After adjusting an exhaust gas temperature at an exit of a heat recovery unit (11) of an exhaust gas treating apparatus to not more than a dew point temperature of sulfur trioxide (SO.sub.3), a heavy metal adsorbent is supplied from a heavy metal adsorbent supply unit (16) disposed in an exhaust gas at an entrance of a precipitator (4) or an intermediate position within the precipitator (4), and the exhaust gas containing the heavy metal adsorbent is supplied into the precipitator (4). Preferably at this stage, the heavy metal adsorbent is supplied into the exhaust gas at the entrance of the precipitator (4) 0.1 seconds after the exhaust gas temperature at the exit of the heat recovery unit (11) has been adjusted to not more than the dew point temperature of SO.sub.3. Further preferably, in order to prevent acid corrosion of equipment, the heavy metal adsorbent is supplied after spraying an alkali into the exhaust gas at the entrance or exit of the heat recovery unit (11) and adjusting the exhaust gas temperature at the exit of the heat recovery unit to not more than the dew point temperature of SO.sub.3. Accordingly, even when coal with a high sulfur content is used as fuel, heavy metals in the exhaust gas can be removed effectively.