Although LPG is a ready energy source for cooking, lighting, space heating and refrigeration, most domestic end users in South Africa who are connected to the electricity grid only use electricity (which is mainly coal-generated) for their energy needs. In areas where end users are not connected to the national grid, LPG competes with various energy sources such as paraffin (IP), fuelwood and coal to meet energy needs. Certain of these fuels are obtained at no direct cost to the end users, or are able to be purchased in much smaller unit quantities - making them more affordable than LPG to consumers with irregular income. There are, however, indirect costs in using these alternative fuels, including time taken for daily collection of supplies, environmental degradation and health and safety issues. Unlike IP, LPG is not mistakenly ingested and is far less likely to be the cause of accidental fires. It does not emit the smoke and fumes of coal and fuelwood, and its use obviates the need for collection of fuelwood, which assists in reducing deforestation.
Despite these facts, LPG is perceived by many end users to be dangerous. This, together with the fact that end users perceive that retailers sell LPG at inflated prices in remote areas, prevents the growth of the LPG market even where it is readily available.