Entergy shut off power last week at the Grand Chateau apartment complex on West Capitol Street in Jackson after alleging signs of meter tampering, leaving at least a dozen people without electricity amid near triple-digit temperatures, city officials and the utility said. Jackson Mayor John Horhn opened a cooling center at the Jackson Police Training Academy on St. Charles Street and city officials said they arranged temporary housing for displaced residents.
Ward 2 City Council member Montyne “Tina” Clay said she visited the complex Friday night and helped residents find shelter. “Nobody needs to live in those circumstances. So I got into action and helped those people get out,” Clay said, calling the situation heartbreaking.
City officials said the displaced residents were placed at Matt’s House, a shelter for women and children, and in temporary hotel housing by Sunday. Stewpot Community Services donated 25 cots to the cooling center and is helping provide meals. “These hot days are dangerous for all of us, but especially for those who have no reprieve from the high temperatures,” Stewpot Executive Director the Rev. Jill Buckley said in a city statement.
Entergy said the power was disconnected after alleged signs of meter tampering were discovered and that service will remain off until the property owner completes necessary repairs. The utility said the complex still had two active accounts at the time of the disconnection and did not provide a timeline for restoration.
Grand Chateau owner Ramesh Ramchandran told Mississippi Today eviction notices were issued in May 2025 and the units were supposed to be vacant while renovations proceeded. He said security problems and squatters delayed work and that the building was to be boarded up and utilities cut. Ward 5 City Council member Vernon Hartley disputed Ramchandran’s account, saying the city had tried to contact the owner as recently as September about code violations and that the city is limited in what it can do on private property.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
