AUSTIN, Texas — As millions of Texans remain without power in the grip of record cold, fingers have been pointed at Gov. Greg Abbott. However, Abbott is placing the blame on the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT).

Abbott on Tuesday declared ERCOT reform an emergency item during the current legislative session. According to a release, it directs Texas lawmakers to “investigate ERCOT and ensure Texans never again experience power outages on the scale they have seen over the past several days.”

“The Electric Reliability Council of Texas has been anything but reliable over the past 48 hours,” Abbott wrote. “Far too many Texans have been without power and heat for their homes as our state faces freezing temperatures and severe winter weather. This is unacceptable. Reviewing the preparations and decisions by ERCOT is an emergency item so we can get a full picture of what caused this problem and find long-term solutions. I thank my partners in the House and Senate for acting quickly on this challenge, and I will work with them to enhance Texas’ electric grid and ensure that our state never experiences outages like this again.”

Texas maintains its own electric grid, freeing it of federal regulation. It also prohibits Texas from obtaining electricity from neighboring states in emergency situations.  

Click the video link above to watch our interview with Gov. Abbott about the state's response to the storm and his call for reforms at ERCOT.