Alternative energy means renewable sources of energy or clean energy that is non-polluting. The sources of alternative energy are not only renewable but also perennial in nature or they are inexhaustible in supply.Among various sources of alternative energy, Nepal has high potential for solar power and hydroelectricity.Hydro electricity production and electric cooking has high prospects in Nepal as many hydroelectric projects are likely to produce electricity in the near future. LPG is the major source of energy for cooking among majority of urban households in Nepal.Electricity is one of the cleanest sources of fuel for cooking. The benefits of electric cooking are reduction of the cost of cooking, promotion of health and healthy environment, fuel savings, time saving and global environmental benefits due to greenhouse gas reduction. Electric cooking is becoming popular and increasing at very fast rate.Nepal has tremendous hydropower potential, efforts should be made to create high demand of it in household use toreplace LPG by electric cooktops.Electric cooking is comparatively cheapandbetter in terms of convenience and has higheraesthetic value. To make electric cooking reliable increasing hydroelectricity production, improving electricity transmission & distribution system, housewiring quality, connection capacity, policy interventions and other infrastructures are required. On the other hand, to replace LPG use, it should be much cheaper in terms of life cycle cost, especially cost of health care. The import of fuel is one of the main reasons for Nepal’s increasing trade deficit with India. The electricity authority of Government of Nepal has moved a step ahead promoting electric cooktops as an alternative to LPG.Electric cooking is pollution free and helps to reduce import of LPG in Nepal. This study analyses socio-economic benefits of electric cooktops to LPG stoves in urban area of Surkhet. The study includes data of LPG and electricity consumption for households. The study drew the results that about one-half of households of the study population are benefited economically from the adoption of electric cooktops in place of LPG. The use of an electric induction cooktops is around 50 % cheaper than the LPG in term of running cost.

Keywords : Alternative energy, Renewable energy, Electric cooking, LPG, Induction, fuel switching, air pollution.