Waterford — The Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved increasing the reactor capacity of Millstone Power Station's Unit 3 by approximately 1.6%.

The increase, anticipated to go into effect by the spring, will increase the unit's generating capacity by about 20 megawatts of electricity, according to a news release.

"The NRC staff determined that Dominion could safely increase the reactor’s heat output, primarily through more accurate means of measuring feedwater flow," the release said.

The safety evaluation included a focus on "the nuclear steam supply systems, instrumentation and control systems, electrical systems, accident evaluations, radiological consequences, fire protection, operations and training, testing, and technical specification changes," the release states. The evaluation is available through the NRC's ADAMS database of electronic documents.

The commission published a Federal Register notice about Dominion Energy Nuclear Connecticut's application in April.