Dismal as it was, the O'ahu-wide blackout that squelched after-Christmas sales and other activities has potential to do good.

That disruption, the second in two years, should boost Hawai'i's resolve to pursue something that will seem exorbitantly expensive in the budget-cutting months ahead: developing a truly robust and flexible electric-power grid.

Hawaiian Electric Co. soon is expected to give an initial report on the trigger of the outage. Robbie Alm, executive vice president, said witness testimony suggests with near certainty that lightning strikes on or near major transmission lines were the culprit.

The utility is pressing ahead with its fuller investigation, with the expectation that the Public Utilities Commission will demand one. When it does, the commission should open a formal docket on the case, despite the administrative demands that will place on the underfunded agency.

The reason for the formal process: It will allow external entities with technical expertise to become "intervenors" in the investigation.

Although HECO, the PUC and the state Consumer Advocate also will bring their experts to the table, such informed, independent consultation could be invaluable in guiding further improvements.

In the short term, HECO is making improvements to the existing grid that could blunt the impact of future outages. For example, new links between two East Honolulu substations should make restoring power to Waikiki easier.

But such patchwork fixes aren't enough. HECO needs to press ahead with planning for more systemic upgrades that will make room on the grid for independent power producers — specifically, those using renewable sources to generate electricity.

Hawai'i has the advantage of a partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy, which has identified the Islands as fertile testing grounds for new technologies enabling this upgrade to take place. Ultimately it can lead to a power system that is "smarter," with more computer controls that enable it to incorporate multiple sources of generated power much more nimbly.

But federal funds won't cover nearly enough. The state will surely be tapped for resources at some point and, even more certainly, the ratepayers. The right instinct at that point is: Don't blink. This is the kind of investment that will provide Hawai'i with the robust and stable power supply we need for the future.