What is the TUR gas tariff?
It's a gas price set by the state instead of by the supplier. The Ministry for the Ecological Transition publishes it in the BOE (Spain's official gazette), and it changes on 1 January, 1 April, 1 July and 1 October. Every regulated supplier charges exactly the same price, so the only difference between them is customer service.
The TUR is open to households and small consumers on low-pressure supply (4 bar or less) using up to 50,000 kWh a year, according to the CNMC's consumer guide to gas. That covers almost every flat in Barcelona with a gas boiler or gas hob. It has no minimum stay, so you can leave it for a free-market offer whenever you like.
It applies to piped natural gas only. If your flat runs on bottles, the regulated price works differently; see our guide to butane bottles in a Barcelona rental.
Can a tenant switch to the TUR?
Yes, if the gas contract is in your name. The rules look at your consumption and supply pressure, not at whether you own the flat. Only the contract holder can change supplier, so the real question is whose name is on the bill.
- The contract is already in your name. Switch whenever you like. You don't need the landlord's permission to change supplier or tariff.
- It's in the landlord's or the previous tenant's name. First do a cambio de titular (change of account holder), or ask the landlord to switch for you. Our guide to putting the utilities in your name explains the paperwork.
- Gas is included in a flat monthly amount in the rent. The tariff is the landlord's business, and switching won't change what you pay unless you renegotiate that amount.
Read the utilities clause in your lease before you call. Some leases say the supplies must stay in the landlord's name, and changing the tariff isn't worth an argument at check-out. If in doubt, email the landlord to tell them you're moving to the regulated tariff and keep the reply.
Which TUR band will you be on?
That depends on how much gas you use in a year. You don't choose the band yourself: the distribution company sets it from your consumption, and it shows on the bill as the access toll (peaje) RL.1, RL.2 or RL.3.
| Band | Annual use | Typical flat | Energy price, Q4 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| TUR.1 (RL.1) | Up to 5,000 kWh | Gas hob and hot water, no gas heating | About 5.25 cents/kWh |
| TUR.2 (RL.2) | 5,000 to 15,000 kWh | Gas boiler for heating and hot water | About 5.04 cents/kWh |
| TUR.3 (RL.3) | 15,000 to 50,000 kWh | Large flat or house with heavy heating use | About 4.70 cents/kWh |
Each band also has a fixed monthly charge, and taxes go on top. Comparison sites quote slightly different fixed charges for this quarter, so take the exact figures from the current resolution in the BOE or from the regulated supplier's own price page. The energy prices above are from the resolution of 30 September 2026, in force from 1 October to 31 December 2026, as reported by Rankia and RedesZone.
How do you switch from a free-market gas contract?
You call or go online with one of the four regulated suppliers and ask for the TUR. The new supplier handles the switch with the distributor and your old contract ends; you don't cancel it yourself first.
The four regulated suppliers that offer the gas TUR are:
- Comercializadora Regulada, Gas & Power (Naturgy group)
- Energía XXI (Endesa group)
- Curenergía (Iberdrola group)
- Baser COR (TotalEnergies group)
Have these ready: your NIE or passport, the CUPS code from your gas bill (a 20 to 22 character supply-point ID starting with ES), the flat's address, and your IBAN. Expect the change to take a few weeks; the gas doesn't get cut off in between.
Two things trip people up. First, the regulated supplier is a different company from the free-market brand of the same group. Calling "Naturgy" or "Endesa" can land you with a free-market offer instead, so say clearly that you want the tarifa de último recurso from the comercializadora de referencia. Second, check your current contract for a minimum stay (permanencia). The TUR has none, but leaving your old contract early can carry an exit fee if it has one.
Is the TUR always the cheapest gas option?
Not always. It's often among the cheapest prices without extras, but it moves every quarter, and a fixed-price free-market deal can beat it when wholesale gas rises.
The October 2026 revision is a good example. The TUR.1 energy price rose from about 4.33 to 5.25 cents per kWh, roughly 21%, even after the government limited the increase. Papernest estimated the rise at around €114 a year for an average household. Next revision: 1 January 2027.
To compare fairly, take the price per kWh and the fixed monthly charge from any offer, multiply by your own annual use (it's on your bill), and add the two. Ignore "first months free" discounts, and look for add-ons such as maintenance plans that are billed every month. The CNMC's free official tariff comparator does the sum for you. Our guide to PVPC vs free-market electricity covers the same choice for your power bill.
What should you check on your gas bill?
Five lines tell you almost everything. Find them before you switch, and again on the first bill after.
- Account holder (titular). If it's not you, you can't switch yet.
- Supplier name. "Comercializadora de referencia" or one of the four names above means you're probably on the TUR already. A brand name alone usually means free market.
- Access toll (peaje) RL.1, RL.2 or RL.3. This tells you your TUR band.
- Annual consumption (consumo anual). You need it to compare offers.
- Extra services. Lines such as servicio de mantenimiento or insurance are optional. Cancelling them is a separate request from switching tariff.
Also check whether the reading is real or estimated (lectura estimada). Estimates can pile up into a big catch-up bill, which you can avoid by sending your own meter reading. And don't confuse a supplier's maintenance plan with the compulsory gas safety inspection, which comes from the distributor; our guide to gas inspections and boiler checks explains who pays for which.
What if the landlord passes the gas bill on to you?
Then you're paying a price you can't control, and it's worth asking the landlord to switch to the TUR or to let you take the contract over. Most landlords don't mind, since the cost isn't theirs.
Ask for copies of the actual bills rather than an estimated monthly charge, so you're paying what was used. If the lease sets a fixed amount for supplies, that figure stands until you agree a new one. Our guide to who pays which bills in a Barcelona rental covers what the landlord can and can't pass on. If you're unsure whether a charge is lawful, ask a consumer office (Oficina Municipal d'Informació al Consumidor) or a lawyer before refusing to pay.
How Llavai helps
Llavai watches the main Barcelona rental portals, scores every new agency listing against your brief (budget, neighbourhoods, bedrooms) and puts the best ones first, with the agent's number one tap away, so you can call before the queue forms. That first call is a good moment to ask whether the flat has gas or is all-electric, and whose name the supplies are in. Set up your search in a couple of minutes. If you'd rather not make the call yourself, Julia can make it in Spanish on the Pro plan.