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                                                                      Exhibit 23


INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT



Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc.:

We consent to the incorporation by reference in Post-Effective Amendment No. 3
to Registration Statement No. 2-67478 on Form S-8, in Post-Effective Amendment
No. 2 to Registration Statement No. 33-3815 on Form S-8, in Registration
Statement No. 33-61093 on Form S-8, in Registration Statement No. 333-34433 on
Form S-8, in Registration Statement No. 333-34435 on Form S-8, in Registration
Statement No. 333-35213 on Form S-3, and in Registration Statement No. 333-86263
on Form S-3 of our report dated December 8, 2000, appearing in the Annual Report
on Form 10-K of Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc. for the year ended October
31, 2000.





/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Charlotte, North Carolina
January 25, 2001