Monthly LPG price revision leaves consumers confused

With LPG prices likely to change every month to reflect international trends in gas prices, oil companies will have to devise different ways to inform confused customers about changes in rates. The latest hike had customers worrying about inflationary trends while distributors complained about more administrative issues while delivering cylinders.

With LPG prices likely to change every month to reflect international trends in gas prices, oil companies will have to devise different ways to inform confused customers about changes in rates. The latest hike had customers worrying about inflationary trends while distributors complained about more administrative issues while delivering cylinders.

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On Monday, oil companies increased the rate of a non-subsidised cylinder to Rs894 in the first revision, after the annual cap of six subsidised cylinders was imposed by the government on September 13.

“Cylinder prices are changing like gold prices,” said Sunanda Shivaram, a Shivaji Park resident, whose nine-member family needs a new cylinder every 18 days. “It is becoming extremely difficult, and we might start using induction (electric) cookers if this continues,” she said.

Last week, oil companies fixed the price for a non-subsidised 14.2 kg cylinder at Rs767. “Oil prices are likely to change every month and they may rise or fall depending on international prices,” said an official from the oil industry.

“Such changes in prices always lead to confusion as consumers are not made aware of the new prices. It also creates problems for distributors while making deliveries,” said Pratap Doshi, president, All India LPG Distributors’ Federation.

“The oil industry should put a system in place to ensure that customers are alerted about price changes,” he said. The Federation had earlier decided to stop deliveries owing to administrative issues with the new pricing of cylinders.

An industry official said they would update price changes on their websites.

3 more subsided cylinders: Cong
The Centre has asked all Congress-led state governments to provide three subsidised cooking gas cylinders other than the Centre-approved annual quota of six. State Congress chief Manikrao Thakre has written to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan in this regard and suggested that he discuss the issue with ally the Nationalist Congress Party.
HTC, MUMBAI