AUSTIN, Texas  — In a rare statewide address Wednesday evening, Gov. Greg Abbott reassured Texans that the state was moving quickly to get answers after millions went without power and water during last week's winter storm. 

"Many of you are angry, and you have a right to be. I'm angry, too," Abbott said. "At a time when essential services were needed the most, the system broke. You deserve answers. You will get those answers." 

Gov. Abbott has called for an overhaul of the state's power grid operator and reiterated Wednesday that the Texas Legislature must mandate and fund the winterization of the state's power infrastructure. 

"I assure you of this: This legislative session will not end until we fix these problems, and we will ensure that the tragic events of the past week are never repeated," he said. 

Both the Texas House and Senate are set to hold hearings Thursday morning to investigate the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT. Earlier Wednesday, ERCOT held its first meeting since the storm and finalized the resignations of six board members. 

While Gov. Abbott has focused the blame on ERCOT, other lawmakers say other agencies and individuals need to be scrutinized. 

"ERCOT has been a convenient source of pointing the fingers, blaming ERCOT," said Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin. "ERCOT is basically the traffic cop of the energy grid. There's' a lot more blame that can go around here." 

Rep. Howard says during Thursday's legislative hearings, lawmakers will also be speaking with the Public Utility Commission, which is three commissioners appointed by the governor and which oversees ERCOT. They'll also focus on the Railroad Commission. 

"As well as the legislature itself. We have a role to play here -- in the policies we establish, in the statues we pass and I would suggest, the governor has a role here, too, in his leadership," Rep. Howard said. 

Click the video link above to watch Gov. Abbott's full speech and the Democratic response from Rep. Howard.