I am writing in response to Paul Choiniere's column that appeared Jan. 18, 2015 - "Millstone ghosts emerge with new problems" - regarding Millstone Power Station in Waterford.

In light of the concern he expressed, I want to reiterate that safety is - and always has been - Dominion's top priority. We closely monitor our safety performance and we promote safety in all of our work activities to protect not only the people at the station performing the work, but the public at large.

Tom Farrell, our chairman, president and CEO, begins every meeting with a discussion about safety. Our other executives share the same emphasis. It is a core value for Dominion and that will never change.

We have a long history with Millstone Power Station. Dominion was one of three energy companies that then-owner Northeast Utilities asked in the 1990s to help them improve performance of the station. It was our prior experience with Millstone that contributed to our decision to purchase the station in 2001.

Our operating philosophy is to make the right investments in the station so that the equipment will perform at high levels of safety and reliability. Not only have we spent more than $700 million in safety and efficiency upgrades since we purchased Millstone, we also have a strong safety culture that encourages all employees to raise any concerns they may have, and emphasizes the importance of management not only hearing those issues but responding to them as well.

In his column, Mr. Choiniere references recent findings by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Many of the NRCs findings are in fact identified by us and on those occasions where we fall short of our own high expectations, we are the first to admit it. Every such finding receives a thorough investigation by Dominion. It's important that we learn all that we can from our investigations to ensure that we not only eliminate problems but also prevent them from coming back. In all of the events mentioned, Dominion has put robust corrective actions in place to ensure that public safety is maintained.

The people of Connecticut should be reassured to know that Millstone has two independent regulators - the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection - that provide daily oversight of the safety performance of Millstone ensuring that the health and safety of the public is protected. We respect the role of federal and state regulators as well as the community leaders who have expressed concerns about the station.

Our commitment to the safety of Millstone is undiminished. It is part of our job to be open, to listen and to assure everyone that safety remains in the forefront at Millstone Power Station. Our straightforward, transparent, safety focused approach to nuclear operations is nothing like Millstone's bygone era.

David Heacock is the Chief Nuclear Officer for Dominion Generation.