No, it’s not true, just an oft-repeated tale.
The main problem is that gas lines that powered several generating plants FROZE, thus lessening significantly the amount of power being produced.
It was extraordinarily cold weather, period.
And it will happen again.
Our forefathers lived through worse.
Read Laura Ingalls Wilder’s “The Long Winter” and count your blessings.
With your view, we will be back in the 19th century, while the Government claims they can't do any better.