May 15, 2006 -- financialwire.net

Ameren Corp. (NYSE: AEE) has taken its Callaway nuclear facility off line after plant workers detected high level's of vibration in its turbines.

Company officials said that the problem does not affect the facility's nuclear reactor, and poses no safety risk to the public. The plant's turbines, which generate electricity, are separate from its reactor.

They further explained that the problem with the turbines had been detected during routine maintenance at the facility. Technicians noted high levels of vibration in the turbines and manually shut down the generating systems. A subsequent rise in water levels in a steam generator prompted a manual shutdown of the nuclear reactor.

Ameren's power plants, located in Missouri and Illinois, provide power to 2.4 million customers. The company has been under investigation by federal regulators following the collapse last year of its Taum Sauk reservoir.