Beyond the Meter:

Conceptual and Methodological Challenges in Measuring Energy Vulnerability in Popular Housing Contexts

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the methodological strategy developed for the design, implementation, and analysis of the Energy Census 2024: Survey on Energy Consumption and Conditions in Informal Settlements of the City of Salta. The methodology of this survey was based on a multi-source definition of the study universe, a representative sample of 356 households distributed across four informal settlements in the city of Salta, and the use of intervieweradministered questionnaires. From a socio-technical and situated perspective, the instrument combined socioeconomic, symbolic, and infrastructural variables to capture the complexity of the phenomenon. The analysis revealed the potential of this strategy to make visible complex realities at a micro-territorial and multidimensional scale. In addition, the article discusses the methodological and political tensions that emerged during fieldwork, such as managing distrust and the need to engage with community leaders. In conclusion, this proposal represents a robust and replicable methodological model for diagnosing the material, symbolic, and social conditions of energy access in historically marginalized urban sectors. It also provides a crucial empirical foundation for the design of inclusive public policies in the context of the energy transition.