Reno...
There actually is a bias:
The prime contractor usually stipulated the critical electrical norms -- which -- at least for KSA -- meant American prime contractors.
This did not stop side deals with Japan/ Europe from bringing in their primes -- so you have a Balkanized power grid -- if such a term is even appropriate.
Kuwait and Iran and Iraq started out as British sales 'turf' going all the way back to WWI. If you REALLY want to see a fouled up scheme -- it's in Iraq.
Afghanistan is not far behind. It still has Soviet era systems (usually abandoned - with the wires ripped out for 'salvage') Plus European and American systems.
Like KSA the prime contractors set the standards. So when this or that foreign power provides aid to Kabul it always takes the form of importing their manufactures.
So, it's no surprise that the moment the installation crews leave, everything falls apart. The only source of repair parts/ system extensions is some European state -- or the Americans.
It is the land of the backyard generator -- typically Honda! Between Iraq and Afghanistan, I don't know which land has a higher usage of these gen-sets.
In every one of these lands, no-one knows what voltage is on any conductor. There are countless tales of blue being a neutral return and energized hot at 120V RMS. These can even be SIDE BY SIDE in kludged up systems. Yiikes!
Should anyone enter such lands with their personal tools -- beware that in the Third World you are never allowed to take your own tools back out of the country! This is one of the reasons why the paychecks appear to be so fat: you're throwing in ALL of your tools assets. You must bring them to work, and you must sacrifice ALL of them to leave. It's a condition of your departure!
These statutes are not restricted to the Muslim world -- they are in force EVERYWHERE in the Third World: India, Red China, Africa, South America, etc. (Try even getting tools out of Mexico.)
For reasons unknown, it is the universal impression of Third World politicians that if only the tools showed up/ were trapped that their boys could be successful tradesmen.
Instead, what you have is an entire nation of trunk slammers -- without a car.
