(CHARLOTTE) -- Piedmont Natural Gas reported second quarter net income of $47.4 million.  This compared net income of $46.8 million during the same period in 2010.

The Charlotte-based utility recorded net income of $131.8 million for the six month period that ended April 30, 2011. This compared with net income of $160.6 million during the same period last year. This included the sale of half of the company's 30 percent interest in SouthStar.

"We are pleased with our results through the first six months of 2011 and remain focused on providing customers safe and reliable natural gas service," said Piedmont's chairman, president and chief executive officer, Thomas E. Skains.
 
Increases in contracted labor services and transportation related expenses led to Piedmont's operations and maintenance expenses growing by $1.4 million for the second quarter and by $.5 million over the six month period.