Your first PNG bill usually arrives about two months after the gas is switched on. Many people open it, see a figure bigger than one LPG cylinder, and panic for a second. Then they notice the dates: it’s two months of cooking, not one.
A PNG bill is simple once you know where to look. This guide explains how often bills come, how to read each line, how to submit your own meter reading, the easiest ways to pay, and what to do when a bill looks wrong.
How Often You Get a Bill
Under PNGRB’s rules, a domestic PNG bill must be raised at least once every two months. In practice, most companies, including IGL, MGL and Torrent Gas, bill every two months, based on the reading on your meter.
So if you used to buy a cylinder every month, think of each PNG bill as covering roughly two cylinders’ worth of cooking.
Your Customer Number
Every bill, payment and complaint is linked to your customer number, so save it in your phone:
- IGL calls it the BP number (Business Partner number).
- MGL calls it the CA number.
- Other companies use similar IDs. You’ll find yours at the top of any bill.
Reading Your Bill, Line by Line
Layouts differ from company to company, but most PNG bills show these details:
- Billing period: the dates the bill covers, usually about two months.
- Previous and current reading: the numbers on your meter at the start and end of the period.
- Consumption: the difference between the two readings, in SCM (standard cubic metres).
- Rate: the price per SCM for your area.
- Gas charges: consumption multiplied by the rate.
- Other charges, if any: such as a minimum charge, deposit instalments or late payment charges.
- Arrears or credit: anything unpaid, or paid extra, from the last bill.
- Amount payable and due date.
A quick example
Say your meter read 1,250 at the start of the period and 1,280 at the end. You’ve used 30 SCM. In Delhi, where IGL charges ₹49.59 per SCM, the gas charges come to about ₹1,488 for those two months, before any other charges.
Check this math on your first bill. Once you’ve done it once, every bill after that takes a minute.
Minimum Charges: Why You Pay Even When You Don’t Cook
Some companies charge a small minimum amount even if you hardly use any gas, for example while you’re travelling:
- MGL lists a minimum charge of ₹50 a month, plus GST.
- Torrent Gas lists a minimum charge of ₹150 for each two-month billing cycle when there’s no consumption.
- IGL has a scheme with lower upfront deposit where you pay ₹1 a day plus GST on your bills instead. This applies only if you chose that scheme.
Check your own company’s rate card so these lines don’t surprise you.
Estimated Bills, and Submitting Your Own Reading
If the meter reader can’t get in, say the house was locked, you may get an estimated or provisional bill. Torrent Gas, for example, bases such bills on your average consumption over the last six billing cycles. The difference is adjusted once an actual reading is taken.
Estimated bills aren’t wrong as such, but they can be higher or lower than your real use. The fix is to submit the reading yourself:
- IGL: use the Self Billing option in the IGL Connect app. Log in with your BP number and registered mobile number, enter the reading and upload a clear photo of the meter. The bill is generated within 24 hours and emailed to you. There must be a gap of at least 21 days since your last bill.
- MGL: has an option on its website to log your meter reading.
- Other companies: check the app or website for a “meter reading” or “self billing” option.
Here’s a useful trick: IGL says self-billing lets you break your two-month bill into monthly bills, which can make budgeting easier.
How to Pay Your PNG Bill
IGL
- Website: pay by card, net banking or wallet, with or without logging in.
- Your bank’s Bill Pay: select Indraprastha Gas Limited as the biller and enter your BP number. You can set it to pay automatically.
- Auto-debit (NACH): submit the NACH form with a cancelled cheque. IGL says it’s activated within three weeks.
- Paytm: under the Gas category, or by scanning the QR code printed on your bill.
MGL
You can pay through your bank’s app or net banking under the Piped Gas category, using your CA number. ICICI Bank, for example, says it doesn’t charge a convenience fee for MGL bill payments.
Any company
Most PNG companies can be found under “Piped Gas” or “Gas” in the bill payment section of UPI and banking apps. Search for your company’s name and enter your customer number.
A word of caution: some companies don’t accept cash. Torrent Gas’s terms, for instance, say no cash payment will be accepted. Pay digitally, or by cheque where allowed, and keep the receipt.
Pay on Time
Late payment usually attracts a late payment charge, and a long-unpaid bill can cost you the connection. Torrent Gas’s terms, for example, say supply can be stopped if two consecutive bills go unpaid, with 15 days’ notice, and reconnection is charged.
Setting up auto-pay through your bank or NACH is the simplest way to never think about it.
Why Your Bill Might Be Higher Than Expected
- It covers two months. The most common reason by far.
- It was an estimated bill. Submit an actual reading to correct it.
- The rate went up. PNG rates were revised more than once in 2026. IGL, for example, revised its rates on 29 August.
- You cooked more. Festivals, guests and winter all push consumption up. A geyser connected to PNG will raise it a lot.
- Arrears were added. Check whether part of an old bill is included.
The leak check
Turn off every burner and appliance and look at the meter for a few minutes. If the numbers keep moving with everything off, something may be leaking. Close the main valve, don’t use any switch or flame, and call your gas company’s emergency number straight away.
If You Think the Bill Is Wrong
- Compare the “current reading” on the bill with the number on your meter. Take a photo of the meter.
- If the reading is wrong, submit the correct one through self-billing or customer care.
- If you suspect the meter itself is faulty, ask for it to be checked. PNGRB’s FAQ says faulty meters are to be replaced within seven days.
- Keep your complaint number, and escalate through the company’s grievance channels if it isn’t resolved.
Quick Answers
How often is a PNG bill raised?
At least once every two months, under PNGRB’s rules. Most companies bill every two months.
How do I calculate my PNG bill?
Subtract the previous reading from the current one to get the SCM used, then multiply by your area’s rate per SCM. Add any other charges shown.
What is a BP number?
IGL’s customer ID. You need it to pay bills and register complaints. MGL’s equivalent is the CA number.
Can I submit my own meter reading?
Yes, with most companies. IGL calls it self-billing, through the IGL Connect app.
Why did I get a bill when I was away?
Probably a minimum charge, or an estimated bill. Submit your actual reading if it’s an estimate.
Two Minutes Every Two Months
A PNG bill doesn’t need an accountant. Check the two readings, multiply by your rate, glance at the other charges, and pay before the due date, ideally on auto-pay. Do that every two months and your gas bill will never surprise you again.
If you’re an IGL customer, its self-billing FAQ explains the meter reading process step by step. Found a line on your bill that isn’t covered here? Send it to us and we’ll explain it.
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