Safe and modern energy in Cusco: diagnosis and proposals for sustainable implementation in rural and urban areas

Abstract

The objective of this research was to analyze the situation of access to safe, modern, and sustainable energy in the department of Cusco, identifying its main limitations and proposing implementation alternatives adapted to rural and urban contexts. A mixed approach was adopted, combining qualitative and quantitative methods. The qualitative component, with a phenomenological design, included semi-structured interviews with 14 key stakeholders from the public, academic, and community sectors. The quantitative component, with a descriptive design, applied structured surveys to 212 electricity service users. The qualitative data were processed using Atlas.ti, and the quantitative data using descriptive statistics. The results show differentiated perceptions: officials emphasize the stability of the supply guaranteed by the SEIN (National Electricity Institute), while rural users report occasional interruptions. Technical and economic barriers to the adoption of clean technologies persist, such as high investment costs and limited training. Administrative obstacles, poor planning, and limited community participation, as well as a lack of knowledge about technological waste management, were also identified. It is concluded that, although electricity coverage is high, energy equity and sustainability require comprehensive policies that combine economic incentives, institutional strengthening, energy education, and participatory territorial governance, promoting a just energy transition that considers the geographic and cultural diversity of Cusco.