It will be the second cut in as many months in the fuel charges passed on to Piedmont Natural Gas customers in the Carolinas. N.C. regulators on Monday approved a cut in Piedmont Natural Gas' customer fuel charge and a small increase in its charge for upgrading distribution infrastructure, for an overall reduction in rates that starts Feb. 1. The N.C. Utilities Commission approved Piedmont's request to cut the benchmark price it charges N.C. customers for natural gas to $3.25 from $4 per dekatherm.