Are you tired of issues with your current LPG provider? Good news! Soon, you might have the power to switch your cooking gas supplier as easily as you change mobile phone networks. This exciting development aims to give you more choices and significantly better service, all without needing a new connection.
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), India’s oil regulator, has officially opened discussions. They’re seeking feedback from everyone – consumers, distributors, and other interested parties – on a proposed framework that would enable this LPG portability.
In their public notice, the PNGRB highlighted a common problem: when local distributors face difficulties, consumers often find themselves stuck with few options, leading to unnecessary inconvenience and frustration.
The board emphasized that consumers deserve the freedom to choose their LPG company or dealer, particularly since cylinder prices are generally uniform across providers. This ensures fairness and better service.
This isn’t entirely new territory. Back in October 2013, the UPA government initiated a pilot program for LPG connection portability across 24 districts in 13 states. By January 2014, it expanded nationwide to 480 districts.
However, that previous scheme had a major limitation: consumers could only switch between dealers of the same oil company. You couldn’t move from, say, Indane Gas to Bharat Gas.
So, an Indane Gas customer could pick a different Indane dealer nearby, but changing to a different brand like Bharat Gas (Bharat Petroleum) or HP Gas (Hindustan Petroleum) was simply not allowed.
The issue stemmed from legal restrictions at the time, which mandated that an LPG cylinder could only be refilled by its original issuing company, making inter-company transfers impossible.
Now, the PNGRB is actively working to overcome these barriers and enable full inter-company portability as well.
The regulator stated that to ensure uninterrupted LPG supply and build greater consumer confidence, they are seeking input from all parties – including consumers, distributors, and civil society groups. The goal is to identify ways to guarantee timely access to refills, especially during disruptions, by allowing consumers to be served by the closest available distributor and fostering better coordination and flexible delivery within the current infrastructure.
The PNGRB also noted India’s remarkable achievement of nearly universal LPG coverage, with more than 320 million connections by Fiscal Year 2025.
Despite this widespread reach, the board acknowledged that consumer complaints remain a significant issue, with over 1.7 million grievances reported each year.
They further explained that while oil marketing companies (OMCs) do their best to resolve complaints, consumers currently lack the crucial option to switch to a different OMC or LPG dealer. This contrasts sharply with the highly successful portability seen in the telecommunications sector.
Recent reports from across the country have brought to light numerous instances of supply disruptions and significant delays in LPG refill deliveries, sometimes lasting several weeks. These service interruptions have caused considerable difficulties for both households and businesses, especially in areas where local distributors face suspensions or operational challenges.
Prioritizing Uninterrupted Service
The PNGRB emphasized that these ongoing issues highlight the critical need for a service model focused on continuity, designed to protect consumers from service failures and guarantee consistent access to this vital household fuel.
Under the 2014 scheme, OMCs established over 1,400 clusters of distributors across more than 480 districts, offering consumers an average of four distributors per cluster. This allowed LPG users within these markets to switch to their preferred distributor under the existing LPG Connection Portability Scheme.
After gathering all feedback, the PNGRB will formulate the definitive rules and guidelines for LPG portability and announce a national rollout date. Currently, the deadline for submitting comments is mid-October.