore, none of our retained earnings were restricted from being paid out as a cash dividend.

In the event of liquidation, holders of common stock are entitled to all assets that remain after satisfaction of creditors and the liquidation preferences of any outstanding Preferred Stock, if any. Holders of common stock do not have preemptive rights to purchase additional shares of common stock or securities convertible into such shares. There are no redemption provisions on any shares of common stock. The outstanding shares of common stock are, and the additional shares offered hereby will be, fully paid and non-assessable.

The outstanding shares of common stock are, and the additional shares offered hereby will be, listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “PNY.”

The Transfer Agent and Registrar for the common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, 59 Maiden Lane, New York, New York 10038.

We may sell the securities offered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement as follows:


	•	to or through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters, or by underwriters without a syndicate, such underwriters to be designated at the time of sale; or

	•	through agents designated from time to time.

The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the terms of the offering of the securities, including the name or names of any underwriters or agents, the purchase price of such securities and the proceeds to us from such sales, any underwriting discounts, agency commissions and other items constituting underwriters’ or agents’ compensation, any initial public offering price, any discounts or concessions to be allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers and the securities exchanges, if any, on which such securities may be listed.

If underwriters are used in the sale, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own accounts and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions. These transactions may be at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Such securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate, all of which underwriters in either case will be designated in the prospectus supplement corresponding to such offering. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, under the terms of the underwriting agreement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase such securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of such securities if any are purchased. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

All Debt Securities will be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters to whom Debt Securities are sold by us for public offering and sale may make a market in such securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for any Debt Securities. We expect to offer a combination of Debt Securities and common stock in the first quarter of our fiscal 2004.

Underwriters and agents may be entitled under agreements entered into with us to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, or to contribution with respect to payments which the underwriters or agents may be required to make in respect thereof and to reimbursement by us for certain expenses. Underwriters and agents also may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform other services for us in the ordinary course of business.

The validity of the securities will be passed upon for us by Nelson, Mullins, Riley & Scarborough, LLP, Charlotte, North Carolina. Jerry W. Amos, a partner in that law firm and a director of the Company, beneficially owned 74,898 shares of our common stock as of October 24, 2003. Certain legal matters in connection with the issuance of the securities, including the validity of the Debt Securities under New York law, will be passed upon for any underwriters or agents by Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, New York, New York.

The consolidated financial statements of Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc., as of October 31, 2002 and 2001, and for each of the three years in the period ended October 31, 2002, and the related financial statement schedule incorporated in this prospectus by reference from Piedmont Natural Gas Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their report which is incorporated herein by reference, and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm, given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

The consolidated financial statements of North Carolina Natural Gas Corporation as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2002, included in this prospectus have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their report appearing herein (which expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph referring to the change in 2002 in the method of accounting for goodwill and an explanatory paragraph regarding the restatement of the financial statements described in Note 2), and have been so included in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.


(1)	See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements regarding the restatement of financial statements.


(1)	See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements regarding the restatement of financial statements.


(1)	See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements regarding the restatement of financial statements.


(1)	See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements regarding the restatement of financial statements.

North Carolina Natural Gas Corporation (NCNG or the Company) is a public service company primarily engaged in transporting and distributing natural gas in portions of North Carolina. NCNG is a wholly owned subsidiary of Progress Energy, Inc. (Progress Energy or PGN), which was formed as a result of the reorganization of Carolina Power & Light (CP&L) into a holding company structure on June 19, 2000. All shares of common stock of CP&L were exchanged for an equal number of shares of PGN. On July 1, 2000, CP&L distributed its ownership interest in the stock of NCNG to PGN. PGN is a registered holding company under the Public Utility Holding Company Act (PUCHA) of 1935. Both PGN and its subsidiaries are subject to the regulatory provisions of the PUCHA.

The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and include the activities of the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries, NCNG Pineneedle Investment Corporation, NCNG Cardinal Pipeline Investment Corporation, and Cape Fear Energy Corporation. Significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation except as permitted by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 71, “Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation,” which provides that profits on intercompany sales to regulated affiliates are not eliminated if the sales price is reasonable and the future recovery of the sales price through the rate making process is probable. The accounting records are maintained in accordance with uniform systems of accounts prescribed by the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC).

In preparing financial statements that conform with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, management must make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and amounts of revenues and expenses reflected during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The Company considers cash and cash equivalents to include unrestricted cash on hand, cash in banks, and temporary investments with a maturity of three months or less.

Utility plant in service is stated at historical cost less accumulated depreciation. The Company capitalizes all construction-related direct labor and material costs of units of property as well as indirect construction costs. The cost of renewals and betterments is also capitalized. Maintenance and repairs of property, and replacements and renewals of items determined to be less than units of property, are charged to maintenance expense as incurred. The cost of units of property replaced, renewed or retired, plus removal or disposal costs, less salvage, is charged to accumulated depreciation. Subsequent to the acquisition of NCNG by PGN, utility plant continues to be presented on a gross basis to reflect the treatment of such plant in cost-based regulation.

The balances of utility plant in service at December 31 are listed below with a range of depreciable lives for each:

The Company is engaged in a capital lease with Exxon for use of a six-inch pipeline in Wilmington, NC. The initial lease agreement was entered into during 1997 for a term of five years. The agreement contains an automatic renewal provision with an annual rent escalation factor of 2.65%. The agreement will continue in perpetuity after the conclusion of the initial term, unless notice of termination is provided no less than twenty-four months prior to the effective date of termination. The outstanding obligation under this lease for the next twenty-four months was $462 thousand and $435 thousand at December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

Allowance for funds used during construction (AFUDC) represents the estimated debt and equity costs of capital funds necessary to finance the construction of new regulated assets. As prescribed in the regulatory uniform systems of accounts, AFUDC is charged to the cost of the plant. The equity funds portion of AFUDC is credited to other income and the borrowed funds portion is credited to interest charges. Regulatory authorities consider AFUDC an appropriate charge for inclusion in the rates charged to customers by the utilities over the service life of the property. The total equity funds portion of AFUDC was $0.8 million, $2.1 million and $2.5 million in 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively. The total borrowed funds portion of AFUDC was $0.5 million, $1.2 million and $1.5 million in 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively. The composite AFUDC rate for NCNG’s gas utility plant was 10.09% in 2002, 2001 and 2000.

For financial reporting purposes, depreciation of utility plant is computed on the straight-line method based on the estimated remaining useful life of the property, adjusted for estimated net salvage. Depreciation provisions as a percent of average depreciable property were approximately 3.7% in 2002, 2001 and 2000. Depreciation provisions totaled $19.8 million, $17.2 million and $13.5 million in 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively.

Effective January 1, 2002 the Company adopted SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” and no longer amortizes goodwill. Prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 142, the Company amortized goodwill on a straight-line basis over a period not exceeding 40 years.

Diversified business property consists of land, which had a balance of $928 thousand and $923 thousand at December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

Inventory is carried at average cost. As of December 31, 2002 and 2001, inventory was comprised of:

The Company reviews the recoverability of long-lived and intangible assets whenever impairment indicators exist. Examples of these indicators include current period losses, combined with a history of losses or a projection of continuing losses, or a significant decrease in the market price of a long-lived asset group. If an indicator exists, then the asset group is tested for recoverability by comparing the carrying value to the sum of undiscounted expected future cash flows directly attributable to the asset group. If the asset group is not recoverable through undiscounted cash flows, then an impairment loss is recognized for the difference between the carrying value and the fair value of the asset group. The accounting for impairment of assets is based on SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” which was adopted by the Company effective January 1, 2002. Prior to the adoption of this standard, impairments were accounted for using SFAS No. 121, “Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed Of,” which was superceded by SFAS No. 144.

The Company’s regulated operations are subject to SFAS No. 71. SFAS No. 71 allows a regulated company to record costs that have been or are expected to be allowed in the ratemaking process in a period different from the period in which the costs would be charged to expense by a nonregulated enterprise. Accordingly, the Company records assets and liabilities that result from the regulated ratemaking process that would not be recorded under GAAP for nonregulated entities. These regulatory assets and liabilities represent expenses deferred for future recovery from customers or obligations to be refunded to customers and are primarily classified in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets as regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities (See Note 6A).

PGN and its affiliates file a consolidated federal income tax return. Federal income taxes are provided as if the Company filed a separate return. Amounts shown as income taxes payable are due to PGN. Deferred income taxes have been provided for temporary differences. These occur when there are differences between the book and tax carrying amounts of assets and liabilities. Investment

tax credits related to regulated operations have been deferred and are being amortized over the estimated service life of the related properties (See Note 8).

Effective January 1, 2001, the Company adopted SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” as amended by SFAS No. 138, “Accounting for Certain Derivative Instruments and Certain Hedging Activities — an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133”. SFAS No. 133, as amended, establishes accounting and reporting standards for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts, and for hedging activities. SFAS No. 133 requires that an entity recognize all derivatives as assets or liabilities in the balance sheet and measure those instruments at fair value.

The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, which totaled approximately $2.0 million at December 31, 2002 and 2001. The allowance is based on specific accounts identified as uncollectible and an estimate of the uncollectible amounts in the remaining balance based on the Company’s collection experience.

Any expenses or call premiums associated with the reacquisition of debt obligations are recorded as a regulatory asset and amortized over the remaining life using the straight-line method consistent with ratemaking treatment.

In the year ended December 31, 2002, the Company performed an analysis of its revenue recognition practices and changed the way it records revenues and cost of gas related to volumes delivered but not yet billed. Recording unbilled revenues implements the practice in use by most gas utilities. NCNG previously followed the practice of rendering customer bills on a cycle basis throughout each month and recording revenue at the time of billing. The Company deferred the cost of gas delivered but unbilled due to cycle billing and recognized the revenue and related cost of gas in the period in which it was billed. Recording unbilled revenues changes the timing of revenue recognition from the cycle-billing method to the accrual method based on when the service is provided. The effect on earnings for the year ended December 31, 2002 was an after-tax increase in earnings of approximately $2.1 million.

Cost of gas includes gas costs or recoveries that are deferred through purchased gas adjustment provisions established by the NCUC. The provisions allow NCNG to recover the costs of gas purchased for resale through customer rates.

The Company accrues environmental remediation liabilities when the criteria for SFAS No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies,” has been met. The Company defers environmental expenditures consistent with rate making treatment (See Note 6B). Accruals for estimated losses from

environmental remediation obligations generally are recognized no later than completion of the remedial feasibility study. Such accruals are adjusted as additional information develops or circumstances change. Costs of future expenditures for environmental remediation obligations are not discounted to their present value (See Note 11).

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, notes payable and accounts payable approximate their fair values due to the short-term maturities of these financial instruments.

The Company follows the guidance in SFAS No. 87, “Employers’ Accounting for Pensions,” to account for its defined benefit retirement obligations. In addition to pension benefits, the Company provides other postretirement benefits which are accounted for using SFAS No. 106 “Employers’ Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions.” See Note 10 for related disclosures for these plans.

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations,” in July 2001. This statement provides accounting and disclosure requirements for retirement obligations associated with long-lived assets and is effective January 1, 2003. This statement requires that the present value of retirement costs for which NCNG has a legal obligation be recorded as liabilities with an equivalent amount added to the asset cost and depreciated over an appropriate period. The liability is then accreted over time by applying an interest method of allocation to the liability. Cumulative accretion and accumulated depreciation will be recognized for the time period from the date the liability would have been recognized had the provisions of this statement been in effect, to the date of adoption of this Statement. The cumulative effect of implementing this Statement is to be recognized as a change in accounting principle. The adoption of this statement will have no impact on NCNG’s net income.

NCNG has previously recognized removal costs as a component of depreciation in accordance with regulatory treatment. To the extent these amounts do not represent SFAS No. 143 legal retirement obligations, they will be disclosed as regulatory liabilities upon adoption of the standard.

In April 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 145, “Rescission of FASB Statements No. 4, 44, and 64, Amendment of FASB Statement No. 13, and Technical Corrections.” This statement rescinds SFAS No. 4, “Reporting Gains and Losses from Extinguishment of Debt — an amendment of Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 3,” which required all gains and losses from the extinguishment of debt to be aggregated and, if material, classified as an extraordinary item, net of related income tax effect. As a result, the criteria set forth by APB Opinion 30 will now be used to classify those gains and losses. Any gain or loss on extinguishment will be recorded in the most appropriate line item to which it relates within net income before extraordinary items. For NCNG, any expenses or call premiums associated with the reacquisition of debt obligations are amortized over the remaining life of the original debt using the straight-line method consistent with ratemaking treatment. SFAS No. 145 also amends SFAS No. 13 to require that certain lease modifications that have economic effects similar to sale-leaseback transactions be accounted for in the same manner as sale-leaseback transactions. In addition, SFAS No. 145 amends other existing authoritative

pronouncements to make various technical corrections, clarify meanings or describe their applicability under changed conditions. For the provisions related to the rescission of SFAS No. 4, SFAS No. 145 is effective for NCNG beginning in fiscal year 2003. The remaining provisions of SFAS No. 145 were effective for NCNG in fiscal year 2002. Adoption of this statement will have no impact on NCNG’s results of operations or financial position.

In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation — Transition and Disclosure — an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 123,” and provided alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. In addition, this statement amends the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 123 to require prominent disclosures in both annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation and the effect of the method used on reported results. This statement requires that companies having a year-end after December 15, 2002 follow the prescribed format and provide the additional disclosures in their annual reports. NCNG applies the recognition and measurement principles of APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” as allowed by SFAS Nos. 123 and 148, and related interpretations in accounting for its stock-based compensation plans as described in Note 9.

The following table illustrates the effect on NCNG’s net income if NCNG had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123 to the stock option plan. NCNG did not record any stock option expense in 2002 or 2001. The stock option plan was not in effect in 2000.

In November 2002, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 45, “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others — an Interpretation of FASB Statements No. 5, 57 and 107 and Rescission of FASB Interpretation No. 34” (FIN No. 45). This interpretation clarifies the disclosures to be made by a guarantor in its interim and annual financial statements about obligations under certain guarantees that it has issued. It also clarifies that a guarantor is required to recognize, at the inception of certain guarantees, a liability for the fair value of the obligation undertaken in issuing the guarantee. The initial recognition and initial measurement provisions of this interpretation are applicable on a prospective basis to guarantees issued or modified after December 31, 2002. The disclosure requirements are effective for financial statements of interim or annual periods ending after December 15, 2002. NCNG is currently evaluating the effects, if any, that this interpretation will have on its results of operations and financial position.

In January 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities — an Interpretation of ARB No. 51” (FIN No. 46). This interpretation, which is effective January 1, 2004, provides guidance related to identifying variable interest entities (previously known as special purpose entities or SPEs) and determining whether such entities should be consolidated. Certain disclosures are required when FIN No. 46 becomes effective if it is reasonably possible that a company will consolidate or disclose information about a variable interest entity when it initially

applies FIN No. 46. NCNG is currently evaluating what effects, if any, this interpretation will have on its results of operations and financial position.

In June 2002, the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) reached consensus on a portion of Issue 02-03, “Accounting for Contracts Involved in Energy Trading and Risk Management Activities.” EITF Issue 02-03 is effective for financial statements issued for periods ending after July 15, 2002, and requires all gains and losses (realized or unrealized) on energy trading contracts to be shown on a net basis in the income statement. NCNG’s policy already required the gains and losses to be recorded on a net basis. NCNG does not recognize a dealer profit or unrealized gain or loss at the inception of a derivative unless the fair value of that instrument, in its entirety, is evidenced by quoted market prices or current market transactions.

Subsequent to the issuance of the Company’s 2002 consolidated financial statements, the Company determined it had not properly calculated its estimate of lost and unaccounted for gas volumes in 2002, 2001 and 2000. As a result, the Company understated the Cost of gas in 2001 and 2000 resulting in an overstatement of Deferred gas costs-unbilled volumes in 2001. Revenues and Cost of gas were overstated in 2002 resulting in an overstatement of Unbilled accounts receivable and an understatement of the Deferred gas costs liability.

The Company has restated the 2002, 2001 and 2000 consolidated financial statements from amounts previously reported to properly account for the actual lost and unaccounted for gas volumes.

On July 15, 1999, the Company was acquired by CP&L for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $364 million, including approximately $3.7 million of merger related costs. As a result of the merger, the former common shareholders of NCNG now own common shares of PGN. The merger was accounted for as a purchase of the Company’s net assets with approximately 8.3 million shares of CP&L Common Stock issued through the conversion of each outstanding NCNG share into .8054 of a share of CP&L Common Stock (fractional shares were paid in cash). Goodwill of approximately $240 million was recorded in connection with the purchase, which represented the excess of the purchase price over the Company’s net assets after fair value adjustments. Effective January 1, 2002, goodwill, which was being amortized on a straight-line basis over 40 years, is no longer subject to amortization over its estimated useful life (See Note 4).

On September 29, 2000, NCNG sold its propane business for $14.3 million. The sale resulted in a pretax gain of $2.4 million.

On October 16, 2002, PGN announced its intention to sell NCNG to Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc. for approximately $417.5 million in gross proceeds. The sale is expected to close by summer 2003 and must be approved by the NCUC and federal regulatory agencies.

Effective January 1, 2002, the Company adopted SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.” This statement clarifies the criteria for recording of other intangible assets separately from goodwill. Effective January 1, 2002, goodwill is no longer subject to amortization over

its estimated useful life. Instead, goodwill is subject to at least an annual assessment for impairment by applying a two-step fair-value based test.

In accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 142, the Company completed the transitional impairment test within six months of adoption, which resulted in a non-cash charge of approximately $52.3 million to reduce the carrying value of goodwill. The initial impairment of $52.3 million is reflected net of tax as a cumulative effect of an accounting change in the consolidated statement of income. In addition, the Company performed the annual impairment test in the third quarter 2002, and recognized an additional goodwill impairment of $126.3 million based on the expected proceeds from the sale of NCNG (See Note 3), which is shown as goodwill impairment on the consolidated statement of income.

A reconciliation of net income as if SFAS No. 142 had been adopted is presented below for years ending December 31.

NCNG participates in an internal money pool, operated by the parent company, PGN, to more effectively utilize cash resources and to reduce outside short-term borrowings. Short-term borrowing needs are met first by available funds of the money pool participants. Borrowing companies pay interest at a rate designed to approximate the cost of outside short-term borrowings. Subsidiaries of PGN, which invest in the money pool, earn interest on a basis proportionate to their average monthly investment. The interest rate used to calculate earnings approximates external interest rates. The weighted-average interest rates associated with such money pool balances were 2.18% and 4.47% at December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively. Funds may be withdrawn from or repaid to the pool at any time without prior notice. At December 31, 2002 and 2001, NCNG had $8.0 million and $3.9 million, respectively, payable to the money pool, which is included in accounts payable to affiliated companies on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company recorded interest income on money pool lending totaling $0.2 million during 2002 and interest expense on money pool borrowings totaling $0.1 million, $1.9 million and $0.4 million during 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively. In December 2001, PGN converted $50 million in money pool debt to an equity investment in NCNG.

During the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, gas sales from NCNG to CP&L and Florida Power Corporation (an affiliated company) totaled $19.5 million, $18.8 million and $5.9 million, respectively.

During 2000, PGN formed Progress Energy Service Company, LLC (PESC) to provide specialized services, at cost, to PGN and its subsidiaries, as approved by the SEC. NCNG has an agreement with PESC under which services, including purchasing, accounting, treasury, tax, marketing, legal and human resources are rendered to NCNG at cost. Amounts billed to NCNG by PESC for these services during 2002 and 2001 totaled $16.3 million and $15.1 million, respectively. NCNG was not billed for these services in 2000 because an amount was not determinable.

At December 31, 2002 and 2001, NCNG had payables of $14.6 million and $30.5 million, respectively, to PGN and its subsidiaries that are included in accounts payable to affiliated companies on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Receivables from PGN and its subsidiaries totaled $3.6 million and $3.7 million in 2002 and 2001, respectively. These receivables are included in accounts receivable from affiliated companies on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

On December 15, 2001, NCNG restructured its $150.0 million line of credit with PGN to a term note with a fixed interest rate. At December 31, 2002 and 2001, there was $150.0 million outstanding under this facility at an interest rate of 6.425%.

As a regulated entity, NCNG is subject to the provisions of SFAS No. 71, “Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation.” Accordingly, NCNG records certain assets and liabilities resulting from the effects of the ratemaking process, which would not be recorded under generally accepted accounting principles for unregulated entities.

At December 31, 2002 and 2001, the balances of the Company’s regulatory assets (liabilities) were as follows:

The Company monitors the regulatory and competitive environment in which it operates to determine that regulatory assets continue to be probable of recovery. At some point in the future, if it is determined that all or a portion of these regulatory assets no longer meet the criteria for continued application of SFAS No. 71, then the Company would be required to write-off that portion which it could not recover, net of any regulatory liabilities which would be deemed no longer necessary.

On October 27, 1995, the NCUC issued its Order granting a general rate increase amounting to approximately $4.2 million in annual revenues effective November 1, 1995. The Order provided for a rate of return on net investment of 10.09% but, pursuant to the Stipulation of Settlement, did not state separately the rate of return on common equity or the capital structure used to calculate revenue requirements. The Order provided for significant rate design changes by increasing residential and commercial rates while reducing industrial sales and transportation rates to recognize, among other things, the differences in costs of servicing the various customer classes. The Order also established several new rate schedules, including an economic development rate to assist in attracting new industry to the Company’s service area and a rate to provide standby, on-peak gas supply service to industrial and other customers whose gas service would otherwise be interrupted. In conjunction with

the acquisition by CP&L, NCNG signed a stipulation agreement with the Public Staff of the NCUC in which the Company agreed to cap margin rates for gas sales and transportation service, with limited exceptions, through November 1, 2003. Management is of the opinion that this agreement will not impair the Company’s ability to recover prudent costs through rates and will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.

As part of the October 27, 1995, Rate Order, the NCUC approved continued use of the Weather Normalization Adjustment (WNA) for the space-heating market, originally approved in the December 6, 1991 Rate Order. The WNA stabilizes the Company’s winter revenues and customers’ bills by adjusting rates when weather deviates from normal. The non-gas component of rates for space heating customers is adjusted upward when weather is warmer than normal and downward when weather is colder than normal. The WNA increased net billings to customers by $2.4 million, $1.6 million and $0.9 million for 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively.

Also as a part of the October 27, 1995 Rate Order, the NCUC approved establishment of the Price Sensitive Volume Adjustment (PSVA). The PSVA protects the Company against loss of load from eight large, fuel-switchable customers using heavy fuel oil as an alternative fuel, while providing that all actual margins earned on deliveries of gas to such customers should be flowed through to all other customers. This mechanism was modified as part of the rate rebalancing agreement described below to reflect a sharing of the margin earned between the Company and its customers.

The Company defers reasonable costs in connection with the investigation and remediation of former manufactured gas plant (MGP) sites. As a part of the October 27, 1995 Rate Order, the NCUC approved the accounting for and recovery in rates of costs associated with environmental assessments and remediation of a former MGP in Kinston, North Carolina. The NCUC found that NCNG acted in a reasonable and prudent manner, and, accordingly, approved the Company’s proposal to recover an annualized amount of MGP costs based on amounts expended, net of recoveries from third parties.

In February 2002, NCNG filed a general rate case with the NCUC requesting an annual rate increase of $47.6 million. On May 3, 2002, NCNG withdrew the application, based upon the NCUC Public Staff’s and other parties’ interpretation of the order approving the merger of CP&L and NCNG that such a case was not permitted until 2003. On May 16, 2002, NCNG filed a request to increase its margin rates and rebalance its rates with the NCUC, requesting an annual rate increase of $4.1 million to recover costs associated with specific system improvements. On September 23, 2002, the NCUC issued its order approving the $4.1 million rate increase. The rate increase was effective October 1, 2002.

In February 1993, the NCUC issued its Order establishing an Expansion Fund (Fund) for the Company to be funded initially by refunds the Company had received from its pipeline suppliers. The Fund provides financing for the extension of natural gas service into areas that otherwise would not be economically feasible to serve. These refunds, along with interest thereon, are periodically remitted to the NCUC. The balance not yet remitted was $5.6 million and $1.1 million at December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

In April 1998, the Company filed an application with the NCUC to extend its pipeline 38 miles to provide natural gas service to Bertie and Martin Counties using the Fund. In July 1998, the Company filed an amendment to extend this project an additional six miles to Robersonville in Martin County. The amended main extension project would run approximately 44 miles from

Ahoskie to Robersonville and cost $12.6 million. The negative net present value of the project requested from the Fund was $7.5 million. Hearings were held in September 1998 and a Commission Order was issued in November 1998 approving $7.5 million from the Fund. On July 1, 1999, the Company filed a petition for additional funding of $2.8 million due to the closing of an industrial plant. The NCUC issued an order in October 1999 approving an additional $2.8 million from the Fund. This line was completed in December 2000 at a total cost of $12.2 million.

In August 2000, the Company filed an application with the NCUC to extend its pipelines approximately 12.8 miles to provide natural gas service to Tabor City in Columbus County. The negative net present value of the project requested from the Fund was $3.4 million. Hearings were held in January and February 2001 and a Commission Order was issued in March 2001 approving $3.4 million from the Expansion Fund. This line was completed in the spring of 2002. NCNG filed for and received a reimbursement of $3.1 million in October 2002 and received the balance of $0.3 million in February 2003.

The NCUC’s annual review of the Company’s gas costs for the 12 months ended October 31, 2001 was held in April 2002. The NCUC issued an order on July 2, 2002 approving NCNG’s gas costs and gas purchasing practices for the review period. NCNG requested purchased gas adjustments three times in 2002 for total net increases of $20.1 million, six times in 2001 for net decreases of $56.2 million and five times in 2000 for net increases of $86.5 million.

Both of the Company’s interstate pipeline suppliers, Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation (Transco) and Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation (Columbia), have ongoing rate and certificate matters under jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Transco implemented new rates in September 2002 reflecting the settlement of most issues in their general rate case with the remaining issues going to hearing with a resolution expected in 2003. The Company does not expect that any regulatory decisions or court orders will have a material impact on its consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows because all prudently incurred gas costs, including interstate pipeline capacity and storage service costs, are eligible for immediate recovery from the Company’s customers, and refunds from interstate pipelines must be transferred to the Expansion Fund or refunded directly to the Company’s customers.

The Company may enter into certain forward and option contracts involving physical delivery of gas that reduce exposure to market fluctuations relative to the price and delivery of gas. No such contracts were designated as hedges for accounting purposes in 2002, 2001 and 2000. The gains and/or losses on such contracts were not material during 2002, 2001 and 2000. Also, the Company did not have a material outstanding position in such contracts at December 31, 2002 and 2001.

Deferred income taxes are provided for temporary differences between book and tax basis of assets and liabilities. Investment tax credits related to regulated operations are amortized over the service life of the related property. A regulatory asset or liability has been recognized for the impact of tax expenses or benefits that are recovered or refunded in different periods by the utilities pursuant to rate orders.

Reconciliations of the Company’s effective income tax rate to the statutory federal income tax rate are:

The provisions for income tax expense before cumulative effect of accounting charge are comprised of:

NCNG accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with the provisions of APB Opinion No. 25, as allowed by SFAS Nos. 123 and 148.

Progress Energy sponsors the Progress Energy 401(k) Savings and Stock Ownership Plan (401(k)) for which substantially all full-time non-bargaining unit employees and certain part-time non-bargaining employees within participating subsidiaries are eligible. NCNG participates in the 401(k). The 401(k), which has matching and incentive goal features, encourages systematic savings by employees and provides a method of acquiring Progress Energy common stock and other diverse investments. The 401(k), as amended in 1989, is an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) that can enter into acquisition loans to acquire Progress Energy common stock to satisfy 401(k) common share needs. Qualification as an ESOP did not change the level of benefits received by employees under the 401(k). Common stock acquired with the proceeds of an ESOP loan is held by the 401(k) Trustee in a suspense account. The common stock is released from the suspense account and made available for allocation to participants as the ESOP loan is repaid. Such allocations are used to partially meet common stock needs related to Progress Energy matching and incentive contributions and/or reinvested dividends.

There were 4,616,400 and 5,199,388 ESOP suspense shares at December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively, with a fair value of $200.1 million and $234.1 million, respectively. NCNG’s matching and incentive goal compensation cost under the 401(k) is determined based on matching percentages and incentive goal attainment as defined in the plan. Such compensation cost is allocated to participants’ accounts in the form of Progress Energy common stock, with the number of shares determined by dividing compensation cost by the common stock market value at the time of allocation. The 401(k) common stock share needs are met with open market purchases and with shares released from the ESOP suspense account. NCNG’s matching and incentive cost met with shares released from the suspense account totaled approximately $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2002 and $0.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively.

Pursuant to Progress Energy’s 1997 Equity Incentive Plan, Amended and Restated as of September 26, 2001, Progress Energy may grant options to purchase shares of common stock to officers and eligible employees. During 2002 and 2001, respectively, approximately 2.9 million and 2.4 million common stock options were granted to officers and eligible employees of Progress Energy. Of this amount, approximately 43,220 and 33,100 were granted to officers and eligible employees of NCNG, respectively. No compensation expense was recognized under the provisions of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees and Related Interpretations.” There were 39,220 and 29,220 stock options outstanding to employees of NCNG as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

Progress Energy has additional compensation plans for officers and key employees that are stock-based in whole or in part. NCNG participates in these plans. The two primary active stock-based compensation programs are the Performance Share Sub-Plan (PSSP) and the Restricted Stock

Awards program (RSA), both of which were established pursuant to Progress Energy’s 1997 Equity Incentive Plan.

Under the terms of the PSSP, officers and key employees are granted performance shares on an annual basis that vest over a consecutive three-year period. Each performance share has a value that is equal to, and changes with, the value of a share of Progress Energy’s common stock, and dividend equivalents are accrued on, and reinvested in, the performance shares. The PSSP has two equally weighted performance measures, both of which are based on Progress Energy’s results as compared to a peer group of utilities. Compensation expense is recognized over the vesting period based on the expected ultimate cash payout. Compensation expense is reduced by any forfeitures.

The RSA allows Progress Energy to grant shares of restricted common stock to key employees. The restricted shares vest on a graded vesting schedule over a minimum of three years. There were 6,800 shares of restricted stock outstanding for key employees of NCNG at December 31, 2002 and 2001.

Compensation expense, which is based on the fair value of common stock at the grant date, is recognized over the applicable vesting period and is reduced by forfeitures. NCNG is allocated expense from Progress Energy based on the restricted shares outstanding for NCNG employees. The total amount for NCNG’s other stock based compensation plans was $0.1 million during 2002 and 2001, respectively and $0.2 million during 2000.

The Company has a noncontributory defined benefit retirement (pension) plan for substantially all full-time employees. The Company also has a supplementary defined benefit pension plan that provides benefits to higher level employees. No additional benefits are being earned under the supplementary plan.

The weighted-average discount rate used to measure the pension obligation was 6.6% in 2002 and 7.5% in 2001, respectively. The weighted-average rate of increase in future compensation used to measure the pension obligation was 4.0% in 2002, 2001 and 2000. The expected long-term rate of return on pension plan assets used in determining the net periodic pension benefit was 9.25% in 2002, 2001 and 2000.

the pension obligation or the market-related value of assets are amortized over the average remaining service period of active participants.

Reconciliations of the changes in the plans’ benefit obligations and the plans’ funded status is:

The accrued pension cost of $8.9 million at December 31, 2002 is included in other liabilities and deferred credits in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. The net prepaid pension cost of $0.5 million at December 31, 2001 is recognized in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets as prepaid pension cost of $2.0 million, which is included in other assets and deferred debits, and accrued benefit cost of $1.5 million, which is included in other liabilities and deferred credits. The defined benefit plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets had projected benefit obligations totaling $36.5 million and $1.5 million at December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively. Those plans had accumulated benefit obligations totaling $31.2 million and $1.5 million, respectively, plan assets totaling $22.3 million at December 31, 2002, and no plan assets at December 31, 2001.

Due to a combination of decreases in the fair value of plan assets and a decrease in the discount rate used to measure the pension obligation, a minimum pension liability adjustment of $9.7 million was recorded at December 31, 2002. This adjustment resulted in an after tax charge of $5.9 million to accumulated other comprehensive loss, a component of common stock equity.

In addition to pension benefits, the Company provides contributory other postretirement benefits (OPEB), including certain health care and life insurance benefits, for retired employees who meet specified criteria.

Prior service costs and benefits are amortized on a straight-line basis over the average remaining service period of active participants. Actuarial gains and losses in excess of 10.0% of the greater of the OPEB obligation or the market-related value of assets are amortized over the average remaining service period of active participants.

Reconciliations of the changes in the plan’s benefit obligations and the plan’s funded status are:

The assumed health care cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported for the health care plans. A one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have had the following effects for the year ended 2002:

NCNG is subject to federal, state and local regulations addressing air and water quality, hazardous and solid waste management and other environmental matters.

Various organic materials associated with the production of manufactured gas, generally referred to as coal tar, are regulated under federal and state laws. There are five former manufactured gas plant (MGP) sites to which the Company, with other potentially responsible parties, is participating in investigating and, if necessary, remediating with several regulatory agencies, including, but not limited to, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Waste Management.

As of December 31, 2002 and 2001, NCNG has accrued approximately $2.8 million and $2.7 million, respectively for remediation costs at these sites. These accruals have been recorded on an undiscounted basis. NCNG measures its liability for these sites based on available evidence including its experience in investigation and remediation of contaminated sites, which also involves assessing and developing cost-sharing arrangements with other potentially responsible parties. NCNG will accrue costs for the sites to the extent its liability is probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated. NCNG does not believe it can provide an estimate of the reasonably possible total remediation costs beyond the accrual because two of the five sites associated with NCNG have not begun investigation activities. Therefore, NCNG cannot currently determine the total costs that may be incurred in connection with the investigation and/or remediation of all sites. The Company cannot predict the outcome of these matters.

NCNG is periodically notified by regulators such as the EPA and various state agencies of their involvement or potential involvement in sites, other than MGP sites, that may require investigation and/or remediation. The Company cannot predict the outcome of these matters.

NCNG has filed claims with the Company’s general liability insurance carriers to recover costs arising out of actual or potential environmental liabilities. The Company cannot predict the outcome of pending matters.

NCNG is engaged in various long-term agreements involving operating leases for office space. Rental expenses on these leases totaled $0.3 million during 2002, 2001 and 2000. Estimated annual payments for these lease agreements are approximately $0.3 million for 2003 through 2007.

The Company is involved in various litigation matters in the ordinary course of business. Where appropriate, accruals have been made in accordance with SFAS No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies,” to provide for such matters. In the opinion of management, the final disposition of pending litigation would not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

In March 2003, the Company filed a request with the NCUC, seeking a $46.9 million increase in natural gas service rates for its customers to be effective November 1, 2003. NCNG is seeking a return on its utility infrastructure investments and the recovery of increased operation costs. In September 2003, the Company reached an agreement in principle with the Public Staff of the NCUC and other interested parties to increase rates. The Company expects the NCUC to issue an Order in this proceeding in October 2003. The Company cannot predict the outcome of this matter.

On September 30, 2003, Progress Energy closed the sale of NCNG to Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc. for net proceeds of approximately $443 million.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of North Carolina Natural Gas Corporation and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the related consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, changes in capitalization and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2002. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of North Carolina Natural Gas Corporation and its subsidiaries at December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2002, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

As discussed in Note 4 to the financial statements, in 2002 the Company changed its method of accounting for goodwill to conform to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142.

As discussed in Note 2 to the financial statements, the accompanying financial statements have been restated.


(1)	See Note 2 to the Consolidated Interim Financial Statements regarding the restatement of the financial statements.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. Because the accompanying consolidated interim financial statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP, they should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements for the period ended December 31, 2002 and notes thereto.

The amounts included in the consolidated interim financial statements are unaudited but, in the opinion of management, reflect all normal recurring adjustments necessary to fairly present the Company’s financial position and results of operations for the interim periods. Due to seasonal weather, the results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of amounts expected for the entire year or future periods.

In preparing financial statements that conform with GAAP, management must make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and amounts of revenues and expenses reflected during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Certain amounts for 2002 have been reclassified to conform to the 2003 presentation.

In accordance with an Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) order under PUHCA, effective in the second quarter of 2002, tax benefits not related to acquisition interest expense that were previously held allocated at PGN must be allocated to PGN’s profitable subsidiaries. For the six months ended June 2002, the reallocation decreased income tax expense by approximately $1.5 million. For the six months ended June 2003, there was no impact on income tax expense.

Subsequent to the issuance of the Company’s 2002 consolidated financial statements, the Company determined it had not properly accounted for the difference between its estimated lost and unaccounted for gas volumes to the actual volumes in 2002 and prior periods. At December 31, 2002, Unbilled accounts receivable and Retained earnings were overstated and the Deferred gas costs liability was understated.

The Company has restated the 2002 balance sheet from amounts previously reported to properly account for the actual lost and unaccounted for gas volumes.

The depreciation rates are comprised of two components, one based on average service life and one based on cost of removal. The regulatory commission approves these depreciation rates. NCNG accrues estimated costs of removal of long-lived assets through depreciation expense, with a corresponding credit to accumulated depreciation. Because these estimated removal costs meet the requirements of Statement 71, these accumulated costs are not classified as liabilities rather these removal costs are included as a component of depreciation in accordance with this regulatory treatment. As of June 30, 2003, the portion of such costs not representing asset retirement obligations under SFAS No. 143 were $39.2 million. This amount is included in accumulated depreciation on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The FASB issued SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” in December 2002. The Company measures compensation expense for stock options as the difference between the market price of its common stock and the exercise price of the option at the grant date. Accordingly, no compensation expense has been recognized for stock option grants.

For purposes of the pro forma disclosures required by SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation — Transition and Disclosure — an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 123,” the estimated fair value of the Company’s stock options is amortized to expense over the options’ vesting period. The Company’s pro forma information related to the impact on earnings assuming stock options were expensed for the six months ended June 30 2003 and 2002 is as follows:

In April 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 149, “Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” The statement amends and clarifies SFAS No. 133 on accounting for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts, and for hedging activities. The new guidance incorporates decisions made as part of the Derivatives Implementation Group (DIG) process, as well as decisions regarding implementation issues raised in relation to the application of the definition of a derivative. SFAS No. 149 is generally effective for contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003. The Company is currently evaluating what effects, if any, this statement will have on its results of operations and financial position.

In January 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities — an Interpretation of ARB No. 51” (FIN No. 46). This interpretation provides guidance related to identifying variable interest entities (previously known as special purpose entities or SPEs) and determining whether such entities should be consolidated. Certain disclosures are required if it is reasonably possible that a company will consolidate or disclose information about a variable interest entity when it initially applies FIN No. 46. This interpretation must be applied immediately to variable interest entities created or obtained after January 31, 2003. During the first six months of 2003, NCNG did not participate in the creation of, or obtain a new variable interest in, any variable interest entity. For those variable interest entities created or obtained on or before January 31, 2003, NCNG must apply the provisions of FIN No. 46 in the fourth quarter of 2003. NCNG is currently evaluating what effects, if any, this interpretation will have on its results of operations and financial position. NCNG is in the final stages of completing the adoption of FIN No. 46, but does not expect the results to have a material impact on its consolidated financial position, results of operation or liquidity.

In May 2003, the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) reached a consensus in EITF Issue No. 03-04 to specifically address the accounting for certain cash balance pension plans. The consensus reached in EITF Issue No. 03-04 requires certain cash balance pension plans to be accounted for as defined benefit plans. For cash balance plans described in the consensus, the consensus also requires the benefit obligation and annual cost of benefits earned as opposed to the projected unit credit method. NCNG has historically accounted for its cash balance plans as defined benefit plans; however, NCNG is required to adopt the measurement provisions of EITF 03-04 at its cash balance plans’ next measurement date of December 31, 2003. Any differences in the measurement of the obligations as a result of applying the consensus will be reported as a component

of actuarial gain or loss. NCNG is currently evaluating what effects EITF 03-04 will have on its results of operations and financial position.

NCNG is subject to federal, state and local regulations addressing air and water quality, hazardous and solid waste management and other environmental matters.

As of June 30, 2003, NCNG has accrued approximately $2.3 million for remediation costs at these sites. These accruals have been recorded on an undiscounted basis. NCNG measures its liability for these sites based on available evidence including its experience in investigation and remediation of contaminated sites, which also involves assessing and developing cost-sharing arrangements with other potentially responsible parties. NCNG will accrue costs for the sites to the extent its liability is probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated. NCNG does not believe it can provide an estimate of the reasonably possible total remediation costs beyond the accrual because two of the five sites associated with NCNG have not begun investigation activities. Therefore, NCNG cannot currently determine the total costs that may be incurred in connection with the investigation and/or remediation of all sites. The Company cannot predict the outcome of these matters.

NCNG is engaged in various long-term agreements involving operating leases for office space. Rental expenses on these leases totaled $150 thousand during the six-month periods ending June 30, 2003 and 2002. Estimated annual payments for these lease agreements are approximately $0.3 million for 2003 through 2007.

September 2003, the Company reached an agreement in principle with the Public Staff of the NCUC and other interested parties to increase rates. The Company expects the NCUC to issue an Order in this proceeding in October 2003. The Company cannot predict the outcome of this matter.

On September 30, 2003, PGN closed the sale of NCNG to Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc. for net proceeds of approximately $443 million.


	Per Share	Total

Public offering price	$	$
Underwriting discount	$	$
Proceeds, to us, before expenses	$	$


Prospectus Supplement
Prospectus Supplement Summary			S-1
Risk Factors			S-3
Forward-Looking Statements			S-3
About this Prospectus Supplement			S-3
Our Company			S-3
Use of Proceeds			S-4
Market Price of Common Stock and Dividends			S-5
Description of Common Stock			S-5
Capitalization and Short-Term Debt			S-6
Material United States Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders of Common Stock			S-6
Underwriting			S-9
Legal Matters			S-10
Experts			S-10
Prospectus
Prospectus Summary			2
Risk Factors			4
About this Prospectus			8
Where You Can Find More Information			8
Forward-Looking Statements			9
The Company			12
Use of Proceeds			14
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges			14
Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Information			15
Selected Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed Consolidated Financial Data			17
Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements			18
Securities We May Issue			25
Prospectus Supplements			25
Description of Debt Securities			25
Description of Common Stock			38
Plan of Distribution			40
Legal Opinions			41
Experts			41
Audited Financial Statements of North Carolina Natural Gas Corporation (As Restated)			A-1
Interim Unaudited Financial Statements of North Carolina Natural Gas Corporation			B-1


						Cash Dividends
		High		Low		Paid

Quarter Ended
	January 31, 2004 (through January , 2004)	$		$		$
	October 31, 2003	$	40.00	$	37.23	$	0.415
	July 31, 2003	$	41.50	$	36.53	$	0.415
	April 30, 2003	$	37.65	$	33.22	$	0.415
	January 31, 2003	$	36.87	$	32.76	$	0.40
Quarter Ended
	October 31, 2002	$	37.21	$	31.55	$	0.40
	July 31, 2002	$	38.00	$	27.35	$	0.40
	April 30, 2002	$	37.95	$	31.79	$	0.40
	January 31, 2002	$	36.60	$	30.55	$	0.385
Quarter Ended
	October 31, 2001	$	35.10	$	29.19	$	0.385



				As of October 31, 2003

				Actual			As Adjusted


				(In thousands)
Capitalization:
	Common stock equity:
		Common stock		$	372,651				(a)
		Retained earnings			259,476
		Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(1,932	)

			Total common stock equity		630,195
		Long-term debt			460,000			660,000	(b)

			Total capitalization	$	1,090,195

Short-Term Debt:
	Current portion of long-term debt			$	2,000			2,000
	Notes payable				109,500
	Commercial Paper				445,559				(c)

			Total short-term debt	$	557,059


	Number
Underwriter	of Shares

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc.
BB&T Capital Markets, a division of Scott & Stringfellow, Inc.
Davenport & Company LLC
Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P.
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC

Total		4,250,000


*	The number of shares of common stock offered does not include 637,500 shares of common stock that the underwriters have an option to purchase from us within 30 days of the date of this prospectus supplement.


(a)		Adjusted to reflect the sale of the shares offered hereby at a public offering price set forth on the cover page hereof, after deducting the underwriting discount and commissions and estimated offering expenses, (without giving effect to the exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option).

(b)		Adjusted to reflect the sale of $200 million of medium-term notes on December 19, 2003.

(c)		Adjusted to reflect the use of the net proceeds of $ million from the sale of the shares offered hereby and $198.3 million from the sale of the medium-term notes.



		Nine Months Ended
		July 31				Years Ended October 31

		2003		2002		2002		2001		2000


		(In thousands except per share amounts)
Income Statement Data
Margin (Utility Operating Revenues less Cost of Gas)		$	321,008	$	289,632	$	335,794	$	337,978	$	318,331
Utility Operating Revenues			1,041,397		710,550		832,028		1,107,856		830,377
Net Income			79,319		74,038		62,217		65,485		64,031
Cash Dividends Per Share of Common Stock		$	1.23	$	1.185	$	1.585	$	1.52	$	1.44
Earnings Per Share of Common Stock:
	Basic	$	2.38	$	2.26	$	1.90	$	2.03	$	2.03
	Diluted	$	2.37	$	2.25	$	1.89	$	2.02	$	2.01



			At October 31

	At July 31, 2003		2002		2001


	(In thousands)
Balance Sheet Data
Total Assets	$	1,510,807	$	1,445,088	$	1,393,658
Long-Term Debt		460,000		462,000		509,000
Stockholders’ Equity		645,144		589,596		560,379



	Six Months Ended					Years Ended December 31
	June 30
						2002			2001		2000
	2003		2002			(As Restated)			(As Restated)		(As Restated)


	(In thousands)
Income Statement Data
Operating Revenues	$	217,340	$	151,024		$	313,988		$	318,808	$	345,598
Income (Loss) Before Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change		3,398		7,389			(119,653	)(1)		2,326		8,151
Net Income (Loss)		3,398		(44,905	)(2)		(171,947	)(1)(2)		2,326		8,151



					At December 31
	At June 30
					2002		2001
	2003		2002		(As Restated)		(As Restated)


	(In thousands)
Balance Sheet Data
Total Assets	$	515,853	$	624,606	$	527,392	$	692,537
Long-Term Debt		—		—		—		—
Stockholder’s Equity		249,934		379,433		246,523		424,325


	Nine Months Ended		Year Ended
	July 31, 2003		October 31, 2002


	(In thousands)
Income Statement Data
Margin	$	393,645	$	422,922
Operating Revenues		1,361,449		1,145,958
Income from Continuing Operations		84,155		66,154


					NCNG
			Piedmont		Year Ended
			Year Ended		December 31, 2002
			October 31, 2002		(As Restated)			Pro Forma			Pro Forma
			(Historical)		(Historical)			Adjustments			Combined


			(In thousands except per share amounts)
Operating Revenues			$	832,028	$	313,988		$	(58	)A	$	1,145,958
Cost of Gas				496,234		226,802						723,036

Margin				335,794		87,186			(58	)		422,922

Other Operating Expenses:
	Operations and maintenance expenses			133,427		45,247						178,674
	Goodwill impairment					126,277			(126,277	)J
	Depreciation			57,593		19,836						77,429
	General taxes			23,863		4,303						28,166
	Diversified business expenses					1			(1	)A
	Income taxes			30,784					2,305	A		31,322
									3,806	I
									(5,573	)K

		Total other operating expenses		245,667		195,664			(125,740	)		315,591

Operating Income (Loss)				90,127		(108,478	)		125,682			107,331
Other Income (Expense), net of tax				12,694		2,266			57	A		14,758
									(23	)A
									(236	)A
Utility Interest Charges				40,604		10,877			14,092	F		55,935
									(9,638	)I
Income Taxes						2,564			(23	)A
									(236	)A
									(2,305	)A

Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations			$	62,217	$	(119,653	)	$	123,590		$	66,154

Average shares of Common Stock:
	Basic			32,763					5,714			38,477
	Diluted			32,937					5,714			38,651
Earnings per Share of Common Stock:
	Basic		$	1.90							$	1.72
	Diluted		$	1.89							$	1.71


			Piedmont
			Nine Months		NCNG
			Ended		Nine Months Ended
			July 31, 2003		June 30, 2003		Pro Forma			Pro Forma
			(Historical)		(Historical)		Adjustments			Combined


			(In thousands except per share amounts)
Operating Revenues			$	1,041,397	$	320,114	$	(62	)A	$	1,361,449
Cost of Gas				720,389		247,415					967,804

Margin				321,008		72,699		(62	)		393,645

Other Operating Expenses:
	Operations and maintenance expenses			114,068		33,430					147,498
	Depreciation			45,895		15,575					61,470
	General taxes			18,779		3,742					22,521
	Diversified business expenses					1		(1	)A
	Income taxes			43,889				4,632	A		46,244
								1,903	I
								(4,180	)K

		Total other operating expenses		222,631		52,748		2,354			277,733

Operating Income				98,377		19,951		(2,416	)		115,912
Other Income (Expense), net of tax				11,012		1,401		61	A		12,316
								(25	)A
								(133	)A
Utility Interest Charges				30,070		8,253		10,569	F		44,073
								(4,819	)I
Income Taxes						4,790		(25	)A
								(133	)A
								(4,632	)A

Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations			$	79,319	$	8,309	$	(3,473	)	$	84,155

Average shares of Common Stock:
	Basic			33,327				5,714			39,041
	Diluted			33,439				5,714			39,153
Earnings per Share of Common Stock:
	Basic		$	2.38						$	2.16
	Diluted		$	2.37						$	2.15


				Piedmont			NCNG
				At July 31,			At June 30,
				2003			2003			Pro Forma			Pro Forma
				(Historical)			(Historical)			Adjustments			Combined


				(In thousands)
ASSETS
Utility Plant				$	1,783,891		$	577,399		$			$	2,361,290
	Less accumulated depreciation				615,574			189,459						805,033

	Utility plant, net				1,168,317			387,940						1,556,257
Other Physical Property, net					1,022						923	A		1,945
Current Assets					221,837			71,163			(15,781	)A		239,216
											(33,375	)B
											(4,628	)C
Investments, Deferred Charges and Other Assets					119,631			56,750			(923	)A		179,078
											7,500	D
											(50,205	)E
											44,950	F
											1,375	F

	Total			$	1,510,807		$	515,853		$	(50,164	)	$	1,976,496


CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES
Capitalization:
	Common stock equity:
		Common stock		$	368,611		$			$	200,000	F	$	568,611
		Capital in excess of par value						417,658			(417,658	)G
		Retained earnings (deficit)			278,366						(7,000	)F		271,366
								(161,841	)		161,841	G
		Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)			(1,833	)		(5,883	)		5,883	G		(1,833	)

			Total common stock equity		645,144			249,934			(56,934	)		838,144
		Long-term debt			460,000						200,000	F		660,000

			Total capitalization		1,105,144			249,934			143,066			1,498,144
Current Liabilities					173,097			216,535			(15,781	)A		227,851
											4,000	F
											(150,000	)I
Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities					232,566			49,384			(31,449	)H		250,501

			Total	$	1,510,807		$	515,853		$	(50,164	)	$	1,976,496


Common Stock:
	Number of shares		5,714
	Gross proceeds	$	200,000
	Expenses charged to Retained Earnings		7,000

	Net proceeds			$	193,000
Long-Term Debt
	Principal amount at 100% of issuance price	$	200,000
	Issuance costs		1,375

	Net proceeds				198,625

Total proceeds from issuance of common stock and long-term debt					391,625
Purchase of EasternNC					(7,500	)
Cash from securities less than purchase price					33,375

Purchase price					417,500
NCNG’s net assets at June 30, 2003					249,934

Indicated goodwill					167,566
Working capital true-up					4,628
Notes payable not assumed					(150,000	)
Non-current assets not acquired					50,205
Non-current liabilities not assumed					(31,449	)
Estimated transaction costs					4,000

Estimated goodwill				$	44,950


Other assumptions related to the issuance of long-term debt are:
	Maturity date		10 years and 30 years
	Interest rate				7	%
	Interest charges:
		Annually		$	14,000
		Quarterly		$	3,500
	Amortization of issuance costs (straight-line):
		Annually		$	92
		Quarterly		$	23



				December 31

				2002			2001
				Restated(1)			Restated(1)


				(In Thousands)
ASSETS
Utility Plant
	Gas utility plant in service			$	554,738		$	492,001
	Accumulated depreciation				(179,086	)		(159,897	)

		Utility plant in service, net			375,652			332,104
	Construction work in progress				18,127			60,895

		Total Utility Plant, Net			393,779			392,999

Current assets
	Cash and cash equivalents				762			711
	Accounts receivable, net				34,856			28,383
	Unbilled accounts receivable				14,515			—
	Income taxes receivable				—			565
	Accounts receivable from affiliated companies				3,644			3,701
	Inventory				17,198			21,248
	Deferred gas costs — unbilled volumes				—			6,002
	Restricted cash — expansion fund				5,577			1,129
	Other current assets				67			130

		Total Current Assets			76,619			61,869

Deferred Debits and Other Assets
	Goodwill				43,022			221,593
	Unamortized debt expense				2,803			3,282
	Diversified business property, net				928			923
	Miscellaneous other property and investments				5,690			5,741
	Recoverable environmental costs				4,447			4,343
	Other assets and deferred debits				104			1,787

		Total Deferred Debits and Other Assets			56,994			237,669

			Total Assets	$	527,392		$	692,537

CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES
Capitalization
	Common stock, par value $0.10; 100 shares authorized; 100 shares issued and outstanding			$	—		$	—
	Capital in excess of par value				417,645			417,617
	Accumulated other comprehensive loss				(5,883	)		—
	Retained earnings (deficit)				(165,239	)		6,708

		Total Capitalization			246,523			424,325

Current Liabilities
	Accounts payable				36,109			26,437
	Accounts payable to affiliated companies				14,567			34,446
	Notes payable to affiliated companies				150,000			150,000
	Income taxes payable				1,806			—
	Interest accrued				426			388
	Deferred gas costs				14,300			4,506
	Other current liabilities				15,956			13,427

		Total Current Liabilities			233,164			229,204

Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities
	Accumulated deferred income taxes				27,172			26,887
	Accumulated deferred investment tax credits				1,685			1,817
	Regulatory liability for income taxes, net				1,382			1,640
	Other liabilities and deferred credits				17,466			8,664

		Total Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities			47,705			39,008

			Total Capitalization and Liabilities	$	527,392		$	692,537



		Common Stock						Accumulated
		Outstanding				Additional		Other			Retained
						Paid-In		Comprehensive			Earnings			Total
		Shares		Amount		Capital		Loss			(Deficit)			Capitalization


		(In Thousands)
Balance, January 1, 2000			100	$	—	$	363,729	$	—		$	(3,769	)	$	359,960
	Additional equity investment from parent company						3,829								3,829
	Equity compensation						30								30
	Net income restated(1)											8,151			8,151

Balance, December 31, 2000 restated(1)			100	$	—	$	367,588	$	—		$	4,382		$	371,970
	Additional equity investment from parent company						50,000								50,000
	Equity compensation						29								29
	Net income restated(1)											2,326			2,326

Balance, December 31, 2001 restated(1)			100	$	—		417,617	$	—		$	6,708		$	424,325
	Minimum pension liability adjustment (net of tax)								(5,883	)					(5,883	)
	Equity compensation						28								28
	Net loss restated(1)											(171,947	)		(171,947	)

Balance, December 31, 2002 restated(1)			100	$	—	$	417,645	$	(5,883	)	$	(165,239	)	$	246,523


	As Previously Reported			As Restated

2002
Natural gas revenues	$	316,423		$	313,930
Cost of gas	$	230,617		$	226,802
Loss before Income Taxes and Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change	$	(118,411	)	$	(117,089	)
Income Taxes	$	2,042		$	2,564
Loss before Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change	$	(120,453	)	$	(119,653	)
Net Loss	$	(172,747	)	$	(171,947	)
Comprehensive Loss	$	(178,630	)	$	(177,830	)
Unbilled accounts receivable	$	16,565		$	14,515
Retained earnings (deficit)	$	(163,733	)	$	(165,239	)
Income taxes payable	$	2,790		$	1,806
Deferred gas costs	$	13,860		$	14,300


	2002			2001

Weighted average discount rate		6.6	%		7.5	%
Initial medical cost trend rate for pre-Medicare benefits		7.5	%		7.5	%
Initial medical cost trend rate for post-Medicare benefits		7.5	%		7.5	%
Ultimate medical cost trend rate		5.25	%		5.0	%
Year ultimate medical cost trend rate is achieved		2009			2008


	(In Thousands)

	One Percentage Point Increase
Effect on total of service and interest cost components	$	159
Effect on postretirement benefit obligation	$	1,130


	One Percentage Point Decrease
Effect on total of service and interest cost components	$	(137	)
Effect on postretirement benefit obligation	$	(1,028	)