In India, the Induction Stove Program is causing electricity bills to surge.

The Indonesian government plans to withdraw 3-kilogram (kg) liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders from circulation. As a replacement, the government will distribute free induction-type electric cookers to communities in several regions.

"PLN is tasked with piloting the conversion from 3 kg LPG stoves to induction cookers in 2022 in Solo City, Central Java, and Badung Regency, Bali. Each location will provide 1,000 beneficiary families with free cookers," said the Acting Director General of Electricity Dadan Kusdiana, as reported by *Katadata.co.id* on Thursday (September 15, 2022).

Dadan explained that each household will receive one induction cooker with two 1,000-Watt burners, along with two cooking utensils (a pot and a pan) equipped with an Internet of Things (IoT) module to record electricity consumption data.

Increased Electricity Bills in India After Induction Cooker Program

Long before the Indonesian government promoted induction cookers, the Indian government had already implemented a similar program.

This is discussed by Dzikri Firmansyah Hakam et al. in their research report titled *Mega Conversion from LPG to Induction Stove to Achieve Indonesia's Clean Energy Transition* (May 2022).

The Indian government has been promoting a clean cooking policy in the country since at least 2015.

"Before using induction cookers, 76% of households (in rural India) relied on wood for cooking. After implementing the Indian government's clean cooking program, 5% of households switched to induction cookers, and 19% switched to LPG stoves," the report explains.

"Before the induction cooker program began, household electricity expenditure (in India) generally ranged from $3.15-$6.29/month. After the induction cooker program, electricity expenditure shifted to the range of $6.29-$7.86/month," it continues.

In percentage terms, after the induction cooker program, Indian households saw a 24% to 99% increase in electricity bills.

The report also mentions that most rural Indian households that switched to induction cookers did not use them regularly.

"The main reason 60% of households did not regularly use induction cookers was fear of increased electricity tariffs," the report states.

"Then 30% did not regularly use induction cookers due to insufficient voltage, 3% due to equipment malfunction, and 3% due to discomfort using induction cookers," it continues.