I know this may be drifting too much off topic (forgive me), but while
we are talking about AC standards I just wanted to remind everyone for
historical reasons that we owe all this (and much more, such as the basic
logic gate!) system to one man: Nikola Tesla (1856-1943). The first large
polyphase hydroelectric plant was setup at Niagra Falls (1895) finally
ending the "war of the currents" between him and Edison demonstrating the
vast superiority of the AC system. The basic AC distribution system all over
the world still is exactly the same.