Piedmont Natural Gas' Thomas E. Skains Receives 2014 Distinguished Service Award from American Gas Association

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Gas Association (AGA) presented Piedmont Natural Gas (NYSE: PNY) Chairman, President and CEO Thomas E. Skains today with its 2014 Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his many significant contributions to the natural gas industry. AGA, which represents more than 200 local energy companies that deliver natural gas to more than 68 million customers throughout the United States, presented the award to Mr. Skains at the association's annual Executive Conference.

In a press release issued late Monday afternoon, AGA President and CEO Dave McCurdy described Mr. Skains as "a visionary industry leader whose commitment to fostering cohesion, collaboration and consensus has helped develop the most unified natural gas industry in decades." Mr. McCurdy went on to say, "Tom's dedicated service and leadership has advanced critical issues that have benefited not just the natural gas industry and our customers but the nation as a whole – including raising awareness about the environmental and energy efficiency benefits of natural gas, assisting low-income natural gas customers, and encouraging innovative rate designs that help enhance system integrity and expand natural gas service to more of America's homes and businesses. We are honored to present him with the 2014 AGA Distinguished Service Award."

Mr. Skains previously served as AGA chairman in 2009 and as chairman of the Southern Gas Association in 2006, and currently serves on the board of directors for each organization. Skains also serves on the Board of Trustees of the American Gas Foundation and the Board of Directors of the Gas Technology Institute.

An active member of the Charlotte community, Mr. Skains also presently holds positions on the boards of directors of BB&T Corporation and Branch Banking and Trust Company, Charlotte Center City Partners, and is the vice chairman of the Charlotte Sports Foundation and general chairman of the Belk Bowl.  Mr. Skains is also the first vice chair of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce. He has previously served on the board of the United Way of Central Carolinas and the board of trustees of Johnson and Wales University and Providence Day School. Mr. Skains was also co-chair of the 2004 & 2005 American Heart Association Charlotte Metro Heart Walks and the 2006 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Arts and Science Council Annual Fund Drive.

About Piedmont Natural Gas
Piedmont Natural Gas is an energy services company primarily engaged in the distribution of natural gas to more than one million residential, commercial, industrial and power generation customers in portions of North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, including customers served by municipalities who are wholesale customers. Our subsidiaries are invested in joint venture, energy-related businesses, including unregulated retail natural gas marketing, regulated interstate natural gas transportation and storage, and regulated intrastate natural gas transportation businesses. More information about Piedmont Natural Gas is available on the Internet at http://www.piedmontng.com/.

SOURCE Piedmont Natural Gas