Sustainability r e p o r t - Sabesp

Aerial view of the Jaguari dam.Assembly of a Santos sea outfall span.In 2009 we took important steps toward our future vision for 2018, set out inour strategic planning: “to be recognized as the company that, within its areaof operation, with a focus on the customer, has universalized water and sewageservices, in a competitive and sustainable way, with excellence in environmentalsolutions.” This section highlights five sides of 2009 accomplishments: investmentacceleration aiming at universal services; market consolidation and contractualstability; economic and financial sustainability; management modernization; andstrategic repositioning in view of the new regulatory framework.First, the investment volume reached R$1.8 billion, a record level for the last10 year.Second, contract and market stability progressed. In 2009, 40 authorizationacts were passed by city councils, including the São Paulo City Council.Third, we took actions to cut costs and increase efficiency to ensure the economicand financial sustainability of Sabesp, and sustain the progress made in therecovery of receivables.Fourth, there is a management modernization process in progress at Sabesp.We should highlight staff qualification, by holding the first comprehensivepublic recruitment process since 2001 to fill 1,771 vacancies; the start of theimplementation of the Policy Adjustment Commitment (TAC) to terminateemployees already retired by Social Security (INSS); and the preparation ofa succession and career plan to train our new Company leads for the comingdecade.Fifth, we promoted a strategic repositioning in view of the new regulatoryframework. We created an environmental function in 2007, a regulatory affairsfunction in 2008, and a new business function in 2009. The challenge for 2010is to progress in the creation of a Research, Development & Innovation (RD&I)function.30 Relatório de Sustentabilidade 2009 31