Long road to recovery: effects of devastating winter freeze to haunt Texas for years

Bungled response will have consequence for finances, health and homes - and less privileged Texans will feel the pinch

Last week, Malori Elsner's family was struggling through power outages in their poorly insulated rental home near Houston, Texas, burning cardboard in the fireplace to stay warm during a deadly Arctic blast.

But even as they endured the cold, their electric bill skyrocketed - Texas's deregulated grid had gone haywire, and Elsner sat there, helpless, knowing that I'm leeching money, but not having a choice because it's eight degrees outside."