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n o w l e d g e
Ongoing control
Electronic
invoice
Water meters are basic tools for measuring
the amount of water consumed. The entire
commercial process depends on its proper
functioning and this is the reason behind
the many efforts made to select the best
brands and models available in the market.
Aqualia employs a group of experts in me-
ters and consumption that coordinate and
execute the procurement quality controls at
the source, that is, at the factories of the
different meter suppliers where the perfor-
mance of the meters is verified as well as
other related aspects. According to Eduar-
do Cienfuegos, member of the Meters
Working Group, “constant control of the
company’s meter park is essential for en-
suring the reliability of the consumption that
is recorded”.
Aqualia also has its own testing laboratories
(Salamanca, Almería, and Tarancón (Cuen-
ca)) where it constantly checks the various
meter models in the market, selecting the
meters according to the different types of
water, service terms and conditions, and
the different types of consumers. According
to Cienfuegos, this thorough control helps
the company “make the most efficient de-
cisions when choosing among the various
types of meter models”.
The figures further down the client ser-
vice chain, in the billing process, are
overwhelming since Aqualia sends
more than thirteen million invoices every
year to its clients. Improvements are
also being implemented in this phase.
One of these is the electronic or the e-
invoice. Aqualia is already issuing over
360,000 e-invoices each year. To re-
ceive these invoices, all the client has
to do is call the Customer Service De-
partment at Aqualia or request it onli-
ne. The advantages of these invoices in
comparison with the traditional ones are
many: greater security, speed, and the
certainty that these are sent, as well as
greater confidentiality, easier filing and
checking, since the recipient always
receives the original documents. The
e-invoice also contributes to sustainabi-
lity since it is not necessary to produce
1,000 kilograms of white that requires
the consumption of 100,000 litres of
water and creates 1,700 km of CO
2
emissions to air.