Oct. 5, 2009 (PR Newswire) --

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Piedmont Natural Gas (NYSE: PNY) today announced its annual forecast of winter heating costs for customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Piedmont's forecast projects that its residential customers could see a reduction in their overall winter heating costs of between 10 and 20 percent compared to last year's winter gas heating bill. For the typical residential customer, the reductions could result in savings of $15 to $25 per month during the winter period.

Piedmont's forecast is based on current price projections for the winter period and assumes normal winter temperatures for the upcoming winter period. Last year, winter temperatures across Piedmont's service area ranged from slightly warmer than normal to as much as 7 percent colder than normal. Because of the difference in temperatures across Piedmont's service area, individual customer savings will vary. Colder weather than forecast during the period could result in increased consumption of natural gas and higher bills.

While this year's forecast clearly represents good news for customers, particularly in light of the current economic climate, many individuals and families will nonetheless need assistance with meeting their home energy needs throughout the coming year. To help out, Piedmont Natural Gas introduced its Share the Warmth Round Up Program in July and announced a corporate gift of $100,000 to the effort. Under the Share the Warmth Roundup program, Piedmont's customers can sign up to have their monthly natural gas bills rounded up to the nearest dollar. The amount rounded up goes to provide emergency energy assistance funds which are distributed through various state and local agencies in Piedmont's three-state service area. The funds are used to provide emergency assistance regardless of the energy source that is used in the home or the time of year in which the need occurs, to individuals and families within the communities Piedmont serves.

For those customers who want to learn more about Share the Warmth Round Up or to enroll in the program, they are encouraged to visit Piedmont's website at www.piedmontng.com and click on the Share the Warmth link. Information about the various agencies that provide emergency energy assistance through the Share the Warmth Round Up Program or through the Federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) can also be found there.