Texas governor signs bills overhauling state's power grid

• The state said that the February storm killed 151 people, though a BuzzFeed analysis estimated that at least 700 people died as a result of the storm.

Among other provisions, the legislation:

• Requires power generator companies to prepare for extreme weather.
• Mandates upgrades to power generators and transmission lines.
• Instructs electricity providers to inform customers on how to register as "critical" to ensure households that require electricity for life-saving medical devices don't have their power cut.
• Sets up an emergency alert system to warn Texans of weather emergencies and power outages.
• Gives state politicians more influence over governance of ERCOT, the state's main grid operator.
• Allows $6.5 billion in ratepayer-backed bonds for natural gas utilities and electric cooperatives in an effort to boost the state's energy market.

Worth noting: One of the new laws is more lenient toward natural gas fuel companies, the Tribune writes.

What he's saying: "Everything that needed to be done was done to fix the power grid in Texas," Abbott tweeted after he signed the bills into law.