INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ A consumer group says Duke Energy is trying skirt an agreement capping how much of the cost overruns electric customers must pay on its new coal-gasification plant in southwestern Indiana.
 
  That follows Duke confirming the plant in Edwardsport was shut down for repairs starting six days after the company declared it operational in early June. Duke spokeswoman Angeline Protogere tells The Indianapolis Star that the plant has been generating power intermittently since July 9.
 
  Citizens Action Coalition director Kerwin Olson says Duke is trying to force ratepayers into paying for the cost of repairs that should be considered part of the plant's construction.
 
  State regulators have limited Duke to collecting about $2.6 billion of the plant's $3.5 billion construction cost from customers.
 
  Duke denies any misconduct.