Your Feb. 4 editorial "Tighten up" cited performance issues over the last two years at some of Progress Energy's nuclear power plants. Although as stated in the editorial none of the issues posed any threat to public health and safety, such performance did not meet the high expectations we have for our nuclear operations, nor certainly the expectations of our customers, plant neighbors and communities.
We expect excellent and error-free operations, and anything short of that is unacceptable. We know we must earn the trust of our communities every day, and we recognize that any performance issue, even those considered minor, affects our customers' confidence in us. Be assured that each of the issues cited has been addressed and that we remain focused on our work to strengthen all aspects of our nuclear program, from training our personnel to investments in equipment needed to ensure continuous improvement.
Our employees and their families live in our plant communities, and they are committed to operating power plants and all facilities in an exemplary manner. We know this is a vital part of achieving our mission to provide reliable, efficient and environmentally sound energy to the 1.5 million Carolinas households and businesses that depend on us.
