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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1

                    NELSON MULLINS RILEY & SCARBOROUGH LOGO

                                                                    June 4, 2001

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

Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed on June 4, 2001, with respect to
    $250,000,000 Aggregate Principal Amount of Securities

Gentlemen:

     We have acted as counsel to Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc., a North
Carolina corporation (the "Company") in connection with the registration by the
Company of $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the following securities:
(1) one or more series of its debt securities (the "Debt Securities") or (2)
shares of its Common Stock (the "Common Stock"). All capitalized terms which are
not defined here shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (as amended, the "Registration Statement") which is being
filed on the date hereof with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") by
the Company pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"). The
Debt Securities are to be issued in one or more series in amounts, at prices and
on terms to be determined when an agreement to sell is made or at the time of
sale, as the case may be, and are to be sold from time to time as set forth in
the Registration Statement, the prospectus contained therein (the "Prospectus")
and any amendments or supplements thereto.

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

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

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

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

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

          (4) Such records of the corporate proceedings of the Company, and such
     other documents that we considered necessary or appropriate for the purpose
     of rendering this opinion; and
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Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc.
June 4, 2001
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          (5) Such other certificates and assurances from public officials,
     officers and representatives of the Company that we considered necessary or
     appropriate for the purpose of rendering this opinion.

     On the basis of the foregoing examination, and in reliance thereon, we are
of the opinion that (subject to compliance with the pertinent provisions of the
Act and, with respect to the Indenture and the Debt Securities, the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and to compliance with such securities or
"blue sky" laws of any jurisdiction as may be applicable):

          1. When (a) the Debt Securities shall have been authorized, executed
     and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, (b) the
     Indenture shall have been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939,
     duly executed and delivered, and (c) the Debt Securities shall have been
     issued and sold as described in the Registration Statement, and if in an
     underwritten offering, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the
     applicable underwriting agreement, and in a manner contemplated in the
     Registration Statement, including the Prospectus Supplement relating to any
     such Debt Securities, the Debt Securities will be duly authorized and valid
     and binding obligations of the Company, subject to the effect of any
     bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, arrangement, or similar
     laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally (including,
     without limitation, the effect of statutory or other laws regarding
     fraudulent transfers or preferential transfers) and general principles of
     equity, regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding
     in equity or at law.

          2. When the Common Stock shall have been authorized, issued and sold
     within the limits and as described in the Registration Statement, and if in
     an underwritten offering, in accordance with the terms and conditions of
     the applicable underwriting agreement, and in a manner contemplated in the
     Registration Statement, including the Prospectus Supplement relating to the
     applicable offering of such Common Stock, the Common Stock will be validly
     issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

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

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

                                      Very truly yours,

                                      Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP

                                      /s/ Jerry W. Amos