Revolution on NBC – Why Did the Power Go Out?

Episode 1 Spoilers Ahead.

The new J.J. Abrams series Revolution debuted on NBC tonight.  Within the first 3 minutes of the show, set in the present time, all of the electrical devices in the world go out.

Following the initial scenes of the black-out, we're transported to 15 years in a distopian future were the world has moved on (or moved back) to a world without electricity.

The central questions set up by the debut episode are:  Why did the power go out?  What was downloaded onto the flash drive now secured into a pendant - does that hold the key to turning the power back on?

Charlie is the show's lead character.  Barely elementary school-aged when the power goes out,  now 15 years on she sets off on a quest find her uncle following the death of her father, who was killed by agents of General Monroe who runs the 'republic' that was the central United States.

As episode 1 ends, we find out there there are pockets of electricty in the world.  Who are the freedom fighters, who have some access to power and computers, that are resisting the militia?

Looking for season spoilers? There aren't many yet, but NBC's Community Forum is here.