LPG cylinders being transported in a vehicle for distribution in Visakhapatnam on March 10, 2026, amid public concerns over supply and prices. | Photo Credit: V. RAJU/The Hindu
As hotels, hostels and community kitchens face unexpected shortages of LPG, people with electric cooking equipment feel they are in a safer position.
Achal Sridharan, founder of CovaiCare Retirement Communities in Coimbatore, says if the situation worsens, there will be no option but to switch to electric cooking. “It’s a matter of survival and not viability. Yes, the cost will be a bit higher. But we have to manage,” he said.
The most popular electric cooking device is the induction cooker. It consists of a glass surface covering the heating element. When an alternating current is passed through a copper coil under the glass, it creates an oscillating magnetic field. When you place a magnetic pot on a surface, the field induces electric currents inside the metal. These currents encounter resistance and generate heat directly in the pan instead of the hob.
Cooking costs
A gas flame is more inefficient because it loses almost 60% of its heat to the surrounding air, meaning that the user only uses about 40% of the energy they pay for for actual cooking. An unsubsidized LPG cylinder weighing a standard 14.2 kg also currently costs around ₹913 in cities like Delhi.
On the other hand, an induction cooker can be about 90% efficient because it uses magnetism to heat the pan directly without heating the air. In order for an induction cooker to obtain the same amount of useful heat as one full bottle of LPG, it consumes about 78 units of electricity. Even at the high residential rate of ₹8 per unit, the total electricity cost would be around ₹624, saving nearly ₹300 per month compared to gas. The difference can be even greater in Tamil Nadu, for example, where the first 100 units of electricity each month are free for residences.
To switch to cooking only on an induction stove, users have to pay for a cooktop, which typically ranges from ₹2,000 to ₹4,000, similar to the cost of a mid-range gas stove. They will also have to pay for induction-compatible cookware, such as stainless steel or cast-iron flat-bottom pans, which can cost several thousand rupees for a complete set.
In addition, high electricity consumption can push a household into a more expensive billing plate, which increases the total monthly electricity bill.
Despite these upfront costs for hardware and new pans, research has found that lower day-to-day operating costs typically allow a typical family to recoup their total investment within a year. The kitchen will also stay cooler and easier to clean, further saving on ventilation and labor costs.
Capital costs
This means that commercial businesses face formulation issues that keep LPG cylinders more desirable.
Jegan Damodarasamy, general manager of Sree Annapoorna Sree Gowrishankar Hotels in Coimbatore, says most restaurants in Coimbatore have “low-voltage current transformer” connections and are running almost at full capacity and cannot add electrical equipment to the existing load. Hotels will also need expensive high voltage connections.
The capital cost of electrical equipment is two to three times higher compared to the cost of LPG cylinders. For example, to convert an existing kitchen to electric cooking, a compatible burner is estimated to cost Rs 3.5 million.
“We have a dosa tawa at our counter at the Coimbatore airport. We use an electric tawa as LPG cylinders are not allowed at the airport. But the cooking time is a bit longer,” says Mr Damodarasamy.
Power availability is also a problem. There should be sufficient backup equipment. Considering all these factors, restaurants prefer LPG cylinders, he adds.
Published – 11 March 2026 07:00 IST
