LPG New Rules: In order to prevent the improper use of cooking gas cylinders and ensure fair distribution of clean fuel nationwide, the government and oil companies (IOCL, BPCL, and HPCL) have strengthened regulations. The government is now rigorously implementing the policy of One Home, One Gas Connection. To this end, new guidelines have been introduced for LPG and PNG consumers, with varying timeframes from 30 to 90 days. Let’s explore these fresh regulations and what steps need to be taken to avoid any issues.
What does the strict One Home, One Gas Connection policy entail?
The main focus of the government and oil companies is to combat the illegal selling and hoarding of gas cylinders. According to the new policy, having multiple LPG connections at the same address or under the same family name (linked to ration card/house) will no longer be allowed. This measure has been implemented to tackle complaints regarding unauthorized refills and commercial utilization of cylinders resulting from multiple connections in households.
Understanding the 30 and 90 day regulations
A specific timeframe has now been established for consumers utilizing both piped natural gas (PNG) and LPG cylinders. If a new PNG connection is activated in your residence, you must either surrender or temporarily suspend your existing LPG cylinder connection within the following 30 days. In any scenario, the disposal of the LPG connection or completion of the surrender process must occur within 90 days (3 months) from the activation of the PNG connection, or consequences may follow.
25-day and 45-day rules were previously issued for refilling
This isn’t the first time the government has tightened its grip on gas cylinders; booking timelines have been regulated before. Under the initial rules, consumers couldn’t book a refill for 25 days after booking a cylinder. A further rule of a minimum 45-day gap between deliveries was also discussed to ensure equitable distribution of subsidized cylinders and avoid gas shortages.
If a consumer ignores these new rules and deadlines, they could face significant losses. Failure to report multiple or illegal connections within the stipulated timeframe (90 days) could result in oil companies permanently blocking your gas connection. Violations of these rules will result in the immediate suspension of government subsidies (LPG subsidy), and penalties may also be imposed.
KYC is essential
If you have more than one gas connection in your home or both LPG and PNG are active, protect yourself by: Surrender or Transfer: Visit your nearest gas agency (Indane, HP, Bharat Gas) and surrender the additional connection or transfer it to a family member who lives at a different address. Complete the e-KYC process: Immediately complete the biometric or online e-KYC of your existing active connection to ensure your connection remains valid.