New LPG cylinder rules from October 1: OTP needed at delivery, refill gap cut to 25 days

Changes to LPG cylinder rules take effect from October 1. Because of them, some people will not get a cylinder, while others will have to pay more. Showing the cylinder booking receipt alone will no longer be enough. New rules have been introduced to make cylinder delivery safer.

After a cylinder is booked, an OTP will be sent to the customer's registered mobile number. The OTP must be shown to the delivery agent when the cylinder is received. The system is meant to stop fake bookings and deliveries made without registration.

Biometric Aadhaar authentication is now mandatory to receive a subsidised domestic LPG cylinder. Customers who have not yet completed the process must do so before booking their next refill. It can be done through the gas agency, the delivery person or the oil company's app, including from home.

Oil companies release new cylinder prices on the first of every month. The prices depend on several factors, such as international fuel prices, the cost of importing gas and government taxes.

There is also a major change in refill booking. The Centre has cut the interval for booking the next refill of a domestic LPG cylinder from 45 days to 25 days. The new rule will apply to all domestic customers in the country. The 25-day rule earlier applied only to people living in urban areas, but it will now apply everywhere, including cities, villages and towns.

There is also strictness over PNG connections. The government is steadily bringing in rules to promote PNG. Customers in areas where PNG service is available will now have to switch from LPG to PNG. An LPG connection can be discontinued 90 days after the government issues a notice. Customers in areas with PNG service are therefore advised to get a connection at once.