Question: when did it become common to have electricity

title: History of electric power transmission
text: The concept that is the basis of modern transmission using inexpensive step up and step down transformers was first implemented by Westinghouse , William Stanley , Jr. and Franklin Leonard Pope in 1886 in Great Barrington , Massachusetts , resorting also to European technology . In 1888 Westinghouse also licensed Nikola Tesla 's induction motor patent giving AC a much needed usable motor . This system was developed into the modern 3 - phase system by Mikhail Dolivo - Dobrovolsky and Allgemeine Elektricitäts - Gesellschaft and Charles Eugene Lancelot Brown in Europe , starting in 1889 . The simplicity of polyphase generators and motors meant that besides their efficiency they could be manufactured cheaply , compactly and would require little attention to maintain . Simple economics would drive the expensive , bulky and mechanically complex DC dynamos to their ultimate extinction . As it turned out , the deciding factor in the War of Currents was the availability of low cost step up and step down transformers that meant that all customers regardless of their specialized voltage requirements could be served at minimal cost of conversion . This `` universal system '' is today regarded as one of the most influential innovations for the use of electricity .