After Winter Storm Uri, Texas and local governments took a mix of grid reforms, emergency planning changes, and infrastructure reviews to reduce the chance of a repeat blackout.

Main measures

  • Power grid reform. Texas passed bills after Uri to improve electric-system reliability and winterization, with a focus on stronger oversight and preparing plants for extreme weather.
  • After-action reviews. Austin ordered a full after-action analysis, and Austin-Travis County produced findings and improvement plans based on documents, surveys, interviews, and public input.
  • Task force and public input. Austin created a Winter Storm Uri Task Force and held listening sessions so residents could share what failed during the storm and what should change.
  • Utility infrastructure checks. Austin Energy and Austin Water conducted internal assessments of infrastructure, operations, and communications, then began implementing changes for future winter weather.
  • Preparedness steps. Officials emphasized household and local emergency readiness, including warming centers, water distribution planning, and guidance on protecting pipes and power sources during freezes.

What changed in practice

The broad goal was to make the grid and city systems more resilient before the next severe freeze, not just to recover from Uri after the fact. Texas also continued debating whether voluntary utility measures were enough or whether stricter rules were needed, showing that preparedness remained an active policy issue.

Context

Uri became a turning point because it exposed weaknesses in generation, fuel supply, weatherization, and emergency coordination. The response afterward centered on hardening infrastructure, improving planning, and reducing dependence on weather-vulnerable local resources.

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<table>
  <tr>
    <th>Measure</th>
    <th>Purpose</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Grid reform laws</td>
    <td>Improve reliability and winterization of power plants and grid operations [web:7]</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>After-action reports</td>
    <td>Identify failures and recommend fixes for future emergencies [web:17][web:18]</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Task force and hearings</td>
    <td>Collect public experiences and guide policy changes [web:17]</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Utility assessments</td>
    <td>Review infrastructure, communications, and operational weaknesses [web:17]</td>
  </tr>
</table>

Bottom line

The biggest measures after Winter Storm Uri were winterization and reliability reforms, formal after-action reviews, and stronger emergency- preparedness planning at both state and city levels.