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Switching LPG connections the mobile telephony way, PNGRB seeks views
Can households draw cooking gas connections from another distributor or PSU oil company other than one catering to them just like the how it works in the mobile telephony space?
Imminently so, with Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board inviting stakeholder and consumer comments for an LPG interoperability framework. Behind the move are persistent consumer grievances — more than 1.7 million annually as a high-level expert committee noted recently — primarily relating to delay in getting liquefied petroleum gas refills, PNGRB said in a public notice.
Seeking to highlight the importance of such a framework, the regulator said while the oil marketing companies do strive to address customer grievances, the consumers do not have option of migrating from one OMC/LPG dealer to another.
While the interoperability has been adopted in telephony with much success, the same has not happened in LPG sector,” it said. Citing reports that highlighted supply disruptions and prolonged delay in refill deliveries, either due to operational constraints or suspension of the distributorship, the regulator said safeguarding consumers against service failures and ensuring uninterrupted access to this essential fuel is necessary.
There may be other reasons too – consumer’s freedom of choice on the LPG company/dealer being one, especially when the cylinder price is same. PNGRB said it was seeking measures to facilitate timely access to refills — by enabling consumers to be served from the nearest available distributor through improved coordination and flexible delivery arrangements within the existing network, particularly during times of disruption.
While porting of LPG connections by consumers was discussed in the past, the measure was given up. Moving over to another distributor or company involve surrendering the equipment and some cost to the consumers. When it is done during times of disruption and as a temporary measure there will practical issues, especially on how refills and pressure regulator, which differ from one company to another, are deposited to the concerned company, sources in the industry said.
PNGRB, however, seem to view LPG interoperability framework as a solution. India has achieved near-universal LPG household coverage with over 320 million connections as of 2024-25. This is a commendable achievement of the OMCs. However, consumer grievances remain, it said.
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