AC and DC both have pros and cons. This presents one side of the story, and does not address the complex system.
Anyone remember why AC won over DC?
“Anyone remember why AC won over DC?”
AC voltage can be raised and lowered with fully mechanical transformers. DC needs electronic DC to DC converters which semi conductors did not exist in the 1890s. High voltage AC allows for hundreds of miles of.transmission distances with acceptable losses. 120V DC goes hundreds of feet. Edison DC plants needed to be near every building within 1500 feet, Tesla(hallowed be his name) AC could be miles away at Niagara falls actually.
Modern HVDC as in 500,000 to China’s 1 million volt DC lines can send power for thousands not hundreds of miles with low losses but those are only possible with 21st century level of Silicon carbide semiconductor materials you need two very expensive DC to DC converters one at each end and a slew of capacitors and reactive power components again none of that existed in the 19th century when the USA grid was being developed.
AC systems can have the voltage transformed up and down. Generation is usually in the 11,000 to 33,000 Volt range, but too low for long range transmission due to I(squared) X R losses. Transformed up to 230,000 to 765,000 Volts for long range transmission, stepped down to 26,000 to 69,000 Volts for subtransmission, stepped down for local distribution at roughly 3,000 Volts and stepped down for residential distribution at 120 Volt single phase or 240 Volt three ohase..