JEFFERSON CITY, MO (AP) -- Ameren Missouri and consumer advocates are arguing about how to handle costs from a rebuilt southeastern Missouri reservoir.
The power company's Taum Sauk reservoir collapsed in December 2005, sending a billion gallons of water tumbling down a mountain.
St. Louis-based Ameren Missouri wants utility regulators to allow a portion of the nearly $500 million cost for the replacement
reservoir to be added to its rate base that can be collected from customers over time. Ameren Missouri contends the new reservoir is safer, can produce more energy and will be in operation longer.
Consumer advocates argue customers should not be forced to pay and that Ameren previously has said that its ratepayers would not be on the hook for the costs of the collapse of the initial reservoir.
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