With Piedmont Natural Gas showing stronger-than-expected earnings in the second quarter, despite revenue that was weaker than expected, here are three key takeaways from the report and CEO Tom Skains ' Monday morning conference call. Charlotte-based Piedmont roared ahead with 4,892 new customers added in the first quarter, which ended Jan. 30, for a 15 percent increase over the year before , which ended Jan. 30. The second quarter, which ended April 30, was considerably less exciting.