Entergy is nervously awaiting test results on the raccoon-damaged transformer before things on the Natchez power grid go back to normal.

Last week, crews working on a breaker that exploded after a raccoon grounded 115,000 volts, opted to shut down the entire transformer.

The Johns-Manville Substation has two transformers, and crews switched all lines to the one untouched by the nocturnal critter.

Even power customers not affected by the Jan. 28 mini-blackout were switched, Customer Service representative Stephen Caruthers said.

Those customers will continue to be served on the second transformer until results from tests on oils and gases of the damaged transformer come back, Caruthers said.

Customers did not experience any power outages during the switch, he said.

“After the tests come back, we’ll do a physical inspection,” Caruthers said. “If it’s damaged we have to replace the transformer.”

Entergy has already determined that the raccoon did about $40,000 worth of damage.

Replacing a transformer would ring up to approximately half a million dollars, Caruthers said.

“That’s a lot of money,” he said. “But it’s the cost of doing business. Entergy is a big corporation, and it wouldn’t affect Natchez customers specifically.”

Less electricity is used during the winter months, Caruthers said, making now a good time to fully inspect the damaged unit.

“We’ve got the car in the shop working on it,” he said. “While we are there, let’s check everything.”

The breaker that blew was relatively new and had animal guards on it to prevent events like the one that occurred.

Approximately 2,500 Entergy customers lost power for several hours after the explosion.