Switching to PNG? Govt now lets you restore LPG connection later

The government has amended LPG supply rules to allow consumers with piped natural gas (PNG) connections to retain the option of restoring their domestic LPG connection if they later move to non-PNG areas, offering relief to transferable employees, tenants and migrant households.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Monday notified changes to the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Regulation of Supply and Distribution) Order, 2000, under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

Under the amended provisions, households that obtain a PNG connection after having a domestic LPG connection will not be allowed to immediately take LPG refills and must, within 30 days, either surrender the LPG connection or obtain a transfer voucher for future restoration of the connection in a non-PNG area.

“A person or household having a domestic liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) connection and subsequently having obtained a piped natural gas (PNG) connection shall not forthwith take a refill of domestic liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder,” the notification said.

The amendment comes weeks after the ministry tightened LPG supply norms through a March 14 notification that barred households with PNG connections from availing subsidised domestic LPG cylinders.

Under those revised rules, consumers with PNG connections were required to surrender their LPG connections, and oil marketing companies were directed not to issue new LPG connections or refill cylinders for such consumers.

The latest amendment, however, introduces flexibility by allowing consumers to secure a transfer voucher for future restoration of the LPG connection if they relocate to areas where PNG infrastructure is unavailable.

The government said the provision would particularly benefit transferable employees, migrant households, tenants, students and families shifting to non-PNG areas.

The move follows the government’s push to expand PNG infrastructure across the country amid the LPG supply disruptions linked to the West Asia conflict.

On March 25, the Centre had notified the Natural Gas and Petroleum Products Distribution (Through Laying, Building, Operation and Expansion of Pipelines and Other Facilities) Order, 2026, to accelerate the laying and expansion of gas and petroleum pipelines.

The framework introduced time-bound approvals for pipeline permissions, deemed clearances in case of delays by authorities, and restrictions on arbitrary charges by local bodies and land-owning entities.

It also mandated that residential approvals for laying pipelines be granted within three working days and household connections enabled within 48 hours where feasible.

The March 25 order further provided that in areas where PNG infrastructure is available, LPG supply may be discontinued after due notice if households do not opt for PNG, subject to technical feasibility.