How do you lower your natural gas bill?
Read the meter index yourself to verify the bill, then cut monthly use with boiler and radiator adjustments.
Short answer
First compare the first and last index on the bill with the black digits on your meter; if they differ, file a complaint with the distribution company. Then set the boiler flow water to 55-60 °C, the room thermostat to 20-21 °C, bleed the radiators and fit weather stripping around the windows. In a typical flat these three moves cut monthly consumption by 15-25 percent.
What you need
Step by step
Read the meter and match it to the bill
On the meter's mechanical dial, black digits show whole m³ and red digits show decimals. Compare today's figure with the "First Index" and "Last Index" lines on your bill; your reading should be higher than the last index. If it is not, take a dated photo, because that is your only hard evidence in a dispute.
Read the bill line by line
The bill lists m³ consumption, the correction factor, excise duty, the distribution charge and 20 percent VAT separately. If your consumption looks normal but the amount is high, you may have crossed into a higher tariff band or be paying the fixed charge. Compare the same month last year in m³, not in lira, since unit prices change during the year.
Rule out a leak or a faulty meter
Switch off every gas appliance in the home and wait 10 minutes. If the red digits are still turning, you have a leak or a broken meter. Call the emergency gas line, which is 187 in every distribution area. If a leak is confirmed, apply in writing to have the bill corrected.
Set the boiler flow water and thermostat
On the boiler panel, set the radiator symbol to 55-60 °C and the tap symbol for hot water to 45-50 °C. Hold the room at 20-21 °C; every extra degree raises consumption by roughly 6 percent. Instead of shutting the boiler off overnight, leave it at 17-18 °C, because reheating a cold home burns more gas.
Bleed the radiators
Turn the boiler off, wait 30 minutes, then open the bleed valve at the top corner of each radiator a quarter turn with the key. Close it as soon as the hissing stops and water appears; keep a container and cloth underneath. When you finish, check the boiler pressure gauge and top up to 1.5-2 bar, or the boiler will fault and stop heating.
Close off heat losses
Run self-adhesive seal around window and balcony door frames after wiping the surface with alcohol. Stick insulation foil between each radiator and the outside wall, and never block a radiator with a sofa, long curtain or cover. The whole job takes half a day and noticeably reduces heat loss.
Service the boiler and fix your payment setup
Have an authorised service check the boiler once a year; it costs roughly 1,000-2,000 TL, improves efficiency by 5-10 percent and includes the required flue gas measurement. Paying after the due date adds daily late interest, so set up a direct debit instruction in your distributor's app or online portal.
File a dispute or apply for support
If the bill is wrong, use the "Online Services > Request and Complaint" screen on the distribution company's website and attach the meter photo. If nothing comes of it, escalate to the energy regulator's complaint system. Low-income households can also check housing and utility support schemes through the national e-government portal.
Tips
Watch out
If you smell gas, do not touch any light switch, lamp or lighter; open the windows, leave the building and call the emergency gas line from outside. Tampering with the meter, breaking its seal or letting an unauthorised person work on the boiler is illegal and voids both your warranty and your insurance.
Frequently asked questions
+What should I do if the index on my bill does not match the meter?
Take a dated photo of the meter and open a "Request and Complaint" record in your distribution company's online services. If they confirm a reading error, the bill is corrected and the difference appears on your next one.
+Is it cheaper to switch the boiler fully off and on again?
No. Reheating a home that has gone completely cold burns more gas. Setting 17-18 °C while you are out and 20-21 °C while you are home is the most efficient pattern.
+Does bleeding radiators really lower the bill?
Yes. A radiator with an air lock never heats fully, so the boiler runs longer. Once the air is out, the same comfort takes less running time.
+Which taxes are on a natural gas bill?
Besides the consumption charge, the bill carries excise duty, a distribution charge and 20 percent VAT. Those items rise with consumption, so every m³ you save cuts the tax amount too.
+What happens if I pay my bill late?
Daily late interest starts after the due date, and if the debt builds up the gas is cut off. Reconnection needs a fee and an appointment, so a direct debit instruction is safer.
Sources and verification
Last verified: September 15, 2026. tell us. Figures, phone numbers and support programmes reflect the Turkish gas market; check local equivalents elsewhere.
This content is for information only; for official procedures the relevant institution’s current announcements take precedence. Details: disclaimer.