If you look at the scare tactics around the first electrical grid in the US, you wonder why it isn't 12v
Yahhh, but that was over 100 years ago. We could have gone with 240volts but just center grounded in residential.
In somewhat densely populated area a 3-phase Y system with 220-240 V between phases would have been even handier for small commercial/mixed neighbourhoods, farms etc. (no neutral, 1ph loads connected across two phases). LV distribution would have worked with the same number of wires as the old Edison DC supplies. Only MV AC lines would have had to be 3ph.
