$3,000.

$6,500.

$7,000.

$17,000.

Those are just some of the sky-high electricity bills that Texans have reported receiving from their private utility providers in the aftermath of Winter Storm Uri, which overwhelmed the state’s deregulated and fossil fuel-dependent energy grid and caused widespread power outages amid frigid temperatures.

Millions of Texas households lost power altogether—some for days on end—and those whose lights stayed on were urged to do their best to conserve energy as state leaders scrambled ineffectually to end the devastating blackouts.

Read more at Common Dreams.