LPG Price Hike, e-KYC Deadline, and PNG Switch: Key Changes from September
From September, commercial LPG prices rise, e-KYC deadline passes, and PNG incentive scheme begins.
Several changes to LPG and piped natural gas (PNG) rules have come into effect from September 1, affecting consumers of Indane, HP Gas, and Bharat Gas. The most immediate change is a hike in commercial LPG prices, the first in three months, while domestic LPG rates remain unchanged for the third straight month.
Commercial LPG price hike Oil marketing companies (OMCs) have raised the price of a 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder by ₹9.50 to ₹11.50 across major cities, with Kolkata seeing the steepest increase. Mumbai continues to have cheaper commercial LPG than Delhi and Chennai, while Patna remains the most expensive city, with prices still above ₹3,000 per cylinder. The increase follows a rise in international LPG prices.
e-KYC deadline missed? The deadline for completing Aadhaar-based e-KYC for LPG connections was August 31, and OMCs have said it will not be extended. Consumers who missed the deadline may face temporary restrictions, including loss of subsidised rates, a pause in direct benefit transfers for Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) beneficiaries, and the possibility of having to buy cylinders at commercial rates. Non-PMUY consumers could also see a temporary suspension of services until the e-KYC is completed.
LPG to PNG switch The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has launched a new incentive scheme from September 1 to expand PNG connections and reduce LPG dependency. Under this policy, households cannot hold two domestic LPG connections, and consumers are asked to switch to PNG where infrastructure is available. The government has warned that LPG connections could be discontinued for those who do not respond to notices from OMCs or city gas distributors, with the switch to be completed within 30 days.
Booking intervals and new connections The minimum gap between two LPG refills remains 25 days for urban areas and 45 days for rural areas, unchanged from the earlier rule introduced amid the US-Iran conflict. New LPG connection bookings are likely to remain closed across Indian Oil, HPCL, and BPCL due to supply concerns.
Online booking and delivery Consumers are urged to book LPG cylinders online, with bookings having surged by about 99% industry-wide. For delivery, customers must provide a one-time password (OTP) sent to their registered mobile number; without it, the cylinder will not be delivered.