Electric cooking, or e-cooking, is the most affordable and sustainable cooking option for Indian households, according to a new report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), a U.S.-based energy policy think tank.
The report, titled ‘India’s Clean Cooking Strategy: E-Cooking, the Next Frontier’, finds that e-cooking is 37% cheaper than non-subsidised liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and 14% cheaper than piped natural gas (PNG), making it a compelling alternative in urban areas, where access to electricity is stable.
“Electricity-based cooking means cost savings. Based on the analysis for FY2024-25, using PNG for cooking versus electricity-based devices can be 14% more expensive for households, while non-subsidised LPG can be 37% more expensive. Subsidising LPG for all consumers has made it only marginally more affordable than e-cooking. Only the heavily subsidised LPG pricing for beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana comes out cheaper than e-cooking,” Purva Jain, energy specialist at the IEEFA and the author of the report, said.
Despite near-universal electrification, the uptake of e-cooking remains sluggish. Ms. Jain attributes this to high upfront capital costs, limited device options, and low consumer awareness. “The initial cost of induction cooktops and compatible utensils can be a barrier. We need government support to reduce capital costs and build consumer confidence,” she said.
The report uses Delhi’s electricity tariffs for the financial year 2024-25 to calculate annual cooking costs, assuming a reasonably high usage slab. Ms. Jain explained that while the analysis is Delhi-specific, it can serve as a proxy for other States. “LPG prices are uniform across India, and PNG prices in Delhi are comparable to many geographical areas. Only a few gas agencies have lower prices than Delhi,” she said.
India’s LPG and liquified natural gas (LNG) import bills have increased by 50% over the past six years, reaching ₹2.2 lakh crore in FY2024-25. This accounts for nearly 3% of the country’s total import expenditure, and exposes it to global price volatility and geopolitical risks. While LPG and PNG are cleaner than traditional solid fuels, they remain carbon-intensive and contribute to rising residential emissions. Nearly 40% of Indian households still rely on firewood, dung, and other polluting fuels for cooking.
Ms. Jain believes that shifting urban households to e-cooking could free up LPG and PNG resources for rural areas, where access to clean cooking options remains limited. “Shifting urban areas to e-cooking could be one solution to the problem of limited use of clean cooking fuels in rural areas. By reducing demand for LPG and PNG in urban areas, more of these limited resources could be redirected to rural areas,” she said.
Addressing concerns about grid load, the author noted that India is strengthening its national grid with various actions. Policy interventions, including time-of-day tariffs, and ensuring only energy-efficient devices are available in the market, can help manage peak demand.
Cultural resistance to non-flame cooking is another challenge. Ms. Jain pointed to real-life case studies showing that chapattis can be cooked on induction cooktops with ease. “For households hesitant to give up flame-based cooking, fuel stacking is a practical solution. Start with boiling water or milk, cooking rice — simple steps on a single induction cooktop,” she added.
On large-scale adoption of successful e-cooking demonstration, the report provides examples of institutional adoption, including Anganwadis supported by Energy Efficiency Services Limited under the National Efficient Cooking Programme. Kerala’s Angan-Jyoti scheme integrates e-cooking with solar power and energy-efficient cooling to promote grassroots sustainability.
While the report does not quantify lifecycle emissions, Ms. Jain noted that e-cooking aligns with India’s decarbonisation goals. “With the increasing greening of the electricity grid, relying on e-cooking as the fuel of the future is a good strategy. We should avoid locking expensive resources into fossil-based solutions like PNG,” she added.
Ms. Jain also acknowledged the need for financing options. There’s a brief mention of solutions to manage the relatively higher capital cost of procuring e-cooking devices. EMIs (equated monthly installment) and carbon credit programmes could be explored further, she said.
As India continues its push toward clean energy, the authors of the report believe the time is ripe for a national roadmap. “The report is a small step in advocating the need for a detailed roadmap with timelines. We need to boost consumer and manufacturer confidence,” Ms. Jain said.
E-cooking, Ms. Jain emphasised, is not just an alternative — it is a future-ready solution that offers affordability, safety, and sustainability. “It’s time we reimagine clean cooking in India. Electric cooking is the next frontier,” she said.
Published – November 10, 2025 05:04 pm IST
