Texas Gov. Greg Abbott blasted the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) on Thursday, saying the independent system operator “failed the people of Texas” during an extended cold snap this week.

power outages

Some 325,000 customers remained without power as of an afternoon press briefing in which Abbott pledged to reform ERCOT to prevent a repeat of the calamity.

“What happened this week to our fellow Texans is absolutely unacceptable and can never be replicated again,” Abbott said. “And it’s especially unacceptable when you realize what ERCOT told the state of Texas.”

Abbott quoted ERCOT CEO Bill Magness as saying days before the cold front hit, “We’re ready for the cold temperatures coming our way,” and saying that ERCOT had issued a notice to power...