(CHARLOTTE) -- Piedmont Natural Gas reported fiscal first quarter net income of $76.2 million, or $1.05 per diluted share. This compared to net income of $84.4 million, or $1.16 per diluted share for the same period in 2011. The Charlotte-based natural gas utility said warmer than normal weather contributed to the profit decline.

"We are pleased with our customer growth for the quarter, which showed measurable improvement over last year and an increase in consumer demand for natural gas in both the residential and commercial markets," said Thomas E. Skains, Piedmont's Chairman, President, and CEO.  "We are also pleased with our progress on our substantial capital expansion program to serve new gas fired power generation facilities in North Carolina."