Most residential and smaller businesses are supplied with three-phase services.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not typically
• D. Depends on the utility

Answer: (B)

Most residential and small business customers get single-phase power, not three-phase. A typical home uses two hot conductors and a neutral to supply 120 V circuits and 240 V for larger appliances. Three-phase power is used for larger loads and equipment like motors, where it provides smoother voltage, better efficiency, and smaller conductors for the same power, but it requires more expensive transformers and switchgear. Because the usual loads in homes and small businesses don’t justify the higher cost, utilities generally deliver single-phase service to these customers. Three-phase service is common in commercial or industrial settings or where substantial three-phase loads exist, but it is not the typical supply for most residences or small businesses.