CEEW studies: LPG access gaps persist despite connection push

New research from the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) indicates that India's clean cooking transition remains incomplete, with significant gaps in access, affordability, and delivery infrastructure. The findings, based on three studies, show that while 73% of rural households used LPG in the last 90 days, only 23% rely on it exclusively. Half of rural households still depend on firewood as their primary cooking fuel.

A key bottleneck is the last mile: just 47% of rural LPG users receive doorstep cylinder delivery. This gap, combined with refill costs, pushes many towards informal connections from local shops or unauthorised sellers, often at higher prices. The studies note that limited awareness and weak delivery networks are driving this behaviour.

Migrant workers face particularly severe challenges. Among migrant LPG users, 79% lack a formal connection, and fewer than 4% are enrolled in the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), despite a 2021 policy allowing simplified self-declarations. In urban informal settlements, 70% report exclusive LPG use, but 31% of those without formal connections face rejection due to missing address proofs. This forces some to pay inflated informal rates.

Affordability is a common thread across all groups. The studies suggest that at a price of Rs 400 per 14.2 kg cylinder, at least 80% of respondents would switch exclusively to LPG. However, the median willingness to pay is Rs 500, below the current subsidised PMUY rate of Rs 642. Informal users often pay a premium of over 20% per kg compared to formal rates.

CEEW researchers argue that policy must shift focus from connection numbers to sustained usage. Recommendations include raising the PMUY subsidy by approximately Rs 200 per cylinder, targeted enrolment drives for migrants, piloting smart-meter kiosks, and introducing differentiated distributor commissions to improve rural doorstep access.